To kick off my week of fluff n’ stuff, I have to start with the one who “started it all”, the ninety year-old birthday-girl herself, my Grandma.
For all forty-two years of my life she has been my constant encourager, joyful listener, and flirty-Gerty with my husband.
Yes, that is a tiara on her head.
My Grandma has earned quite a few terms of endearment: Granny Goose, Grandma Cuckoo, Cuckoo Bird, Gram. All of them are said in love. There isn’t enough space on the World Wide Web to share all the crazy, silly, cooky things she’s said and done. Now, add to her adorable wit and charm, the fact that she’s just about deaf (and refuses to admit it), and you have the recipe for some hilarious moments.
On her 90th birthday last month, my aunts reserved a banquet room in a delicious Italian restaruant and treated all of the family. My Grandma LOVED it. Never one to shrink back from the spotlight, she was in her glory. Betty Boop is her favorite icon, if that helps give you an idea.
My Grandma has been the glue that has kept our family together. After my mother died, she faithfully called me weekly to check on me. Not a birthday, anniversary, or holiday goes by without a phone call or a card in the mail…many times with a few dollars tucked inside for the children. And she never leaves a message on our answering machine without verbally signing it, “…so call me back Joanne when you get home. Grandma” She’s a pretty amazing gal.
I thought I’d share one of our family’s most hilarious moments on tape with all of you. I’d better set up the scene first:
While visiting at Grandma’s house, she received a few phone calls. Her phone is turned up so loud we could hear the person on the other line screaming at her. She had no idea what they were saying. I tried to tell her to put the phone to her ear, not her head, but she refused. Being a master-mind-trixter, I told my husband to go into the other room and crank call her. My son David is in on the gag.
The rest is family history.
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