My sister Jean Grania had her birthday yesterday. I thought for a long time about what to write about her, how to describe how I feel about her, what she means to me … but then when the tears came, I decided: No, I don’t know how to write about her. All I can say is – the woman means the world to me (both my sisters do … and my dear brother) – and I can’t imagine my life without her. The worst nightmares I have are when something horrible happens to my siblings. I had one about Jean years and years ago that makes me shudder to this day.
In trying to come up with an acknowledgement post about this beautiful woman – all I could really come up with was how afraid I get of losing her.
Not a very positive birthday message.
Jean Grania is a classic human being, warm, hilarious, intelligent … People get excited to see her. A party is planned, a gathering … people ask: “Is Jean gonna be there???”
She’s a teacher. A good one. She’s passionate about her work, she’s an amazing woman.
She’s my younger sister, but there have been times when I’ve felt like she’s the older. People seem to think that Jean knows things. It’s so funny. And, in general, she does.
I remember when my roommate Jen and I were throwing a Valentine’s Day party. We had bought decorations, hearts and stuff. Jean and Siobhan came over to help us get set up. Jen didn’t really know Jean all that well, but … within 10 minutes, Jen was standing on a chair in our living room, trying to dangle big red hearts from the ceiling, and I heard her say, “Jean – is this right? Will this work, you think?”
That’s what I mean. People turn to Jean for stuff like that.
I love my sister. I have tears in my eyes now, because I’m a big goofball, and because I get overwhelmed.
She’s a great woman. Happy birthday, Jean Grania.
I feel that way about Jean….ive always thought that she had some special knowledge of all things and certainly her inclusion on a guest list is reason enough to go. I love you Jean…Happy Birthday!-Mitchell
Oh, Mitchell. I love you. You and Jean are kindred spirits, definitely.
thank you for your sweet post. “You like me, you really really like me!” Uh, Sally? You just blew your popularity. Students were sneaking a card around the room for me on Friday. I had to pretend I wasn’t aware of these goings on. I was giving students ‘the look’ and sighing things like, “I’m not quite sure why there are poeple moving around when we have so much to get done.” Pretending to be exasperated (last word of Beezus and Ramona?). thank you, sheil. and mitchell of course.