Cheers to 100 Years!

Today would have been her 100th birthday.

And it’s the 9th year we will be celebrating without her, missing her whenever I think of her throughout the day – which I always do.

… When I come up on a yellow light and remember how she told 5-year-old me that yellow lights were meant for speeding up when I asked her why she wasn’t slowing down,

… When a patient in clinic reminds me of her when recounting how they keep their “treats” stocked at their apartment – you know, the good stuff – ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, and vanilla wafers (my favorites still to this day),

… When I’m worrying about something and I can nearly feel her gentle hand on mine, patting it and telling me, “Don’t borrow trouble,”

… When wearing Husker red and watching the football game – despite their lackluster performance,

… When eating soup and salad at our favorite restaurant, remembering long meals with the three generations of the women I love most, always in the middle of a weekday afternoon – right between the lunch and dinner rush,

… When having a hankering for chips, queso, and a margarita to round out the end of the week in true Grammie Saturday night style,

… When contemplating if a fancy outfit is too razzle dazzle, but then remembering you can never have too many sparkles – especially when you’re 90 years old and getting dolled up for your youngest granddaughter’s wedding,

… When it’s a random Monday night and my sweet little boy and I are sharing our favorite meal – chicken nuggets, honey, and macaroni & cheese – the “Grammie special” she perfected for me and my brother over 30 years ago.

So today, on top of thanking God for all He has blessed us with and being grateful for another year and another day, I will also do what I do every year on this day (and several other days throughout the year):

… I will raise a glass and Cheers! to the sky, hoping she’s dressed in sparkles, Husker scarf blowing in the wind, cruising along Heaven’s highways, sweet treat in hand, on her way to dance, eat, drink, and be merry celebrating her special day and how loved she is.