Blog hop · Giveaways

Ella Jade is turning what? Birthday Hop with great prizes – August 9th-11th

GRAND PRIZE IS A $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) Gift Card.  Very important that you leave your email address.  No email, no win.  🙂

As for my prize…either a copy of my debut short, The Couple or a $10 GC to the ebook retailer of your choice.  Good luck.  Leave a comment for my prize and the grand prize.

 

When asked to join the hop, I said sure what not?  I love Elle as a person and her books.  But then I had to come with a favorite birthday memory.  Wow!  At 46, birthdays have a new meaning anymore but I would like to share my most poignant birthday memory.

 

Birthday Memory:

As a child you are not supposed to have a favorite set of grandparents, but I did.  My dad’s parents were like a second set of parents for me.  I was the first-born grandchild and the only granddaughter for 13 years.  I had stinkin’ boy cousins until three of my aunts had all girls without months of each other.  I was spoiled to no end but not to the point of me being a brat.

Well, my beloved Grandy (grandfather) was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1982.  I, along with everyone else, was devastated.  He hadn’t smoked in 20 years but he still had the disease.  Fast forward to January 27, 1983.  That evening, Grandy was stepping out of his bath tub and a brain aneurism got him.  Died in my grandmother’s arms.  He was 67 years old and working a full 8 hours at the office that day.  I knew that he loved me and I still miss intensely all these years later.  10 days later, I was to celebrate my sweet 16th birthday.

Unknown to me, my parents had planned a surprise sweet 16th birthday party for me.  My  mom had gotten together with all of my friends, boyfriend and planned everything perfectly.  My parents wanted to cancel the party due to my grandfather’s passing but my friends and other relatives wouldn’t let them.  Imagine my complete shock when I walked in on my own party with all of my out-of-town relatives (that I thought had left after the funeral), friends and the entire high school soccer team (swoon, at the time) in my parent’s house.

Please don’t cry for me or feel sorry for me.  It was the best birthday ever and I will never forget my friends and family came together for me for that birthday.  Yes, it was sad because Grandy wasn’t there to celebrate with me but I knew he was there in spirit.  Of course, my birthday was pink.  Its my signature color!  LOL!  Again, I will never forget having my 3 year old cousins hanging on every word that my friends talked about and the way that my friends treated my younger cousins with respect and honesty.

I’ve had the big 21st, 30th, 40th and my Colt 45th (as my husband called it) and now I’m 46 and sliding into 50.  I still remember my 16th birthday like it was yesterday and my heart still swells.

Links to the other blogs

62 thoughts on “Ella Jade is turning what? Birthday Hop with great prizes – August 9th-11th

  1. Happy Birthday to Ella! Thank you so much for the giveaway 🙂

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

  2. Your story is so touching and I am so glad you have a great memory to go along with your loss that year. So many times the loss of a close friend or relative can mar the holidays near that loss.

    Thanks for the great giveaway and Happy 4-0 Ella James.

    Best wishes,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

  3. Happy Birthday! Thanks for the giveaway and sharing your birhtday stories.

    schan26.wisc(at)gmail.com

  4. Happy Birthday, Ella! I love birthdays. Thanks for the fantastic giveaway.
    bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

  5. My favorite birthday memory is one birthday when I was 8 or 9 (I think) and my parents let me invite a bunch of people over, including all of my family, and everyone just ran around in the yard, jumped on the trampoline, got in and out of those plastic pools around the yard, ate homemade cake and ice cream that my mom made, and hit the pinata! It was super fun just to be a kid and run around with all of my friends on a great day that involved homemade yummy treats!
    Thank you! kamclauc AT gmail DOT com

  6. Thanks for sharing! I don’t have a specific birthday memory in mind.

    butterflypetals7(at)gmail(dot)com

  7. Thanks for sharing your story. What a wonderful way to remember your grandfather.

    Happy Birthday Ella! Birthday celebrations are the best!

    My favorite birthday was my 40th. I went shopping with my mother then got my favorite tattoo, a garter that goes around my thigh with a Derringer tucked in.

    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

  8. Thank you for sharing your favorite birthday memory with us. Although it is sad it’s also great that you not only got to celebrate your birthday but to also celebrate and spend that day remembering your grandfather. Yes, the circumstances did suck but it was special in it’s own way.

    Happy Birthday to Ella!

    humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

  9. Happy Birthday Ella!
    My oldest is an august baby!!
    Thanks for the great hop!

    vals_hemi at yahoo dot com

  10. One year, for my 16th Birthday, my mom said she would drop me and a friend off at the mall to shop all day, with money. I did bring a friend, but I also asked my mom to come too, That was the best birthday ever and every one since I go with my mom. Thanks for sharing Ella’s wonderful day and the giveaways. evamillien at gmail dot com

    Happy Birthday, Ella

  11. Wow!! What a great pick me up… Your Grandy would’ve wanted it that way i’m sure…
    Thanks for joining the hop!!
    caiidynsmommie(at)gmail(dot)com

  12. I’m glad your family decided to keep the birthday party for you. I’m sure your Grandy would have wanted that and it’s great that you enjoyed the party. Happy Birthday Ella!

  13. I loved your bday story! Thank you for sharing it! Happy bday Ella! kamclauc AT gmail DOT com

  14. What a fun story! I lost my mom right before Christmas one year and my grandmother right before my wedding. It was her dress I wore. Sometimes parties make for wonderful healing chances.

    daringzoey at Yahoo.com

  15. Happy Birthday, Ella! Sometimes tragedy can be a blessing in disguise, Harlie! I think your Grandy would have been tickled “PINK” that you got your birthday party with all your out of town friends and family there to help you celebrate! Hugs! kbinmich@yahoo.com

  16. It sounds like that party was what you needed. Even though you were sad in a way you got to celebrate your birthday and the life of your Grandy too.

    Teresa Hughes
    huhgestw@yahoo.com

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