Today is a Special Day

Today is a special day.  Today, my grandma would have turned 99.  Today, grandma and I would have celebrated our birthday's together.  Today is a day that I am happy and sad all in one.  Today I miss this wonderful woman.

Bertha Lillian Geiger-Bunch-Bosqui January 22, 1914 - January 6, 2010 

Grandma was called to heaven 3 years ago, January 6th.  Only 16 days shy of her 97th birthday.  That was a very painful day for me.  I lost someone very close to me, very dear to me - and I blogged about the pain I was feeling the day after we buried her.  Her death had an impact on me like no other.

I was extremely close to my grandma. She was an extraordinary lady; she had a huge heart, and while she didn't always spoil with monetary items, she spoiled me with love...lots of it. She was there for almost every important event on my life's journey into adulthood. She never missed a play, a band recital, a birthday, Christmas, graduation, and of course, what means the most to me right now, she was there to see me walk down the aisle on my wedding day. (And she partied with us till the very end of the night, she was one of the last to leave).

I only wish she got to meet my son, or rather he knew her.  I know he would have had the kind of love for her that I did.  She was truly incredible even at 96 years old.

Last night, Tony made dinner.  We had a dish that she used to make just for me when I visited her on Wednesdays for dinner.  Breaded chicken tenderloins, tater tots, and Velveeta shells and cheese.  It was my favorite then, but only when made by her.  It didn't taste right otherwise.  :-)

Today, as I do every year on her birthday, I will go visit her.  I'll take her some pink roses, go and sit on the bench outside her mausoleum, and quietly talk to her.  I'll tell her about Drew and how he see's her picture and says "GG Bert"; I'll tell her all the things that have happened in the last year; I'll tell her happy birthday.  I'll tell her how lucky I am to have Aunt Joan - she's so good with Drew and I don't know what I would do without her.  I'll tell her how much I miss her and how a day doesn't go by that we don't think or talk about her.

I'll cry, blow her a kiss, and tell her I'll see her next year.