Grandmothers and Grandmothers

Me and Grandma Edna, 1978

Recently, I learned an old friend's grandmother passed away.  His news reminded me of my grandmother and made the grief fresh again.  We spoke over the phone briefly, and I could just tell how "beat up" he sounded.  I lost my Grandma Edna three years ago this December.  I know how he is feeling right now.  Its terrible.

I miss so many things about her.  I miss her apple turnovers in the Fall.  I miss her smell.  It was her cosmetic powder from Lady Love.  I miss her love for her roses and her garden.  I miss her sewing dresses for all seven of her granddaughters at Easter.  I miss how she always inadvertently left a $20 bill out of someone's Christmas card.  She had a lot of grandchildren to remember.  I miss her housecoats and her permanents.  I miss her voice when she sang in the choir, one of the reasons I still cannot sit through a church service without crying.

Most of all, I miss her really really tight hugs and the lipstick she left on your face after kissing you.  I will always hold these memories so clear in my heart.  But it hurts sometimes knowing they are only memories now.

Sincerely,

W.A.'s Momma

Grandmothers...

me and my grandma. 1978

I had the best darn Grandmother in the whole world when I was growing up! 

First of all, she let us run around her yard picking apples and catching lightning bugs. 

She was the best cook ever, and made some great fried okra.  I loved her apple turnovers in the fall and her butter pecan ice cream in the summer.  She could fry chicken so well, it made you want to slap yo' momma!

She had the best chunky jewelry and satiny-est nightgowns.  My sisters, cousins and I would all dress up and play princess or wedding (our favorite).  I was always the groom because I was the tallest.

We could plunder her refrigerator, her closet, her drawers, whatever.  She was Grandma and just didn't care what we touched, moved, tipped over, broke, tangled up, greased up, ripped, soiled...as long as we were having fun.  I do not EVER remember her getting angry with us for "ruining something". 

I hope W.A. has some sweet memories of his Grandmothers (Oma and Grammy) that he can pass on as well.

(love and miss you GMA)

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma