91 One Years, Yesterday. And a Party, Last Year.

Yesterday my Granny turned 91. This lady, who loves to laugh, really laugh, is such a part of me that I am unable to write about her life without writing about mine. We cannot be untwined. And I believe all of her grandchildren would agree - she is beyond special to us. R calls me Granny when I hum unaware that I'm doing so, and when my eye brow hairs get especially crazy. We reference Granny when we add an unusual ingredient (or just think about it but aren't brave enough to try it) to a recipe because we're out of something. Her crocheted ornaments are on our Christmas tree, and her reminders to rock my babies echoes in my head whenever the Great (a rather big baby now) wants to be rocked to sleep and I consider the house work I should be doing or book I want to read. 

My thirty one years only covers the last third of Granny's life and as an adult I have appreciated her sharing stories from the first two thirds with me. I am still impressed that she lived in San Fransisco while my grandfather was serving in the Navy (in the Pacific) during WWII; that some her of childhood memories include killing a chicken for dinner and her adult relatives brewing their own beer (she says it was very low alcohol - she is a Southern Baptist woman); and that she and my grandfather got married in December of 1941, after the day that will live in infamy, and immediately moved away from their families and home.

The one third that I am getting to be a part of includes ice cream afternoon snacks on the front porch, the tire swing, baseball (ish) with my cousins in her front yard, learning to crochet, sleeping on her couch when home sick from school, waiting for the school bus with our cousins in her front yard, her picking me up from basketball practice, borrowing her books, and Sunday lunch after church. And while I don't get to eat lunch every Sunday with her anymore, I do cherish our phone conversations (in which she tells me to give more hugs to the babies and about her coffee habits when she was working) and the short visits we have with her when we're in Alabama. 

And have I mentioned that she is funny?  

Last year, for her 90th birthday, my mom and aunt threw her a Party! So, one year later, here are the photos.

Her eldest great-grandchild ready to welcome guests.

Birthday girl and her cake.

The Great being held by his third cousin (or fourth cousin?....their grandparents are first cousins).

Grandpa, let's go outside and play.

Granny and one of her nephews (and neighbor). Also the man who took me to my first Auburn football game!

The Great and EC.

Lots of family and friends came to celebrate! 

And the kids found the playground.

So much change in just one year.

Cousins. I refer to them as brothers.

I don't get to hold my children when we travel.

This girl is pretty awesome. Granny's second great-grandchild.

Granny and a couple more great-grandchildren. And L.

Granny's three children and their spouses, her five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren (last year's count) were all at the party. (Not all in this picture)

Granny's little brother telling a story about her from childhood.

Like I said, she loves to laugh.

I'm so very fortunate to have wonderful grandparents who are so loving and involved in their grandchildren's' lives. Yay for 90th birthdays! 

And YAY for 91st birthdays!