Grateful Blog

Today I’m grateful that:

• I was able to celebrate another birthday with my grandmother, Noooooora (inside joke). So very much has changed over the last year of her life, but I’m grateful that today she is safe and happy living where she is, surrounded by wonderful, caring people. There she is in the picture, Nora up front and my other grandmother, her “neighbor” Helen, cheering her on in the background.

  

Today I’m grateful that (lots today!):

• We have a house and yard that may not be massive but are certainly conducive to gatherings like the one we had today, with the perfect mix of family and friends coming and going throughout the day.
• We made it to the Merrymount Fourth of July parade, the annual tradition in my grandmother’s neighborhood. This is the first year that my grandmother is no longer living in the neighborhood, but I hope it’s a tradition we keep up. Yes, it lasted a whopping seven minutes, but it was totally worth it. Where else on the Fourth can you see this:
• My sister and her family who live in Toronto and my other sister who lives in Maine were all able to be here in Quincy today. First time that’s happened on the Fourth in a long time!
• I was able to successfully hide the 35-plus-year old  M-80’s that we found in my uncle’s cedar chest from my brother, who was intent on setting them off after an afternoon of beer. I did not think this was such a good idea. Nice try, Tommy!
• We live walking distance to the beach so that we could move the crowd from the house down to the beach to watch the various fireworks displays from Boston down along the South Shore. This whole day was definitely the start of a new tradition!

Today I’m grateful that:

• I have so many very fond memories of spendings weekends and vacations at my grandparents’ house in Hampton, NH. These are some my favorite childhood memories. It’s sad to think of the house being sold, but I’m very grateful to have had so many years and so many great memories.
• I got a very nice, very informative walking tour of Portsmouth from my friend, Andrew. Did you know that area has the second strongest tide in the world? Now you know. Also nice to revisit Prescott Park, even though it seemed much more grand in my childhood memories. I guess I was just a lot smaller back then.
• Still happy about Kris Allen winning American Idol, and this is one more reason why. Adorable!

Today I’m grateful that:

• My mother has put up with me for 34 years. It hasn’t always been easy. I just hope that the good times have outweighed the bad, and that she knows how much I appreciate her.
• I’ve been lucky to have two grandmothers with such a long and positive influence in my life. I cherish this more and more as we all become older.
• The Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox provided an exciting end to Mother’s Day. No sports fan in Boston can complain today! Here’s just one of the moments.

Today I’m grateful that:

• I have friends who think they have no idea what to say, but end up saying exactly the right things.
• My grandmother has such a good group of supportive family. It was meet and greet day in the dementia ward, where families were invited for a little “party.” The Sullivans basically took over the whole place. This makes me feel sad for the other people living there, but grateful for my own family.
• That Boston is still and always will be a Hockey Town!
• I’m going with four today (I know, wow) … the weather is beautiful and the sun will be out an hour longer tonight!!! (Totally ignoring the fact that we’re getting snow overnight into tomorrow morning.)

Today I’m grateful for:

• A good, silly joke from my Aunt Ellen. I can always count on her for one of those.  Here is today’s:
  A teacher asks her class of 3rd graders to use the word “fascinate” in a sentence. She calls on a small boy sitting in the front row.
  “I saw an air show. And it was very fascinating.”
  “Good, but I wanted you to use the word ‘fascinate,’ not ‘fascinating.’” She then calls on a girl sitting off to the left.
  “I saw some monkeys. They were very fascinating.”
  “Good, but I wanted you to use the world ‘fascinate,’ not ‘fascinating.’”
  Billy’s hand shoots up into the air and she calls on him.
  “Teacher, teacher! I got one!”
  “Go ahead, Billy.”
  “My sister’s shirt has ten buttons, but her tits are so big she can only fascinate.”
• Two good, peaceful visits with my grandmothers at their new homes at the assisted living center. And that I dressed appropriately for the balmy temps in that place (86 degrees!).
• Interesting work to dive into it. I miss it!

Today I’m gratefulfor:

• My grandmother is getting dressed and into the dining area for meals every day now at her new home at the assisted living center at Marina Bay, rather than staying in her pajamas and inside her apartment all day. While I am generally a proponent of PJs, even I know my limits.
• Also grateful that my grandmother has turned the heat down to the mid-70s (that’s an improvement!). Less sweating when visiting.
• The snow held off til we were happily settled in our house for the night.

Today I’m grateful that:

• No accidents were caused during the trip from Quincy to Hampton, NH, and back in the U-Haul truck. This is an accomplishment. Trust me.
• I didn’t get smacked during the “packing” process at my grandmother’s house. I probably deserved to once or twice or more.
• All of the people at the Old Salt restaurant in Hampton have treated my grandmother so well for the past few years, and showed such genuine concern and affection for her. They’re very sweet. It’s nice to encounter people like that.