Granny

Today is my Granny’s birthday. My Granny is one of the absolutely best people that I know and I feel very lucky that I have gotten to have her in my life for 35 years. She is probably my favourite person in the world and when I am home in Toronto I miss her like crazy. I have been fortunate enough to be very close with her and even got to spend time traveling just the two of us. I thought that today in honour of my Granny’s birthday I would share a few memories of her.

When I was a kid my brother played hockey. I did not enjoy going to watch him play because it was cold and boring so instead my parents would drop me off at Granny’s house and I would spend that time with her. Now I don’t know whose idea it was for us to start to play Scrabble but that is what we did those nights together. I think that most of time she would have the board out on the table before I even arrived. Over the years my brother stopped playing hockey but we did not stop playing Scrabble. Our rivalry continues to this day and while I do win sometimes Granny is still the best Scrabble player that I know. After our last game Granny told my Mom that the game was pretty close and I am getting better. 

At the start of every game Granny asks me if I want to keep score and I always say no. She laughs and says that she always asks because one day I will change my mind. We play on the board that my Grandad bought and that my Granny spent many hours playing with a friend of hers on, way before I was born, and when we started to play we kept score in the same book that they had used. We had to get a new book a few years ago but the old one is still in the box. My Grandad even made a board stand that turns, it has become a bit wobbly after all the use but it is still one of my favourite things ever.

I love playing Scrabble with Granny so much that I bought a travel version for us when took our first trip together. We haven’t used it a lot on trips, we have been to busy doing other things, but I still love that we have the option. I don’t really like to play Scrabble against other people but with Granny it is the best.

There is this old home movie that my Granny took of my Grandad were he is making drinks for them one night. Having cocktails was something that the two of them did together and once I turned 19 it was something that I started to do with Granny. OK, it wasn’t right after I turned 19. I remember one day at the pool Granny made herself her drink of choice a Gin and Tonic and she asked me if I wanted one. When I said no she laughed and said: “Good, I wasn’t going to give you one”. 

Now it is a bit of a ritual when I am visiting to go to her house at 3pm for a cocktail. She has G&T and I have a Rum and Coke. She even has special cocktail glasses, they are from the Calgary Winter Olympics and they are special because there is a gold line that you fill the gin/rum too. I love the dance we do together while making our cocktails, talking away while we pass the ingredients back and forth. You also need to have a little cheese or a few chips with your cocktail. Most of our cocktail hours include a game of scrabble but some of my favourite are when we sit out on her patio and she tells me stories about her life. We always end up laughing, it are some of my most happy memories. I wouldn’t trade cocktail hour for anything in the world. 

Another love that I share with Granny is reading. We have spent many hours sitting silently together while we read. I love that we can do that. We don’t have to talk, we can just be together doing something that we love. Sometimes Granny will laugh out loud and I will know that she is really enjoying what she is reading.

I love that when I go in to her house for a visit she always tells about the book she is currently reading. We don’t always like the same kind of books, no blood and guts for me thanks, but we always like to talk about books. We have recommended books to each other over the years and I love that even though we have such an age difference we can still enjoy the same books. 

When I think about the people that have made a big impact on my life my Granny is right at the top of that list. She has taught me a lot about myself and what I want from my life. She is fiercely independent and always goes for what she wants. She loves her family and would do anything for them. Granny always says that after Grandad passed away that it was the Grandchildren that made her life worth living. All I can say is that we are so lucky to have her in our lives, I can’t imagine life without her. I am a better person for having her as my Granny. 

Happy Birthday Granny. Enjoy your G&T, I will be having a rum later in your honour.