A Dozen Less
Today was my Granny’s birthday. The old girl turned 88. A dozen years less that a century. It was a good birthday for her, too. Not becuase we celebrated in any special way. But because she remembered that it was her birthday and was able to enjoy it. Some of you may know that she has some memory problems at times, and special days sometimes go right by her. Not sure if she remembered on her own, or if she was tipped off becuase I made her a pound cake. It’s a little ritual we have on our birthdays. Every birthday I can ever remember, right up to the last one, my dear old Granny has made me a pound cake (although the last couple of years we did it together because she can’t lift heavy bowls and pans anymore). She used to do it for my brother, too. And since I have been back in her house and taking care of her, I’ve done the same for her.
I’ll admit I get something out of it, too. She doesn’t eat much sweets anymore, so I get most of the cake to myself. And I loooooove my granny’s pound cake recipe. I could practially eat a whole one in one sitting. True, it’s her birthday, not mine. But, it’s the thought, right?
When I think that in just a few more years she will be 100 years old, I can’t seem to wrap my brain about it. Within her lifetime, there have been two world wars, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Bush-led wars. Since she reached voting age, there have been twelve American presidents. She has lived through the beginning of commerical radio, big screen movies, television, and the internet. The same for LP’s, 45’s, 8-tracks, cassettes, CD’s, and DVD’s. Who even knows what gas prices were at the time? She has seen the fall of the Third Reich, the fall of Saigon, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the fall of the WTC.
The gray-haired old lady who taught high-school English, played the piano, and gave up a comfortable lifestyle to marry a big-eared long-faced working man who was well beneath her station, also raised and out-lived two children, took a teenaged grandson (little ol’ me) into her house years after she was finished raising kids, and sat holding her husband’s hand as he died.
This is the same woman, who smiled a crooked smile at me after receiving a birthday phone call from a member of her church (one of many calls and cards) and asked, “How is it so many people remember me?” I told her, “I guess you touched a lot of people.”
Later, when we were enjoying some pound cake (which I have gotten pretty good at, by the way. Good at making it, I mean. Not enjoying. I’ve always been good at enjoying!) she said to me, “You know you are my number one grandson. You were the second one born, but you were always number one to me.” It’s her special day, and she’s making me feel special.
It’s no surprise that so many people remembered her on her birthday. I’ll bet she made all of them feel special, too.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:21 am
I thoroughly enjoyed your blog today. I’m fortunate enough to have a similar relationship in my own life. She’ll be 91 on her next birthday. One can’t help but wish for the same type of emotional honesty and purity of love in a spouse. Still, it’s remarkable to know it in any form.
April 1st, 2005 at 7:50 am
Another thoughtful, well-written piece. I hope some local paper is taking advantage of your talents in an editorial column.
Thanks for sharing your granny’s birthday, and for bringing back memories of my great-grandmother, who died at a much younger age than your granny has reached.
April 1st, 2005 at 9:16 am
Hey, tell her Happy Birthday, from me!
April 1st, 2005 at 10:19 am
That is the most adorable story. I should have a Kleenex.
April 1st, 2005 at 12:11 pm
mmm pound cake.
i love how it’s thick and heavy.
April 1st, 2005 at 12:29 pm
Great post! thanks for sharing that with us.
April 1st, 2005 at 3:07 pm
Always nice to hear good family stories like that. I took care of my grandmother for a couple of years in my teens. She was ornery in her old age and none of her NINE children would take care of her so I did. For a few months, she kept up the facade of old bitter woman. However, she eventually let go and I discovered how frail and afraid she was. I spent two years getting to know my grandmother as a person. I learned things about her life that I’d never known otherwise. Eventually, her health improved and I went back to my own life. Four years later she died. When they read her will, she had left all of her children what little money she had. The scandal was she included me as well. They were all furious of course. I used the money to go to college.
My grandmother is the only family connection from childhood that I still look back on. Good for you Tony. I hope she lives to be 120.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:31 pm
Happy Birthday, Granny! do you realise that she must’ve passed in the streets veterans of the civil war? think of that! My Grandma (long since passed) sailed on the Olympic, twin sister of the Titanic, one month before Titanic took it’s big dive. She remembered meeting both Titanic Captain Smith (who was then the Olympic’s capt) and 1st officer Murdoch at that time.
April 1st, 2005 at 10:50 pm
Nice story Tony. Enjoy her as much and for as long as you can. There won’t be a second chance, once she’s gone.
My dad’s mother lived to nearly 102 — from 1899 - 2001. The neat thing about that is that she lived in 3 different centuries. Not many people will ever have that distinction.
April 2nd, 2005 at 9:57 am
Happy birthday, Gran! Great post, Tony. Very moving and touching. Glad you both had such a great day!
April 3rd, 2005 at 4:33 am
Awww I think it’s sweet you still refer to her as Granny
Sweet blog entry though
April 6th, 2005 at 1:10 am
Grattis, as they say in my other language, Happy Birthday to your Granny! That’s very cool that you took the time to do that and show us all a side of you we probably would not normally see.
April 6th, 2005 at 4:47 am
Awww Tony, you’re such a sweetheart dude… Kinda makes me remember my grandfather on my dad’s side… After having 15 kids and so many grandchildren, he got real tired of kids around the house… but whenever I and my sister would come to visit, he’d always hug us and kiss us on the forehead. And with so many grandkids he didn’t remember everyone, but he never once forgot our names or what we were doing in life. I miss him a lot sometimes… unfortunately I never got to meet my grandmother, she passed away a few years before I was born.. but I have a feeling she would’ve been a lot like your grandmother… Tell her I said Happy Birthday =).