Three earth-shatteringly important events transpired in 1920 in the U.S. of A.  Women finally won the right to vote in national elections. Prohibition became the law of the land. Cecelia Valerie Minor (later Kordowski) was born. With five sisters and one brother, she came smack dab in the middle of seven children born to Polish immigrants in the north end of Toledo. She grew up to be a true lady, with class, grace dignity and an iron will (and also a kind of inappropriate penchant for potty jokes). She was my grandmother and today is her birthday.

Fourteen years ago, I wrote her a letter. This is a tiny part of it:

Dear Grandma,

When I was small and we lived in Tiffin, you were my “Gramma Dowski.” Becky and I would come to your house and you would just watch us. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that’s what you were doing. Whether it was with Cool Whip Crowns on our head so we could play Miss America, or with those tin-foil clothes pin “microphones” you made we’d sing Donny and Marie and you would sit back and smile. No matter what crazy routine we’d cook up to entertain you, you’d watch and think we were wonderful. You’d laugh so hard your eyes watered. Then you’d applaud, throw money, and demand an encore…”

My parents are like that now with my children (Hi. Who gets $20 for losing their first tooth??). I know it’s in large part because they follow her example (and my other grandparents). I am so grateful for that.

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She helped give me confidence in myself. She taught me that it does matter what people think of you (in the good way).  She taught me that it’s absolutely ridiculous to wear baggy clothes when you are skinny and you’ll have plenty of time to wear them when you’re oh, say 37??  (oh how I regret not listening :)  )

   My grandmother was very artistic. A trait she did NOT pass on to me, unfortunately. One of her specialties was paper snowflakes. She made hundreds of them over her lifetime. After she passed away, we found dozens of them stuffed between the pages of her books. My sister surprised the women of our family by framing them and giving them to us at Christmas. The clerks at Mitered Corner (or wherever she took them) kept having to fend off customers who wanted to buy them. Grandma would have loved that.

Happy birthday Grandma. I love you and miss you very much.

P.S. Is my mom not rocking it in that silver dress and matching shoes?? She probably made the whole thing herself. Ugh. I am so not living up to my heritage.