A Granddaughter's Love

There are many names we've called you,
Many gestures of affection we've given you - 
Many "I love you"s said over the years...
But you are so much more
than just a name, 
a hug or kiss here and there;
More than just a source of comfort, advice, and support.
You are the reason I'm here,
the reason I smile,
the source of most of my joy,
and my role model.
You are who I've turned to
for solace, for strength, for encouragement.
My mother's mother,
Grandma, Grandmere, Granny...
these names hardly do justice to what you truly are to me.
I hope that one day,
my children's children
look to me the same way
that I look to you.
I know that over the years
I've been a difficult, pain in the you-know-what, stubborn,
hardheaded, forgetful nuisance...
I'm pretty sure I drove you crazy most of the time.
But I also hope that over these years,
I've been someone that you could be proud of.
Everything that you've done and continue to do,
you do from the deepest wells of your heart,
without ever asking anything in return.
I will always love, respect, and cherish you no matter what.
You've been there to wipe every tear I've shed,
there to revel in my laughter and share my happiest moments.
There wil never, ever, ever be enough words
for me to express
how truly blessed and grateful I am
to have grown up with your influence
over my life.
I love you.

Happy Birthday, Grandma. :-)