It's Grandmother's birthday today. As I got older, I was always aware when April 10th rolled around. And it was hard to pick out a gift for her, especially during the last decade or so of her life. It's not that she would refuse anything. But Grandmother was allergic to everything, or so it seemed. Perfume, flowers - she couldn't handle it. The only thing she liked was a particular lotion from Merle Norman. And we did that - for a few birthdays. |
Speaking of allergies, she believed with all her heart that she was allergic to cat hair. And maybe she really was. One Christmas morning, Grandmother and Granddad visited our house, as was the custom, before heading over to Aunt Gloria's. After we were all sitting happily in the living room for about half an hour, our tabby named "Hi-Kitty" woke up from a nap he had been taking behind the sofa and lazily strolled into plain sight. Immediately, Grandmother started to cough lightly. With a hoarse voice she said, "I just knew there was a cat in here. I felt something itchy in my throat." We all had a good laugh, then promptly placed Hi-Kitty outside, much to Grandmother's relief!
All in all, she just didn't seem to want or need much on her birthday. Sometimes we bought her a pair of slippers or a muu-muu nightgown. She was, in fact, just happy to be remembered and to have us around her. In truth, it was us who benefitted from our time with her.
All in all, she just didn't seem to want or need much on her birthday. Sometimes we bought her a pair of slippers or a muu-muu nightgown. She was, in fact, just happy to be remembered and to have us around her. In truth, it was us who benefitted from our time with her.
Today, I wish I could tell her just how indispensable she was in my upbringing. For most of my elementary school years straight through to my freshman year at Scarborough High School, my grandmother was there for me morning and afternoon. She ensured that I finished my homework, practiced the piano, all while she was getting dinner ready for everyone before my parents arrived. |
Happy 98th birthday, Margaret Virginia Dunaway. Though you are no longer with us now, my life is and always has been better for having you as a part of it!