That every child might have a grandmother that combines features as: best friend, role model, world traveler and warrior prepared to find grit and gumption to rise after every knockdown adversity that put her to the test. I had such an amazing grandmother and I will spend the rest of my life illuminating her legacy.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who began his life living with his family renting a house next door to his grandmother. The bond they shared was exceptionally strong and only grew stronger over the twenty years they shared. Grandma Maja was a gifted story teller and while I did not at the time write them down on paper, I most assuredly recorded them on my heart.

It is now about fifty years since we were together on this spinning planet. I have come to believe that my memories of life lessons she taught me well grow stronger as time goes on. How is that possible? My thinking is that appreciation is a mysterious phenomenon that sometimes grows with age and life experiences. Grandma had many admirable traits that I admire. I can spend the rest of my lifetime discovering, analyzing and sharing insights about her extraordinary power of grit. Here in this place I intend to do my best to share my observations, our history, insights about how she brought grit to life as her legacy: 1897-1969.