Follow Me To ... Grandma's House (#5)

Eden Homes

Happy 94th Birthday Grandma!  Gram has two birthdays (yes, there's a story) so we celebrated last night with family and today with the residents at her group home in Bethesda - Eden Homes. 

Anyone who truly knows me, knows that my grandma is my number one girlfriend.  She has been SOOO good to me!  As a young girl, I slept at her house every Friday night and spent every Saturday with her and Poppy.  When I was 16, she started driving Poppy to work so I could have his car.  Our relationship grew even tighter after we shared our sorrow over the loss of Poppy.  Gram always gave me comfort in times of need and I think I often did the same for her.  Laughter was often our medicine.  While I studied for my bar exam, I moved in with her where I was waited on hand on foot!  Then, when I had children, she came to my house once a week to watch the kids while I took a nap or ran an errand.  She was also my happy laundress who marched right upstairs each week to see how much folding and ironing there was to do.  She's cooked, baked, and did it all for me.  She likely greeted you at my door on Halloween!

Most importantly, Gram taught me what mattered most in life -- to have a tight knit family and to be a productive member of the community.  Gram was always an active volunteer.  She founded and was president of a Cancer Aid group, was a devoted daughter and sister to 4 older siblings (she was practically a fixture at the Hebrew Home when her brother resided there), and was a loyal friend among other things.  Overall, Gram was, and still is, a true "mensch" (the yiddish term for a person of extreme integrity and honor)!   

In honor of Grandma's birthday and her generous spirit, I wanted to do something special for the residents of Eden Home -- the people who provide her with companionship now.  Gram loved to make goodie bags for her family so I made little ones for all of the residents.  In each bag, I packed chocolate kisses, nail polish, emery boards, word find book, tissues, fuzzy socks, and hand lotions.  It wasn't anything grand - just a simple gesture that brought some joy to others.  Gram's goodies bags were much better! 

Happy Birthday Gram!  We are so blessed to have you as our matriarch.  I love YOU MORE!

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MyTakeaway: Perhaps I am most amazed to find that as my grandma ages and her mind often leaves this decade for one of yesteryear, she still retains the same values, character, and overall personality she's always had.  She'll still ask what she can do for you and tell you that she is most proud of her family.