Today is my grandmother’s 96th birthday. Isn’t that wonderful?
It’s always easy to remember someone’s birthday when it falls on a holiday. Of course, there was the year that my grandfather spaced out exactly which holiday her birthday fell on. Instead of wishing her a happy birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, he did it a month earlier on Valentine’s Day. My grandparents were happily married for over 50 years, and my grandfather died when I was still school-aged, but I believe my grandmother is still cranky about that birthday flub over 40 years after the fact!
My grandma Nella Mae lives in New Mexico, where most of my Dad’s family has settled over the years. It was a favorite vacation spot for my grandparents and their three sons in the 1950s. They lived in Kansas and would spend summers enjoying the outdoors in New Mexico, unlike most everyone else who enjoyed the outdoors in Colorado. (Which, I believe, is exactly why my grandfather picked New Mexico.) They even built a cabin there. Slowly over the years all three sons moved there and my grandparents retired there. My dad is the most recent addition to the state. There are several places on this planet that I really adore, and New Mexico is right up there on that list.
Here’s a photo of her with her boys taken in 1950. The back of the photo was labeled “Christmas vacation, Nyack, NY 1950”. My dad is the crabby looking one-year-old in the middle, in the earflap hat. I love how my grandma looks stylish yet casual. That’s always been her way. Feminine but not fussy. I guess that’s one thing I really learned from her!
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
Lindsay says
Congrats with your grandmother! 96 is quite an age!
And what an amazing picture! Thanks for sharing!
vicki says
Your Grandma is an extraordinary woman; I’m grateful to have been counted among her “kin,” and I join you in celebrating her life and her birthday!
THE BIG MAMA INTROSPECTION says
Me too, i’m joining to wish an happy birthday to your wonderfull Grand Mother 🙂
Lauren Hairston says
What a cute photo! Happy Birthday to your grandma!
Colorado is still the place to go for Kansans, by the way. Hooray for your family being different!
Debi says
How lovely! Happy Birthday to your Grandma! It’s fantastic that they love New Mexico–it’s such a fantastic state!
Tickety Boo Tupney - A Dash OF Worcester Sauce. says
Happy Birthday to your very stylish Grandma- Lovely photo…I can certainly see a likeness with yourself by the way- or is it just me!? Tups x
Tickety Boo Tupney - A Dash OF Worcester Sauce. says
Happy Birthday to your very stylish Grandma- Lovely photo…I can certainly see a likeness with yourself by the way- or is it just me!? Tups x
Moe says
What a great photo. She looks like an amazing woman. That’s so great that’s she’s still around too!
Straight Talking Mama! says
Your Grandma is a looker, how glam!
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Curtains In My Tree says
So sorry I missed your Grandmother’s birthday yesterday what a blessing to still have a Grandma.
I love that old picture of her and the boys
Janice
Tasha says
@Lauren Hairston Neat, I’ll have to tell my dad that fact. 🙂
@Tickety Boo Tupney – A Dash OF Worcester Sauce. Yes, I can definitely see it in that photo of her in particular!