My Grandma is 29....

When I was little, and I'd ask my Grandma how old she was, she'd always tell me "29".  This is how I learned that women don't always want you to know their age.

My Grandma's birthday is today.  In my mind, she's still 29.  Although, with a 35 year old grand-daughter, this is quite the accomplishment.

My Grandma is one of my special people.  She is one of the people that crosses my mind on a daily basis.  When I received the text this morning reminding me that it was Grandma's birthday and that I should call her, it was like a guilt-dagger to the heart.  I really mean to call my grandparents more often, but I am a terrible grand-daughter.  It's gotten to the point that I use my phone for Facebooking and texting, and not for talking.  But, that really is no excuse.  I need to make more time for my family, and to talk on the phone.  I need to work that into my schedule.

But... I digress.

It's Grandma's birthday today, a day to celebrate this special woman.  My Grandma is the feisty-est, funnest, most opinionated woman I know.  She gets her blood roiling in political debates, or towards you if you try to tell yourself (or her) that there is something in life that you can't do. I love to visit with her, because I have a blast with her.  Talking to her, hanging out with her, hearing her stories, I absolutely L.O.V.E it.  I had the funnest time going through her house last summer, seeing the "things" that she has, and she would tell me the history of all of these "things" from a table, to paintings, to a family tree, to family heirloom dishes.  I had such an amazing time with her, and that was so special to me.

My Grandma has influenced my life in many ways, but I would say one of the most important things that she has taught me was to value myself.  She has taught me that women are special.  Sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts, friends, women are amazing.  She taught me that I was important, that life was what I made of it, and to value myself and to make sure other people value me.  She is now and has been for quite some time a proponent of women's rights.  Rights to work, rights to decisions about our bodies, rights that some of us may forget are hard-won rights.

My Grandma has also shown me that being a mom is hard.  She wrote me a letter a year or so ago, after a post on the blog about my struggles with motherhood.  In this letter, she described a scene for me, where she was alone with 3 small girls, the littlest (my mom), in her first year.  She was describing how she was out on her back porch, crying into her coffee one early morning, because the washer had broken, my grandpa was states away for work for a few weeks, she had no car and was all alone and overwhelmed.  Thinking of this, picturing it, helps me to understand that motherhood is hard, womanhood is hard.  But I'm not the only one that has ever gotten overwhelmed.

My Grandma also has a great laugh.  A great sense of humor.  She has such a love of life, of getting out there, doing everything she can.  Embracing her friends, her family, her life.  I adore my Grandma and hope that one day, I'll be as wonderful of a Grandma as she is.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!  I love you!

P.s. Tony just told me that you are awesome, Grandma! :)