Today is my Grandma’s 90th birthday. And today, I raise a glass to her and to grandmas everywhere.
God bless grandmas. There is no love like a grandma’s love. No flair like a grandma’s flair. And there is no genius like her genius. Every grandma has a unique and brilliant recipe for life. And if you’re lucky like me, she passes a little bit of that wisdom down the line.
Ruth Vassel was born on February 15, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was one of five children. She married my Grandpa, Frank Intagliata, on April 22, 1944. They will be married 70 years this year. They have three children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
My Grandma is a true gem for countless reasons. But here are my favorites:
She loves to dance. Anytime. Anywhere. And with anyone. Or with no one at all. When I think of her, I think of her dancing. We all could use a little more dancing.
She makes the world’s best bottomless ice cream sodas.
I wrote a silly poem for her when I was young. She framed it and displayed it in her family room.
A great portion of my childhood was spent posing for pictures for her camera, much to my chagrin (as is shown in many of the pictures). Today, those pictures are some of my most prized possessions. She knew exactly what she was doing and that some day I’d thank her for it. And I did. And I do every time I look through those albums.
She sent the very best care packages to me when I was in college. Always at the time I needed them most–not for the items but for a reminder that someone far away was thinking of me. And she never forgot my roommates.
I once told her I loved Mike and Ikes and green Extra gum. For years, I received regular shipments of Costco-sized portions of both.
She sent me rolls of quarters for laundry even after I graduated from law school.
She always made sure that my letters addressed to “G & G” were to be interpreted as being addressed to “Grandma & Grandpa,” and not the other way around.
She has been a huge part of my life, at every turn. At every birthday, at every swim meet, at every graduation. There are few life events I can remember without her.
I feel so supremely blessed to know that she has met all three of my boys.
She always says I am her favorite granddaughter. Never mind I am her only granddaughter.
She calls me her angel. And she makes me feel like I really am one. But if you met her, she’d call you an angel too. Because that’s the kind of person she is.
She sees an angel in everyone.
How lucky I am to have a grandma like that.
God bless all grandmas. But on this day, especially mine. She’s the very best kind of a one of a kind.
Happy Birthday Gram. I love you.
K
I was happy to share in some of that green Extra gum! She is always so happy. My glass is raised!
Happy Birthday Aunt Ruth. You are loved by many and are the sweetest ever !!!
I will be coming to visit you soon again. God Bless !!!
Thank you for this, Kim! Your Grandma – my Aunt Ruth – deserves it. My own story to add: way back in 1975, I graduated from the University of Kansas and decided to begin the big adventure of my life by moving to Washington, DC. I had no job lined up, and I only (kind of) knew one person there. A couple of weeks after arriving, in the depths of my loneliness, I received a cheerful, loving card from Aunt Ruth and Uncle Frank. In it, a crisp one-dollar bill was enclosed. “Buy yourself a Coke,” it said. I did, believe me, and never forgot it!