Sweetheart

Dear Sweetheart,

Instead of lighting 88 candles today I thought I would break out my old blog and write an open letter for someone so special in my life. For those of you who don’t know who sweetheart is, she is my grandma. More like everyone’s grandma. My nephew Breckin started calling her “Sweetheart” when he was around 3 and the name stuck for everyone. Once she opens up her heart to you, you are loved more than you ever thought was possible.

It’s amazing that she loves so hard as she wasn’t given a lot of love growing up. From a German family of 12 she has told me she doesn’t remember ever getting hugged or those three words we take for granted. Stories from her past that she relays to me are hard to understand and imagine that she had ever gone through those feelings and experiences at such a young age. A thing that really sticks out to me is that she felt like she wasn’t beautiful. She is one of the most beautiful people I know.

There’s some positive to her growing up though, she lights up when she talks about basketball and the confidence she had that she was good. I wish I could teleport to see her on the court. What an escape from home I bet it was when she was able to run up and down that court with people cheering for her.

My grandma and grandpa had a hard time starting a family but eventually were able to have their one biological child, my mom. She has told me before that maybe her plan wasn’t able to have many of her own because her path led her to raising many kids that weren’t her own. My grandma and grandpa opened up their home to kids that needed an escape from their homes. Those kids knew that there would always be a meal for them at the table no matter how long my grandpa and grandma were in the fields working. It makes me emotional thinking about how much of a stability they were for kids that needed guidance. Although that was a lifetime ago for my grandma, she talks about those times so often. Some of those kids keep in touch to this day and some don’t. Without her saying it, I know that it causes pain from those absences but I don’t think she ever regrets that decision to let them in.

I am homesick for the moments on S Williams St. where I would bust through the door to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and Judge Judy was on while grandma got out the fudgesicles after school. It was such a safe place. Even though I was always put to work, it never felt like work because grandma and grandpa made it so much fun. I admire my grandma for the care she gave my grandpa through his last years, it was heartbreaking seeing him change so much. She never left and never quit even though grandpa was not himself in the end. Although it was tough, it showed me what love truly means.

My grandma is 88 years old today but I’m telling you she has the spirit and drive that would put some 20 something's to shame. That woman never sits down and never quits working. She makes the most incredible pies for our family’s restaurant and comes up with such creative ideas for desserts. She truly bakes with love. Coffee club at Home Decorating with her friends brings her so much joy and I know she keeps everyone well fed down there. Her heart is so big she never misses someones birthday down there and bakes them their favorite treats.

I genuinely love the relationship she has with my son Aspen. She watches him at least twice a week, did I mention she is 88? I don’t know if you’ve been around a 1.5 year old but they are GO GO GO. I can’t believe she can keep up with him but I also can. I know what you’re thinking, is this cruel of me to do this to her? She would slap me for saying that as I know how much she loves watching him. Some days she tells him to just bring him over because she misses him. I get emotional thinking about it because it reminds me of the true adoration and support she gave my mom with three young kids and showing us how loved we were. I know how lucky I am.

It’s cliche to say but she is truly one of my best friends. I bet she is the person I text and call the most, aside from Jesse. She always checks in on me when she knows Aspen was up partying all night, if there’s bad weather or if she demands to sleepover if Jesse is gone for work. She gives me the confidence to be the best mom I can be, like her.

Her goofiness just puts the cherry on top too, this lady has got some dirty jokes. Watch out.

Sweetheart, your name fits you so well. I hope you have the best 88th birthday and know how loved you are. By so many people.

Love, Meggie