My Grandma turns 99 on Sunday

[Coventina]

She's a life-long Democrat, votes 100% Dem every election, but I love her because she's a great lady who is loved by all who know her.

Both her sons will be OUT OF TOWN and WON'T SEE HER on her 99th Birthday!

Well, I am going to go see her. (I saw her today on my lunch hour, I try to make sure to see her at least once a week).

My dad's excuse? He and his wife are on a road trip to Texas to see HER FAMILY and to pick up a puppy from a breeder.


Because, you know, you have to drive two states to find a dog in need of a home!!

Plus, couldn't that have been rescheduled just a few days so he could celebrate his mom's 99th birthday with her?!?!?
She was clearly bummed about it.

I've complained about my idiot dad a lot on this board, but this really takes the (birthday) cake!

[Karadeniz]

1. Congratulations! She'll appreciate your presence all the more!!!

[doc03]

2. Wish her a Happy Birthday. That's how families are sometimes I went through

that myself. I am guessing she hasn't got a lot of money.

[Coventina]

3. No, due to the early death of her husband, and some other life circumstances

she scrapes by on SS, WWII widow benefits, and some savings.
Of course, we grandchildren (well, 3 out of the 5) pay for a lot of her day-to-day expenses over her objections.
Example: I brought her a bottle of Tylenol today, and she wanted to pay me for it.
No, that's not happening!

[doc03]

4. Sounds like my mother. I took care of her for 25 years after my dad died and my older

brother did nothing didn't even go to her funeral. My inheritance, bills.

[Coventina]

5. .

I hope at least you had a good relationship with her?

[SheltieLover]

6. Put 99 candles on her cake!

I did this for my mom's 80th!

Happy bday to her!

[hamsterjill]

7. Happy 99th to Grandmother.

May she have a great birthday!

P.S. Texas kills thousands of animals every day because there are no homes. Breeders don’t need to be adding to the numbers competing for homes.

[Coventina]

8. Totally agree about breeders!

If a person really wants a specific breed, they can always check with a breed-specific rescue, there are TONS of them.

But, no, my dad's wife just HAS TO HAVE a Shih-Tzu puppy from the breeder the next door neighbor bought hers from.
(IOW, keeping up with the Joneses)

[hamsterjill]

9. I know.

It’s a real problem down here. I saw a sign recently that said “every dog bred is a shelter dog dead”. You are spot on as to breed specific rescues. But you can’t fix stupid.

Glad you have a great relationship with your grandmother. That’s awesome that she’s going to be 99. Life well lived no doubt.

[MLAA]

10. Dad sounds like a piece of work and Grandma sounds like a National Treasure!

The birthday party with you and Grandma may be nicer without dad and his wife ❤️

Go Grandma 99

[Coventina]

12. You make an excellent point!

Agree, the atmosphere will be lighter for his absence.

And yes, she is a National Treasure. She's a prime example of the Greatest Generation.
Her whole family loved FDR.

Her mom was one of those Hobo-designated "kind-hearted women" who always had a pot of beans on the stove for anyone begging for a meal during the Great Depression.

Her family has always been full of volunteers and service-minded folks.

Sadly, her two sons both got gobbled up by Reaganism and have yet to return from the Dark Side.

[MLAA]

13. Just remember you got her genes!

Where did she grow up?

[Coventina]

15. Arizona

She was born in Mesa, AZ (no, not LDS, Presbyterian).

The family was literally one day away from leaving Arizona for Texas when the stock market crashed in 1929.

They had just sold their house, and lost all their money in the subsequent banking collapse.

Fortunately for the family, my great-grandfather was a builder, so he was able to scrape enough money to build another house for them to live in. But, they decided to stick it out in Phoenix, and never ended up leaving for Texas.

A lot of the oldest subdivisions in Phoenix (built in the 30s and 40s) were built by my great-grandfather.

[MLAA]

17. I'm a transplanted Arizonan.

I’m came to Tucson for my first job out of college and loved it here. ❤️

[Coventina]

18. Are you still in Tucson?

Tucson is more bearable than Phoenix.

Less hot, and more blue.

[MLAA]

19. I sure am.

I’ve left for a few years at a time to work in Asia and Europe but we always kept our home here and came back for good in 2014 when I retired. When I get those calls from people asking if we are interested in selling our home I say yes, I will be selling it when I die 😬

[Emile]

11. You are the kind of grandchild we all need.

[irisblue]

14. Any bets on her trying to give you $10 for gas money?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA Coventina!

[Coventina]

16. Oh she tries that all the time!

I keep telling her that her money's no good with me!