It's Not Just April Fools

 While everyone is all about pranking each other today, I'm thinking of my grandma on her birthday and it's no joke that I miss her terribly.  Growing up she was indeed my second mother and best friend, or "best buddies" as she would say.  I am not sure if I've shared these pictures on the blog before but the first one was of her holding me, the second is of us when I was in my twenties, and the other was the last time I had seen her and the only time she saw my son.  

She had left Long Island and moved to Pennsylvania with my grandpa before we made the move.  We made the move because of them.  My grandfather died first, before my son was born.  After her cancer diagnosis, my grandma moved in with my aunt in Connecticut for awhile and then spent the end of her life back on Long Island with my other aunt.  I didn't get to say goodbye.  I knew her time was coming and the phone call from my dad that she had passed was not a shock.  

In my childhood she was my rock.  She was the one I went to for advice and we always hung out together.  I wish she lived long enough to have met both of my children and they would have had a chance to know her.  She was the kind of person who would tell you exactly how she felt, even if it hurt, but she could get away with it.  She also gave the best hugs.  I miss her.  I miss her so much.