Happy Birthday Grandma Meeker

Mike's Grandma Meeker is 95 today. What a lady!!! I don't have a picture of her to show you because all my albums are still packed so I can't scan one for you, but I wish you could know her. Imagine a little German lady with steel gray hair that is very short. Now imagine the kindest, twinkling eyes that light up a room when they smile. Her eyes, like Mike's, smile before the rest of her. Her eyes light up first, followed by a huge grin followed by a loud cheerful voice. Grandma Meeker was very present in Mike's life. She was widowed when Marilyn was pregnant with Mike. So for all of the boys lives, she was a single independent lady and drove herself down the 100 miles or so to help Marilyn with the six boys. She was the best errand runner. Everyone at our high school knew Grandma Meeker from track meets, basketball games or just from her showing up on campus to bring Mike or Ron homework they forgot, or their lunch or to pick them up from school. She had very little money but would always slip the boys some "greenies" (dollars) when she saw them. She clocked so many hours watching these boys play baseball (even boo-ing the ump sometimes) and was there for all of their major life events. She had the most beautiful penmanship I've ever seen and I used to love to get her letters and see her beautiful handwriting. She's so thoughtful, loving, accepting and caring. She's been basically deaf for a very long time. But in the past few years, macular degeneration has stolen her eye sight and arthritis has limited her hand functions. She lives in Paradise with Mike's Aunt and Uncle and we are going to see her tomorrow to wish her a very happy 95th birthday. We love you Grandma Meeker - you are one of the very best people we have ever known. Thank you for the time and effort you put into helping raise my husband. Your charming spirit and love of life runs through Mike and both of my girls and will live on forever.