“My name is NOT George!!!”

When I was little, to tease me my Grandma would call me George.  When I would protest she would say, “Sorry I forgot your name Gertrude.”  This game could go on for a long time, and as lous as I protested, I LOVED every minute of it.  I loved that she wanted to joke around with me.  She has always made me feel so special and loved.

So last night I finally told my 91-year-old grandma that L is pregnant.  I had sort of been avoiding it because I wasn’t toally sure how she would react.  At one point I told her that we wanted to have kids and she said, “well, I wouldn’t rush into it.  It is a lot of work.”  I was a bit puzzled because she had 4 children and my brother and sister in law also have 4 and I don’t think she ever gave them that advice. 

Anyway, she called last night and I decided just to tell her.  We chatted a little and then I told her the BIG NEWS.  I should not have been surprised, but she was super excited.  She asked a lot of questions about when the baby is due and how L is feeling and what our plans are.  She said, “Tell L that I am so excited for her.  For both of you.”  She said that we will be excellent parents, which may be the best compliment I have yet received in my life.  She also told me that she loves both of us so much.  It made me cry.  And L cry when I told her about it. 

My grandma has always been awesome and I admit that I totally underestimated her.  Her son came out very late in life and since then they have developed a very honest relationship where they talk about anything and everything.  He has really broken her in for me.  My mom told her that I am gay the day she told my mom that my uncle is gay.  The next time I saw her was for my grandfather’s funeral.  They slept in twin beds their whole marriage (over 60 years), so because I was there unattached I got to room with my grandma.  We were going to bed one night and she said, “you know your mom told me about your lifestyle… No, its not your lifestyle, its your life.”  We then talked late into the night like college roommates.  She is also so open and loving towards L (to be fair, it is hard, if not impossible, NOT to love L) and loves when we come to visit her.  Both of L’s grandmothers passed away a long time ago, and her grandfather’s wife lives far far away, so I think that the relationship with my grandmother is also really important to her. 

L and I decided long before we were even pregnant that if we ever had a girl we will name her after my grandma.  For this reason, I really hope that Sprout is a girl.  I try to be realistic about whether my grandma would be here to meet her namesake if we don’t have a girl until next time (or the time after, right L?) and I really want her to know how much we she means to us.  Regardless of who Sprout turns out to be, I feel so grateful that Sprout will get to meet this amazing woman who is so excited that Sprout exists–and to be held by her just like I was when I was little.   And still am.