Dear Grandma,
Today is your 89th birthday! I wish I could swing by, ring your doorbell and wait for your smiling face to peek around the big wooden door and hear your muffled voice say “Hi mija!” as you unlock the outer doors. I would give and receive kisses as you tell me which floor you and Grandpa are hanging out on. We could sit for awhile and talk about who has already called you to wish you a Happy Birthday, and what time all your kids and grandkids said they’d be over.
When you finished giving me the update on everyone, you would, without a doubt, ask “So how is my granddaughter Gina Marie doing, tell me everything!”
Goodness, Grandma, how much I would have to tell you! I would tell you stories about all of the places I’ve been, the things I’ve done and the people I’ve met. You would smile, laugh, and respond to everything with one of your looks– whether it would be surprise, shock, disapproval, concern, or amazement, I can picture every expression! You would listen as if what I was telling you was the most important thing in the world. You would care about each person’s story I would share with you, simply because I did.
You were always the one to encourage me to take a leap. To know myself and my desires, and pursue the big dreams–the ones I never really thought were possible. You would say “Now is the time to do it, honey! Don’t wait until your older, it will only get harder!” You had this way of making me believe that I could do pretty much anything.
I don’t really know how eternity works… maybe you see everything going on here, maybe you’re busy tending to Heaven’s gardens, but whatever you’re doing, I hope you know how much you are still impacting my life every single day, and how much we miss you and love you.
As I continue on this journey around the world, there’s no one I’ve met who hasn’t been touched by your love, your heart, your wisdom. Thank you for who you were and are, Grandma! And Happy Birthday
