Santa Claus

One evening while driving 8-year old David to soccer practice I explained to him that it was me who put out the Santa presents on Christmas Eve.  I told him Steven didn't know that yet so it was important not to say anything to him.  David sat in the dark car for a minute, thinking about it, then said, "Mommy.. does Dad know that you're Santa?"

Sugarpop

Warren calls Gianna "Sugarpop" and the other day when he said, "there's my sugarpop," she responded with, "I'm not your sugarpop, Grampa, I'm Gramma's muffin."

We Just Love Each Other

Dave was loading his kids into the truck last Sunday after a weekend at our house. "Bye, Gramma, I love you," says four-year old Gianna, "have a great day at work tomorrow." "I love you too, Gianna," I answer as I'm hugging and kissing everyone. She says it again, "I love you Gramma, I'm going to miss you. Have a great day at work tomorrow." I wave, "I love you too, honey, I'll see you soon." She says it again and Gavin looks at her, "Okay, Gianna, that's enough." She stops waving, looks at him and says, "I can't help it. We just love each other so much."

Danielle Knew

Thinking of mom today as I write the eulogy for tomorrow's service and remember her telling me about the time she and Danielle, who was just 6 or 7 years old, watched the movie Beaches. At the end of the movie, Hillary (played by Barbara Hershey) dies and leaves her daughter in the care of CC Bloom (played by Bette Midler). Mom said Danielle turned to her and said, "Auntie Sue would want me, huh, Gramma."

Mama Didn't Raise No Dummy

Smiling as I remember Steve's comment to his father, who wanted to know if he knew what he was doing, when he decided to quit college after just one year. "My mama didn't raise no dummy," he quipped.

Favorite Son

Today would have been Tommy's 33rd birthday. I'm thinking about how he would call the office, ask for me and when asked who was calling would say, "Her favorite son."

Peanut Butter Cookies with a Kiss

Everybody's favorite Christmas cookie ~

2/3 cup of margarine, softened
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 1/2 cups of unsifted flour
1 teaspoon of soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
About 40 unwrapped Hershey kisses

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream* margarine, peanut butter and brown sugar. Using a large spoon, beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Carefully blend in remaining ingredients until well mixed. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll balls of dough in sugar. Place on baking sheet but do not flatten. Bake 8 minutes, top each cookie with a Hershey kiss, pressing down firmly until cookie cracks at edge. Return to oven and bake 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 36 cookies.

* After I showed five-year old Gabe what I wanted him to do when I said "cream" the margarine, he said, "oh, you mean demolish".

I Love You So Much

One day after loading his kids into the backseat of my car and distributing kisses, David hugged me and said, "Mama, you know how you always say, 'I love you so much'? I really didn't know how much so much was until I had kids."

Botox or Bangs

I look in the mirror and notice the signs of aging on my face. There are lines on my forehead and little wrinkles under my eyes. Do I need to hide them? Can I age gracefully and still have them? God knows I've earned those worry lines and, although I want to look good, I'm not sure I want to hide the slight crinkles that appear around my eyes when I smile. They are a part of me. I can remember my Gramma's face, her clear blue eyes and the soft wrinkles that appeared when she smiled. Her face held a certain, almost indescribable, softness that unveiled years of gentle wisdom, understanding, and the ever-present unconditional love that she had for me. I want my grandchildren to have the same memory of me so, for now, I'll opt for the bangs and remember Gabriel softly touching the tiny wrinkles under my eyes and saying, "Gramma, you're just a little old."

Almost As Old As Disneyland

It's October 2008 and I am outside Gavin's second grade classroom listening to Mrs. McQuilliams give her students five hints. "Her favorite color is red." "Her favorite holiday is Christmas." "She likes to bake cupcakes and brownies." "She has three sons." "She has a grandson in this class." I am today's Mystery Reader and I'm going to read Pumpkin Town! by Katie McKy. I come through the door and Gavin says, "I knew it!" A little girl says, "She doesn't look like a Gramma", and Gavin reassures everyone, "Well, she is." Everyone finds their spot on the rug and I sit down with my book. "How old are you?" asks a boy, and before I can open my mouth Gavin quips, "She's fifty-two." I asked him later how he knew my age and he said, "I remember you're almost as old as Disneyland."

Spetcial Boy

After a long day at Disneyland in September 2006, Warren says, "Gabriel, get down and walk. You're too heavy for your Gramma to carry," to which Gabe sticks his 3-year old face nose-to-nose with mine and says, "Uh-uh, no I'm not. I'm your spetcial boy, huh Gwamma."

G-A-B-E

We're at a Fourth of July celebration at Dave & Kenya's place; Gavin is fielding balls, Dave is catching and Kenya is pitching to six-year old Gabriel who has his bat ready to swing. "Come on, baby, you can do it", I yell. "Gramma, don't call me baby anymore", says Gabe, "just Gabe...G-A-B-E."

The Vitch

While visiting with Mom she shared her memory of reading Hansel and Gretel to me when I was about two years old. She thought it was cute when she finished the book and I said, "Mommy, vhere's the ol' vitch?"

Love This Town

It was October 2005 and we had booked rooms at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel so that everyone had a place to get ready for Steve & Connie's wedding. There was a knock at the door and Gavin, who was four years old and in the room directly across the hall with Dave & Kenya, came in to see if our room was the same as his. It was his first time in a hotel, we were on the eleventh floor and he went over to the window to look out. He placed both hands on the glass and seeing buses, taxi cabs, cars and airplanes exclaimed, "I just love this town!"

Old Gramma

I love how Gianna calls me Gramma and my mom, Old Gramma.

Female Anatomy

Kenya made sure that Gianna knew at a very early age that there were parts of her body that no one was to ever touch. She was at our house, about two years old and watching T.V. when something came on that mentioned heart disease and angina. Gianna immediately flipped around and proudly announced, "I have angina..."

Sounds of Spring

I keep a bird bath and feeder outside the kitchen window. One morning Gabriel, who had just turned six years old and was missing most of his front teeth at the time, said, "Gramma, your house sounds just like a golf tournament."

Girls

When Gianna was about 18 months old she was jumping on my bed and laughing as she fought to keep her balance. I was on one side of the bed and Gavin was on the other making sure she didn't launch herself off. Her laughter was contagious and Gavin smiled and said, "You know how girls like to party..." and then quickly followed with, "All except you Gramma, and you just want peace."