Happy Birthday, Gramma Bilts

Today is my Gramma Bilts birthday---she would have been 84. She passed away May 27th, 2007. She had some medical issues for the past few years and then was diagnosed with lung cancer in March of 2007. It was a fast-spreading cancer and when they followed up after initially finding it, they recommended not treating it due her age and other medical conditions. These pictures were taken (from L-R), on her 80th in 2004 and in 2006 when we surprised her with a cake on the 4th of July. My mom and usually took her to Leventi's for Fish and Chips and then we shared a strawberry shortcake cake between the 3 of us.

I had a very special relationship with my grandmother and in a lot of ways, she was like a "third parent". I called her almost every day when I was growing up and spent every Saturday night with her from when I was a baby to about the age of 12 (My mom says that it initially started because she and my dad would have a "date night"). Who wouldn't want to go there, I slept on her fold-out couch and got to watch "Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island". (Okay so I never actually made it through "Fantasy Island" but I could have watched it if I wanted to!) Even now I often reach for the phone to tell her something Tucker said or did and have to remind myself that she's gone. She could be a stubborn woman at times but she always wanted what was best for her family and worked hard to take care of everyone. I think I miss her smile the most. In honor of her I have added "ko-ko-mo" to my playlist because when ever I hear it, I think of her singing it while eating an ice cream cone.

This was a picture of her and Tucker on 2005 that I put in a greatgrandmother frame for her.



I miss you, Gram! Happy birthday!