November, 2015: There was a large gathering for my grandmother’s 90th birthday five years ago, and I wrote a poem at that time to celebrate her life.

A smaller group of us joined her this year for her 95th, and we read the poem once again. Here it is, with its introduction from 5 years ago (also a poem, and now somewhat dated!).

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Grandma,

As we gather to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of your birth, the momentous changes that have transpired since the beginning of the 20^th century to the current day bear reflection. You arrived in 1920 in one world, and have lived to see it become yet another.

• From the jazz age to the digital age
• From flappers to rappers
• From Betty Crocker to Martha Stewart
• From the Victrola to the iPod
• From Encyclopedia Brittanica to Wikipedia
• From the Model T to smart cars
• From the WPA highway project to the information superhighway
• From biplanes to the space shuttle
• From Halley’s comet to the Hubble
• From Jim Crow to Barack O

You have successfully navigated many changes. And so, Grandma Ruth, we honor you with this poem.

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Celebrating Ruth

You have seen, you have done, you have sought

You have learned, you have shared, you have taught

From the God we can’t see to the world we can – using microscope and telescope, encyclopedia and concordance – seeking knowledge has been your boon

Words and ideas spilling out of you like so much light from a harvest moon

Poems, plays, songs and stories, lesson plans and Sunday school lessons

Always hopeful, always learned, always in tune

You have seen, you have done, you have sought

You have learned, you have shared, you have taught

From Calgary to Midland to Colorado and the Texas Coast – with letters, pre-dawn calls and visits that were sometimes surprises – keeping family ties strong is the goal you harbor

Love and advice spilling out of you like so much color from an April arbor

As daughter, sister and wife, mother, aunt, friend and teacher

With an open heart, open house, and open larder

You have seen, you have done, you have sought

You have learned, you have shared, you have taught

From homemaker to career woman to volunteer – cooking, singing, sewing, teaching, researching or worshipping – doing things right is the result that you bring

Finished products, energy and analysis spilling out of you like so many songbirds welcoming spring

Spirited, lively and fun, uncompromising and curious,

Always inspired, always tenacious, doing the right thing

You have seen, you have done, you have sought

You have learned, you have shared, you have taught

From childhood through adulthood to your 90^th year – with songs, lessons and plays, and as leader, follower and disciple – spreading the Gospel is your amazing grace

The message “We are saved!” spilling out of you like so many smiles from a grandchild’s face

The Lord is your Shepherd and leads you beside still waters

Always reverent, looking to His higher place

You have seen, you have done, you have sought

You have learned, you have shared, you have taught

We thank you.

© 2015, Glover Gardens

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Update: I shared this ode to Grandma in November of 2025 in the dVerse Poets Pub for an “Open Link Night“. You can head on over and read the other poems here.

Grandma is gone now, and I am still so grateful that I was able to share this poem with her while she lived.