Happy Birthday Grandma J

Catherine Jean Millican was born March 4, 1916 in Shaker Heights, Ohio.   She went to Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where she met and fell in love with Harry Robert Jenkins.  They married, and moved to Northern Ontario and lived in the Tri-Town area for several years, raising their three children there, before ultimately settling in the Belleville area.

Our Grandma J was an exceptional lady.  She was elegant and sophisticated, fun loving, and adventurous.   She was one of the most caring and accepting people I've ever known.  But wow, was she a cut-throat debater.    I can recall numerous late night debates between my brother and her - each valiantly defending their own point of view.  The rest of us would eventually give up and go to bed.  Heaven only knows how late they'd be up.

Grandma J, resting up for another debate with Mark.

She gave me my love for the ballet - treating my cousin Kirsten and I to Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and then the magic of Cats.   And then there was the dollhouse.  The humongous, magical doll house she had in their home in Rednersville.  I still have a few of the miniatures she gave me for my own doll house - full of memories, and too difficult to part with.

One glance at a purple velvet chaise lounge on pristine white carpet, and I'm transported back in time.  Our grandparents rescued and fell in love with a mangy old mutt named Goober (I think ?) who had to be 100 if he was a day.  Somehow, without a word, my Grandma taught Goober to jump *over* the corner of her pristine white carpet instead of walking over it.  I'm pretty sure it took her quite a few years to teach Grandpa not to walk on it!  (just kidding.... I think.). 

A few years after she passed away, my Mom had her infamous, beloved mink coat (a story for another day) made into four teddy bears.  Teddy bears complete with music boxes inside.  One of them sits upstairs in our home, among treasured photos and trinkets.   One soft touch, and a few moments of a tinkling sonata, and I can hear her voice, and feel the warmth of one of her bright smiles.

Happy Birthday Grandma J !    It is a day to celebrate not only your life, but all of the wonderful memories you left for so many of us.