She would have been 91 today...

She was one of ten children of a simple (and poor) family born in an unusual city, the most Eastern point of Romania.

When she was less than 10 years old she was sent to live with another family, one that could support her financially. When she figured that they treated her badly enough, she gathered whatever she had and went back to her real family by herself. Walking. From one village to the other, till she got home.

She married young, with just a guy who would provide a home and relieve her family of one mouth to feed. Actually, she built her house by herself, while she was pregnant with her first. Her family in law did nothing to help and her husband was never around.

She had six children, two boys, then four girls. The boys died before the age of 2. She never showed any sorrow, just happiness in her children.

She divorced her good-for-nothing guy - when people did not really know what divorce was... and her daughters were so young. She had enough of his drinking and spending all his money on "friends" and mistresses. He died, run over by a train, several years later. He was drunk and he just fell asleep at the wrong place at the wrong time.

She knew war, she knew famine. She survived both.

She did not go to school for more than 2 years, but she knew how to read and write. She read "War and peace" and all the religious books she could afford. She believed in right and wrong and getting what you deserved after your death.

She raised her four girls alone. On an insignificant salary. She did house chores for her sister to earn more money. Two of her daughters went to University. The third one started working early, but found time to play theater and read every good book available. The forth one had to marry young and work as well, to help the others get along with their lives. All had incredibly well ingrained values, shared a home full of songs and laughter and supported each other all the way.

She never said anything bad about anyone. She took care of her four daughters, she raised her four grandchildren, she did everything she could (and so much more) for everybody she knew.

She was the most incredible human being I had the honor of knowing. She was my grandmother.

She would have been 91 today...