Remembering baby's grandmother

My mother was a Leap Year baby.
Of the many holes and voids I've dealt with since her death in 1994 is the one in the minutes between Feb. 28 and March 1 on non-Leap Year years.

I usually honor her each year in little ways, whether I bake a cake or cupcakes in her honor or write down memories.
This year, with working until late Sunday night, I just didn't have the chance.

And I thought everybody else forgot, too.

But then I received a "birthday card" for her from my amazing friend Nicole.
Her words meant so much to me and as I read them with tired eyes, rubbing my belly in a way that has just become instinctual and natural lately, I read words that easily could have come from my own heart.

I hope Nicole doesn't mind, but I'm going to share them with you here:

To Wendy's dearest mommy,
You never knew me, and now here you are getting a birthday greeting from a stranger. I feel like I know a part of you though, the part that lives on through your daughter. This is to honor you, her and that part that was passed from mother to daughter so long ago.
Looking down at your daughter from your place in the clouds, you should be so proud of her. She has made her way in this crazy life, found a happy place to spread her roots, and surrounded herself with so many people that love her. She has married a wonderful man, her soulmate and best friend, and they're so excited to start a family of their own. You'll be a grandmother. And Wendy is going to be a wonderful mother. She talks about traditions she had with you growing up, and I know that she'll have all sorts with her own children.
The thing about Wendy that has always been just so obvious to me is the ways that she honors you each and every day. You see it in her actions, in her writing, in the pictures on the wall, the journals on the shelf, in the pulling open of a bureau drawer that you also opened. You live on through Wendy -- it's incredible. I'm sure that, as you are continuing to watch over her in these coming years, you'll see that Wendy teaches her children to honor you in these little ways, too. All those little actions add up...
Last year Wendy told me that every Feb. 28th at 11:59 p.m. she takes an extra special minute to picture her mommy blowing out her cloud candles with the angels singing "Happy Birthday" behind her. What a sweet way to honor the mother she still loves very much. Right now, Wendy really needs her mommy by her side as she herself becomes a mommy. We both know that you're watching over her and giving her an extra special squeeze of the hand when she needs it most.
Happy birthday to the Leap Year Grandma-to-be. Love, Nicole.


Thank you, Nicole. There are no words.