Grandma’s Special Day

I never had trouble remembering Grandma Hein’s birthday. She’s my husband, Bob’s grandmother, so I didn’t grow up knowing it, but somehow it always stuck in my mind. I think it’s because every year, Grandma shared her special day with a groundhog. Everyone has dates that apply to their life. There’s a date with death, a date with birth, a date with an upcoming test, or graduation. We don’t always call them dates, though sometimes we do. And every year, there’s the date of our birthday. That was the kind of date Grandma Hein had. Every year, she knew her birthday was extra special because it meant finding out about the coming of spring. She told me that more than once, so I know she loved it…Groundhog Day.

Grandma’s life wasn’t always smooth. Her mother, Viola Leary, abandoned the family. She was gone for a while, and when she did return, Grandma wasn’t sure she wanted her around. At one point there was a stepmother in the picture, but that marriage ended, leaving room for Viola to come back. She stayed in Grandma’s life until her father passed away, took his pension and left again. Then, she reappeared again near the end of her own life. Sadly, their relationship was never particularly close, even when they lived under the same roof. I know there are always two sides to a story, but with everyone else who might have known anything, gone, I only ever heard one.

Grandma was a hardworking woman, likely shaped by all the years she spent caring for the house she shared with her dad and brother. I remember visiting her and thinking she never slowed down. She could run circles around most people and never seemed to get tired. I guess that’s just how most ranchers’ wives are…the day never really ends.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Hein was always such a joy. It was a trip we made sure to take every year, and I’ve always been grateful we did. It’s been so many years now, and I truly miss those visits and the time spent with them. Today is the 117th anniversary of Grandma Hein’s birth, and even though Punxsutawney Phil says Spring is still six weeks away, the day still feels special because it’s hers. Of course, here in Wyoming, while the day has been very Springlike, it was cloudy enough this morning that our own, Lander Lil (a Prairie Dog that is our version of Punxsutawney Phil, did not see her shadow, meaning that technically we could have an early Spring here in Wyoming. Actually, that might not be good, considering that we have already had a mild Winter, and we need moisture. Time will tell, I guess. Happy birthday in Heaven, Grandma Hein. We love and miss you very much.