Today would have been my grandmother Ruby’s 94th birthday. I still don’t think I’ve processed the fact that she’s not here to celebrate it with us.

My sister had the brilliant idea to buy mini vanilla cupcakes and purple balloons in her memory. We ate the cupcakes and released half the balloons into the heavens.

As I stared into the sky, I could see these balloons drifting further and further away until they became invisible to the naked eye. At one point, they looked like tiny dots against the horizon, and when I turned away for an instant and looked back, they were gone.

I know that Ruby would have loved every part of it.

I also know that just as those balloons didn’t cease to exist when they vanished from my sight, I also know that Ruby didn’t cease to exist the moment she drew her last breath.

I know for a fact that I will see her again one day just as surely as I know the sun will rise in the morning on October 8, 2018.

Until then, I have lots of happy memories and good stories to treasure in my heart for as long as I live.

Thanks, Ruby. You were the best.