What was going to be a post about a great 80th surprise birthday party for my husband's dear grandmother and a family trip with Elijah's only cousin on the Seiler side has become much more.
My grandmother lost her battle to cancel while we were celebrating Andy's grandmother's 80th birthday. A bittersweet time.
I will miss my grandmother and the great times we had together. I remember vividly visiting my grandparents in the their condo in Florida during one Spring Break in college and I had a blast visiting with all of their retired friends (I am such a geek!) and really enjoyed seeing the social side of my grandparents. They are fun people!
I remember as a little girl staying at my grandmother's house and she would draw a bubble bath for me and the water was always way TOO hot, but the bubbles were so inviting that the heat always seemed to be a distant memory once I was all the way in the water.
I remember spending a week at the Jersey shore with my grandparents and Uncle Terry where I learned that my grandmom loved the beach but did not like the water. We went to the beach and she read and slept the whole time. I couldn't comprehend why she wasn't interested in the water. Now that I'm older, I understand. A nap on the beach or time with a good book listening to the water is pure medicine for the soul. If we were to do that now we would share James Patterson books--something she made me read!
I remember playing in her make-up drawer and with her jewelry and perfume. I believe my first perfume came from her--Avon's Candid--something that I would probably scream and run if you tried to spray that on me now. Haha.
I remember all of the Hanukkah's we celebrated where my grandmother would go absolutely nuts buying us so much stuff--expensive toys and nice clothes. One year she bought me these belly shirts because they were in style and someone said something about them and she said, "what's wrong? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful girl with style before?"
She was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan. She could jump, scream and curse at the tv with the best of any male fans. Something deep inside of her came through when the Eagles needed a talking to on that old box tv. She would do it with her pretty painted nails and "frosted" blonde hair.
We had a competition at my home corps (church) growing up where the Pioneer music school was going to award a prize (dinner with the Burgmayer's!) to the kid(s) who brought the most guests. I asked my Jewish grandmother if she would attend this Christian music concert and she did and had the entire family come with her. There they were--my entire Jewish family taking up a pew in the old Pioneer corps chapel--my grandmother singing, clapping, and praying with the best of them.
I love her. She was a rare gem. I want to emulate her love of life and people. And maybe share her love of Matlock and Law & Order.
Thank you, Ilene Hurwitz Cohen, for the heritage you have shared with me.
2014 is for family.
