1. I've always loved how she was the perfect complement to my Grandpa. Somehow she brought the best out in him, and helped him be the person he wanted to be.
2. She made food fun! Going to the canal was synonymous with good food and new ingredients. This means even more to me now as an adult... I realize that it is easy to "downgrade" your food when you are cooking for kids, but they never did and I think it is one reason I love to try new flavors.
3. She set a beautiful table and made our holiday traditions extra special. This is sort of connected to #2 but was important enough to me to give it its own point. :)
4. She spent time playing with us when we'd come for a visit. Puppet shows, boat rides, hikes, board games, card games - she kept us busy! Now that I have young kids, and end up watching various nieces and nephews I know just how much energy that takes and that it is much easier to let them entertain themselves than be so involved.
5. She had her own business. She is the definition of proactive. Her shop, and fashion shows were only the beginning of things she found to do to be a contributing member of the community. When I was young I took it for granted that she had so many activities, but now I know it takes a focused effort to be involved in the world.
6. Organization! She never misses sending a card for birthdays, and she told me once how she keeps a calendar with everyone's name on it, and goes shopping at the beginning of the month for all of that month's birthday's, and then on new years transfers everything to the next years calendar. Another tip she gave me was as soon as she runs out of something, i.e. mayo, she buys a new one so there is always an extra waiting in the pantry. I am still working the kinks out of my own household systems, but she helped me know that there are some simple ways to keep things running smoothly and to value people even in the midst of busy schedules.
For all these reasons and more, I celebrate her. Happy Birthday, Grandma!!! You are so full of life, and I hope to be the kind of wife and mom that you have been and someday to be the kind of grandma you are, too... although, those are pretty big shoes to fill.
(oh, and just a side note - Seth and I stopped by their place on our honeymoon so you know they must be extra cool grandparents, cause I'm pretty sure that is not normal!)
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