Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Sunday would've been my grandfather's 80th birthday! If he were still alive, my grandfather would've laughed at the idea of celebrating his birthday and he would've told me that it was just another day.

Friday night, after I finished working, my sister and I made a special trip home. We surprised my family and I settled in to spend the night at my grandmother's house. As she was walking around her kitchen causing all sorts of problems, she laughed about my grandfather's birthday.

"Even with this heat, he would still be wearing a sweater," she said. "He would always say that getting old wasn't for sissies. He was right."

We sat and talked about my grandfather, told stories and reminisced on times that have passed us by. I watched as she canned tomatoes and kept smiling even though she was talking about someone who is gone. I know that she still loves and misses him dearly.

"Do you think grandpa is sitting up there shaking is head at everyone like he use to do," I asked.

"He is probably sitting there saying, 'now Jean I told you not to do that,'" my grandmother said with a smile. "He would always roll his eyes and say, 'yes dear and sigh.'"

While I was sitting in my grandmother's kitchen, sharing stories and cutting zucchini, it occurred to me how fortunate I really am.

In today's world of the Internet and cell phones, many people are missing out on the true importance of spending time with there loved ones. I'm so very lucky to have those that I love close by and watching over me.

Happy birthday grandpa! I'm sure that even in heaven, you still had a birthday cake!