Happy Birthday Memere!

Today my grandmother would have been 92 years old. It's her first birthday in Heaven, even though she promised us she'd lived to see 100 and celebrate with a big party. For those that don't know, I grew up with my grandparents and my mom who was single when being a single mom just wasn't cool.

Years later of course, my parents reunited and even though my mom continued to live with her mother, she visited my dad daily. Sounds odd, but its just the way things were.

I almost bought a cake today, to celebrate her birthday by myself. My mom and her sister managed to trod through the snow banks to get to her grave and say a prayer. On holidays and in the summertime, before she became pretty much housebound, my grandmother loved to go to the American Legion and touch base with her slowly disappearing circle of friends. Or Burger King, and get a burger and chat with the regulars. Her favorite drink was a rum and coke, and she'd have 2 or 3 and act like a silly fool, but it was fun to see her let loose after a week of housework and watching soaps. I can remember she'd bring her own bottle of rum because she complained that the drinks weren't strong enough, and add a little more to give it some flavor.

It's been YEARS since she'd been to the American Legion, but when mom and I were cleaning out the closet we found an unopened bottle of rum in her oversize purse way in the back-perhaps she was saving it for her party, the one she'd never have. The bottle sits unopened, waiting for just the right moment. I've decided that it will be opened January 17th, 2018- and I will celebrate her birthday for her... and wade through the snowbanks in the cold, barren cemetery and leave her a glass of rum and coke, spiked with a little extra for flavor of course, and toast her 100th! I'm sure she'll be smiling, happy that I remembered.

Happy 92nd Memere Dottie, may you enjoy your day and know that we love you and miss you.