make my grandmother a meaningful present for her 80th birthday

Having come back from my visit to my second grandmother in Kansas, I can now safely say that the most meaningful gift I could give to both of my grandmothers was to be with them during their birthdays.

It’s funny how both of them didn’t know their fathers as children, and I was able to give something symbolic about their fathers to each of them (articles and photographs).

Done.

Actually, I didn’t need to make anything meaningful. I didn’t need to buy anything meaningful. The only thing I really needed to do was to be with my grandmother—something I have not done in a very long time. With either one of them, as a matter of fact.

I still want to draw/paint something for my grandmother, but giving everything going on, just being with my grandmother (after not being with her for almost three years) and expressing my intent to be with her more was far better than anything I could have gotten.

But I have called them almost every week for the last two months. Really. I still want to give them something special, but for now, just being in touch with them is something I know they both like.

Much less advance on this goal. It’s time to get myself back in gear with this.

Very exciting. And actually, it is going to be the same present, not only for my maternal grandmother, but my paternal grandfather—I realized that both turn 80 in 2009!