Happy birthday, Mother.

I went through your recipes today and chose the lowfat apple banana cake.  Not sure why it spoke to me.  In keeping with your experimenting tradition, I substituted out the ingredients I do not have or do not like.

I'm getting grey hairs. The timing seems about right, compared to yours.

I have an appreciation for the gifts of my life. I know Granny was a trial as a mother-in-law.  And living near her with daily phone calls and weekly visits must have been challenging.  I know you appreciated the free child care, but would have cheerfully traded her in for a happier local family member.

I got lucky.  My mother-in-law was wonderful.  Every horrible story about the monster-in-law?  Mine was the opposite.  She encouraged me in everything I tried.  She went out of her way to include me in her fun family traditions, from family reunion t-shirts to chocolate I can eat in the Easter basket.  She was happy to play cards with me. She gracefully accepted even my early blundering attempts at jewelry (which I now realize did not fit her). 

If there is a heaven, make sure she is settling in okay.