I was not lucky enough to have known either one of my grandfathers.  My grandmother Maris died when I was six and my grandma Ringler passed when I was fifteen.  Sometimes people mistook my parents for my grandparents and it made me very, VERY sensitive and angry.  To think my mother had me at 36 and was considered old.  I was not blessed to have my baby until I was 41!  Grandparents’ Day was a painful one for me because I never had someone who could come.  At least now schools are more aware of things like this; they allow those who do not have anyone to bring their parents or someone who is “special.”  My girl is so blessed to have not only grandparents but a very active great grandmother who is 90.  They are all on my husband’s side.  I ache so badly for my parents and wish they were still here.  I try not to be jealous when I see women out with their parents and their own children.  It is the only type of envy I struggle with.  Instead I try to focus on the fact that God blessed me with wonderful parents for as long as I had them, and now I am blessed to have my own child and a husband whom I truly love.  I know a lot of people have neither.  Brian Tracy, the Canadian-born American motivational public speaker has said, “The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.”  I was blessed to have that from my parents for as long as they lived, and I can say with certainty that my daughter will have both from my husband and me always.  I am glad she has family with whom she can celebrate on Grandparents’ Day.