Yesterday, while it was on my mind all day and all night, I forgot to mention something very important and dear to my heart.

My grandmother’s birthday.

Her twin brother turned 94 for both of them yesterday.

94. It’s almost impossible for me to think of what she would be like today, but still, I speculate.

I have no doubt she would still be rocking it on the fashion front, bold jewelry and all. I acquired my love of big anything in the accessory world from her.

I used to watch her get ready for fancy dinners and was utterly mesmerized. The rings, that somehow never seemed flashy. The red lipstick she always wore and her perfume … ahhh … I still identify her with that smell, her smell.

I was six and a half when she died. All of my memories of her perfectly preserved. She was not just my favorite grandparent, but my favorite, most beloved person {outside of Brother}.

We shared one of those timeless connections like Maman and I. I still feel cheated she checked out on me, on all of us so early. Not that I judge that, I would have wanted the same for myself.

It’s just hard … letting go of our People. Even though I don’t really believe life just stops and I know she is always around, hovering close by.

A whiff of her perfume as I walk, a dream, a feeling. These things let me know, she’s here.

I just wish it were still in the physical form that my senses can see and touch. Because what I am left with is having to put my faith into my faith.

I guess that’s the challenging thing about faith. We can’t quantify it, and there’s no true measure of it. We just choose or not choose.

Believe or not believe. Faith or no faith.

This is why the hearts, the messages, the signs are all so very important to me. My confirmation and direct line to The Universe; The People.

Reassuring me. Reminding me that all the magical and mystical things that I can’t see, but do sense, are real. So when it comes to faith or no faith, I’ll always opt for the faith.

What else is there?