Grandma!

Anders drew the above picture of my mom and he pretty much captured her. Bright red hair - even though at 86 we know it's most likely pure white even though we've never seen anything but that copper red head. Green eyes, glasses, earrings - yep, that's her.

I also posted a photo of Grandma playing with Kuba in his fort. Even though she is very old now, she will still crawl on the floor with my children to play. This I can not be more grateful for. I am so happy that my parents are playful. They've always been and always will be. Anders and Kuba define my dad as "silly grandpa." Of course, this description always comes with laughing and gleeful, shining eyes.

I miss my parents. And I mean this more than the literal translation. I miss my parents - the ones I grew up with, the ones that had unbelievable energy and spunk and vitality. The ones that could see, hear, walk with ease, and play. They are so fragile now. And even though my mom crawled on the floor with my son, I know that how she plays with him, compared to how she played in the past is very different. Yet, I am still grateful. I am glad that the boys have this opportunity to experience their very dear, very old grandmother ...who can hardly hear them, often misunderstands them, yet loves them to death. And they know it.

ps- I love the exclamation point Anders put after her name. It sums it right about up.