Grandma Dottie's Birthday and Timeless Principles

Joyfully I celebrate my Grandma Dottie's birthday today as she turns 90, making it time to party like it's 1931 all over again!  Besides celebrating a great quantity of years, I celebrate the great quality of those years.

My family had a small lunch gathering yesterday to celebrate the big occasion.  I offered a few remarks, which I now share in writing here on my blog.

From what I remember, she was born in Sweet Home Chicago, a city home to an unusual piece of art that Pablo Picasso gifted to the city--and Señor Picasso turned 50 the day Grandma Dottie was born.

Notably, 90 years ago yesterday, on October 24, 1931, the day before Grandma Dottie was born, the George Washington Bridge opened, connecting New York and New Jersey.  I've never seen it personally, much less crossed it, but I imagine it's done its job well as a sturdy bridge for 9 decades, providing access across the Hudson River.

There's so much reason to celebrate Grandma as a truly wonderful person.  She was a devoted wife to my grandfather Martin, and a hardworking mom to my mom, Aunt Terri, Uncle Brian, and Uncle Bernie as she raised them.  It was during those years she developed a strong ability to spot a good deal.  And the love she offered in all those relationships she has continued to pour out as a grandma to me, my brother Eric, and my cousins Megan, Greg, and Josh, and then to her great-grandchildren, Ava, Emma, and Micah.

I am glad that I have been the recipient of the love she shows in her own special way, which I often experienced in visits between the two of us.

It has been a custom during our visits to play Scrabble. Based on my speculation in a recent conversation between us at her birthday lunch yesterday, we likely started that custom when I was in middle school, and so we've played at least 20 Scrabble games, which usually happens at least once per year.

Those games started at the home on Blacksmith Drive in Wheaton.  They continued when she moved to Lexington Square in Lombard.  In fact, not only do we celebrate her birthday in October, but we also celebrate the anniversary of the day she moved there which was 17 years ago.  It was a fine day when we gathered together to assist in that process, on Saturday, October 23, 2004.  And notice how October 23 was on a Saturday this year in 2021.  Again, another example of a great quantity of years speaking to a great quality of years.  I have gained a great sense of the quality of her experience at Lexington during my visits with her there, which have often included the company of her many fabulous friends.

This month, back on October 15, also marked the 70th anniversary of the debut of the popular TV sitcom I Love Lucy.  I thank Grandma Dottie for introducing me to the Queen of Comedy, when she gave me a tape of clips from the show, likely as part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of its debut back in 2001.  I didn't think much of it before then, but once I watched those clips, I was hooked, and I said to Grandma that I wanted to watch more.

Her favorite episode is when Lucy does a TV commercial for Vitameatavegamin--and she won't have to "pop" out of the party for this celebration!

It's fitting that Grandma would introduce me to Lucille Ball, because when I was a young boy and I stayed for a few hours at the house on Highland Avenue in Oak Park for a "babysitting" visit, we would get into laughing fits, and I would roll off the couch.

Yes, I celebrate today giving thanks for Grandma, for the gifts of her love, the laughs we've shared, and the longevity of her life, and her time at Lexington.

Faith has grown to become an important part of her life, summed up in principles that last longer than 90 years and are truly timeless, as expressed in Psalm 90:1 NIV:  "Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations."  And so we sing in the words of Grandma's favorite hymn, "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

Indeed, Grandma's life recognizes that God is faithful and His faithfulness is everlasting.

So we give thanks to God for how He has been at work in Grandma Dottie's life.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

May you be blessed today and always by God's great faithfulness and love.

Mom took the above photo of Grandma and me. I took the photo below of Grandma with her birthday cake, a raspberry orange zucchini cake made by Uncle Bernie.

Above is the final result of our recent Scrabble game back on September 26. Below is the score.