10-10-10

Every year on 7/7 and 10/10, I think about my grandparents.
My dad's parents.
Growing up, I remember thinking that they were so lucky that their birthdays were so cool.
Their birth month and date were the same number.
And what made it even cooler was that both of them had it.
So today, on 10/10/10, as I sit here with my mom's parents, my dad's parent's aren't far from my mind.

I'm remembering the weeks every summer we used to spend at their house,
baking
building forts out in their backyard
reading
singing
taking walks through the neighborhood
looking at all of Grandad's tools and stuff in the garage
walking along the huge brick wall that enclosed their property
rollerblading down their steep driveway
staying up late and laughing
playing Uno in the den
mowing the yard with the electric lawnmower and thinking it was fun
picking chives from my Grandad's herb garden
cooking tuna in a shell and stuffed mushrooms.

And, I'm remembering all of the handwritten letters we used to get from them,
especially when they lived far away
filled with photographs
and advice
and memories of fun times we had together
always either handwritten or typed on a typewriter.

And, I'm remembering the perfectly iced cookies my Granner used to send us every Christmas
and the Cranberry Bars she used to bake
that I now like to make around the holidays.

It's just been that kind of day.  One good for remembering and being thankful for good memories.