It’s another Hallmark holiday – Grandparents Day.

I do think grandparents should be celebrated! It’s an honor to get to the stage in life where you are a grandparent. Not everyone gets the privilege.

I was an Air Force brat, and had very few interactions with my grandparents. I always felt I was slighted in life by this situation. It was beyond my control, but I wish I had gotten to know them.

My mother’s dad had early onset Parkinson’s disease. He died when my mom was in her 30’s, and I was a young child. The few memories I have are sad – he was a shell of a man, unable to recognize my mother. My step gramma took care of him at home. It was painful to watch my mom try to connect with him.

Her mother passed away in her 50’s of complications of diabetes. So my mother lost both her parents, and subsequently I lost my maternal grandparents, at a very young age.

My dad’s dad died when I was in high school. The only memories I had of him were of his constant smoking, and he always had clear blue mints in plastic wrap with him.

My paternal grandma lived to be 93. I had the opportunity to have her live with my kids and I for several months when she was 92. She had an amazing sharp wit, and was very funny. I had a whole lifetime of never getting to know her, so I jumped at the chance to have her stay with me. My kids got to meet their only surviving great grandparent, and precious memories were made.

My parents are very involved in the lives of all their grandkids. It’s wonderful to see my kids grow up with grandparents – and their kids with great grandparents!

The icing on the cake is my husband and I are grandparents to three boys – with two more on the way! It has been a pure joy, and we know firsthand what a privilege it is.

I’m counting my blessings, and grandparents are definitely on the list.