Today is/was my Grammy Openshaw’s birthday. I loved this day every year. Our birthdays were very closely timed, mine being but a few days away. She died in late April the year she was to have turned 80 … that was a very bad year … it was almost 20 years ago now.

My Lily of the Valley is in full bloom right now right next to my front door and its scent is heavenly. It reminds me of Grammy O every time I go in and out. It is the flower for May girls everywhere.

Grammy was a lady, in every sense of the word. She was tiny (she only ever got to 5’3″), but she filled a room. She ruled my Grampy with a loving hand and he was 6’2″. She let him think he was in charge, but we all knew differently. She drove 1969 Mercury Cougar fastback. She and Grampy bought it brand new and she drove it til the day she died. That was funny, seeing my tiny little grandmother driving a classic sports car. But she did it elegantly.

She taught me to sew, embroider, cook, and type. She could out type an electric typewriter back in the day. I spent hours every vacation laboring over “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.” With the onset of computers and keyboards, I am everlastingly grateful.

She took me to church occasionally in an attempt to overcome the wickedness of her daughter (tongue in cheek, LightMom). She was a model for me in many ways of perserverance, love, balance, and keeping ones head in times of crisis.

Happy Birthday, Grammy. I really miss you.