I would tell you how old she would have been today, but I don’t think she would have liked that. Let’s just say she was born just a few years after a new century. Her name, Cecelia, was like music.
She laughed readily, with a big smile, eyes squeezed tightly shut. Oddly, she didn’t smile for photos because she didn’t like her front teeth.
She danced in the kitchen. Taught me how to waltz, humming some old song I’ve never heard, sometimes breaking out into the words. She told me she wanted to be a famous soprano when she was little, but unfortunately she was an alto.
She didn’t paint her nails, she gave herself manicures.
She had the GREATEST collection of pointy high heel shoes EVER. I knocked out a front tooth once parading around in a pretty pair of vintage 1950’s sling-backs. If you can picture it, they were open toe, and the shoe part was clear plastic, but there was gold lace embedded in the plastic. The most beautiful shoes in the world. Don’t worry. The front tooth was a baby tooth.
As you can probably tell, she loved to dress up. Going to Friday’s was an occasion worthy of her fur collared coat and gloves.
We always visited the hat department in Higbee’s and May Company when shopping together, taking extra time to try every one on, tilted just so to the side.
She exercised every day. The exercises were like something out of McCall’s Magazine circa 1920. But I swear she always looked 10 years younger than she was.
She was the only person I knew who wore a girdle.
She smelled like Oil of Olay and Pacquins.
She gave the absolute best hugs and kisses. I was her “Little Sweetheart”. I absolutely startled myself about a year ago when I grabbed my niece’s little head in my hands, gave her 4 rapid-fire loud smooches and called her MY little sweetheart. (I made the decision at that moment to never leave her without leaving those smooches)
She liked 7-Up
Popped perfect popcorn on the stove
Had a sweet tooth, particularly for Hershey Bars with Almonds or ice cream (butter pecan)
Never thought you’d eaten enough dinner
Thought Robert Goulet was SO handsome
Cheers to you Grandma Bambeck, and Happy Birthday!
XXXX
ooo