My flower: 90 years young

I was recently out of the province for work and I took a few minutes to visit with my grandmother who turns 90 next month.  90 years old.  I can't fathom the change she must have seen in her lifetime.  From the depression, world wars, vietnam, and the 60's to the Internet, youtube, email and facebook.   And although she is not inclined to learn about computers despite my persistent recommendations, she is still one of the sharpest, wittiest, current, more independent people I know.  If her 90th birthday party next month is half as fun as her 80th was 10 years ago, it should be quite the event. 

Along with the great memories that I have of my grandmother, comes the realization that she won't be around forever and I think it must be sad for her to look around and see all of her friends have gone. 
A few memories that I want to remember about Nanny include the following:

1.  Watching a parade with her when I was 7 and seeing a float that was advertising a 60th anniversary of the company, I yelled loudly "Nanny, that float is as old as you".
2.  Calling her my flower when I was 9.  I don't know why or where this came from, but for a year, she was my flower.
3.  When nanny would babysit on Tuesday nights when mom and dad would go bowling and she would make me go to bed and then let me sneak out to watch laverne and shirley with her.
4.  When I was 4 and nanny & grampy would take me shopping and I would say "let's go shunk".... still not sure that means, but I was adament that we had to shunk.
5.  Nanny's 80th birthday, far from being a dull senior's party was one of the highlights of my year.  I distinctly remember playing guitar at 3:00 am with nanny dancing a jig holding a rye and ginger.  To this day when anyone says "I have the coolest grandmother", I have to interject with "I beg to differ"
6.  Same night after a few additional drinks, I indicated to the crowd a large that when I'm 80 I will be happy if I'm half the woman my grandmother is.  still a running family joke.

Life is too short to get bogged down in pettiness.  What I have learned from my grandmother is patience, tolerance, acceptance, a sense of humour and a sense of independence.

Happy Birthday Nanny!  May the next 90 be equally as adventurous.