Grandma sings 'Happy Birthday' to herself amid coronavirus quarantine
Happy Birthday, Norma!
A grandmother forced to spend her 88th birthday alone under self-quarantine certainly made the most of it, sharing her joy online.
Norma Gregorio recorded herself singing "Happy Birthday" and making a birthday wish, which she sent to her family. Her granddaughter, Jessica Kerrigan, 22, posted the moment on TikTok.
"[Our family] sent her a flower cake from 1-800-Flowers. She was very appreciative and she just decided to record herself singing 'Happy Birthday,' and emailed it to me and my family," Kerrigan told "GMA."
"It was just the cutest thing, and I decided to post it," Kerrigan added. "I didn't think anything would come of it."
Instead, Kerrigan said it's garnered more than 8 million views.
Kerrigan said that when she told her grandmother "she was a star now," she responded with, "'I'm not a star, I'm a galaxy!'"
"She loves the attention! She's very happy and surprised," Kerrigan added.
"It was my birthday and I was here by myself. My granddaughter and daughter sent me a cake," said Gregorio, who expressed disappointment the cake wasn't edible. "I decided to [record myself singing] because I know how to do it. I'm 88, but I can Skype, WhatsApp and TikTok."
Gregorio, who was born March 25, 1932 in New York City now lives in Union City, New Jersey.
She said she appreciates all of the views and comments, but wants people who viewed the clip to know that she wasn't sad to be alone.
"I don't know why ... they're crying. I'm always happy, I wasn't sad," she said. "I have a philosophy: I think every morning when I wake up, I say 'Thank you, God, for giving me another day.' Every night when I go to sleep, I say, 'Thank you, God, for giving me a day to live."
Gregorio said she's able to keep her spirits high amid self-quarantine because she said she lived in Italy during World War II and understands what it's like to be in a crisis.
"Be happy with what you have, cheer for our scientists that are working on finding the vaccine," said Gregorio. "When this is over, I shall enjoy a cup of coffee or a Coke, or even a glass of wine on my terrace. How's that?"
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