Month 1,008

(Editor's Note: Tomorrow is my Grandma, my cousin Cassie, and Sam's birthday. Today, is a special editon of the "Abe and Sam" letters for my Grandma.)

Dear Grandma,
Happy 84th Birthday. Today, in honor of your 1,008th month, I thought I would dedicate a monthly newsletter to you, my Gaga Woof Woof. How many people my age can say that their Grandma is still kicking it, and surfing the internet? I am sure not many. I am very lucky to have you in my life, and my children are very lucky to have their Great-Grandma – especially because you have single-handedly built their DVD library in three years time.

For most of my life I took the fact that I had a Grandma for granted, and the fact that my Grandma was all of the things a Grandma was supposed to be – loving, spoiling, good-smelling, chocolate-giving. But, it wasn’t until I had my kids that I realized and truly appreciated how lucky I was to have a Grandma that was all of those things, and how important a grandma is to their children.

My earliest memories are all positive ones. Going to Youngstown for me was my childhood “happy place.” If I could create a spa, I would model it after your home. It would be complete with pretzels under the “dry sink,” tiny little golf pencils, and a cushiony toilet seat. I would also make all of the showers’ temperature gauges go the opposite way – hot means cold, cold means hot – just for fun. Your pillow smelled like your house. It almost seemed like time would stop, and I would be so relaxed and comfortable. I would serve Cocoa Puffs and fresh rye bread with Tater Skin chips on the side.

I remember when I was a little girl, you used to lay with me in bed until I fell asleep. I always loved that.

I loved watching TV in your bedroom. I loved the way the sunlight came into your family room. I loved the expanse of your big yard, and playing wiffle ball with Robby, Samantha, and Adam. I loved the bar of Dove soap you kept by the sink in the bathroom. I buy Dove soap to this day because of it.

I remember crying when we had to leave. As a child, I wouldn’t hold back the emotions. It was all too much to take. I loved my family and my grandma. To be honest, every time I have to leave, I still get teary eyed. I hate saying goodbye.

I remember your white and pink t-shirt nightgown that had some sort of cartoon drawing on it (I can’t remember if it had bunnies or dogs or that crazy old woman from the Hallmark cards). Do you remember it? You probably haven’t seen it since about 1995. That is because I took it. You left it at our house after a visit. I remember seeing it on the floor, and I grabbed it, and put it in my drawer. It was sort of a silly thing to do, and I have never told anyone about it (Hi, Internet!) but for some reason I found that nightgown very comforting to me, and I decided right then and there that that is what I want to remember you by.

Now that I have children I have such a fuller appreciation of having a grandma and being a grandma. And, I feel so lucky that I have had you as a Grandma. As far as I am concerned, I have hit the Grandma Jackpot. I love you very much, and I thank you for everything you have done for me. I am sorry that I stole your nightgown, and I am also sorry that you aren’t going to get it back. I hope my boys will want to steal something from their grandmas, and I can’t wait to see what it is.

Happy Birthday.

Love,
Brianne