Grams

Someone recently asked me, what is it like to have a grandma?

What was it like to have my Grams?

Having her meant knowing, without question, that you were loved. It was the kind of unconditional love that wrapped you up in the absolute best hugs and made you feel safe, no matter how old you were. She was our biggest cheerleader, always there to celebrate every accomplishment, big or small. I can still hear her signature “Woo Woo Woos!” echoing through our graduations, louder than anyone else in the room, as she proudly ignored the request to hold applause until the end.

She remembered every birthday and every anniversary, and she expected us to remember them too. Grams was sassy. She kept track of who called (and who didn’t) on her birthday, and we’d better be sure to call her on both of her birthdays!

She believed there was always a reason to celebrate, even something as simple as a particular day of the week. To Grams, everything was worthy of a toast. She loved to raise a glass, clink it with a smile, and say “Cheers!” Being with her made ordinary moments feel special, because she taught us that life wasn’t meant to be rushed through, it was meant to be celebrated, and more importantly, celebrated together.

At our last gathering, we celebrated her great-grandsons Lucas and Miles’ birthdays, and I am certain there was nowhere else she would have rather been than surrounded by her family that day.

Grams wasn’t a traditional grandmother. She didn’t have gray hair or wear frumpy clothes. My earliest memories of her were of her wearing short dresses and high heels. And in all of my forty-plus years, I don’t recall a single day when her hair wasn’t some shade of fiery red. And If you knew my Gram, you know she was almost always wearing red.

She had her superstitions, good luck charms and silly traditions she believed in wholeheartedly. She absolutely loved Bingo and visiting casinos. Once, she slipped on ice on her way to Bingo and still tried to play with a broken wrist. And when her grandkids joined her, she didn’t just watch her own cards, she watched all of ours too.

At the same time, Grams was a deeply faithful woman. She welcomed prayers until her very last hours, and I firmly believe her prayers for us will cover us for our lifetimes.

Recently, Grams shared stories from her younger years. She lost her mother at a very young age and was raised by an aunt, separated from her seven older siblings. My heart broke learning about the times she felt like an outsider. Her life was far from perfect, yet she gave us so much love that there was never any hint of the pain she carried. I can only hope that being our Gram helped heal her heart, even just a little.

Grams loved to sunbathe. So today, and every chance you get, take a moment to sit in the sunshine the way she loved to do. Let it remind you of her warmth, her joy, and her love, and thank God for the memories, the traditions, and the beautiful time we were given with her.