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Christopher's Challenge - My Grandmother
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Christopher's Challenge - My Grandmother |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
My Grandmother My mother had so many kids, she could not feed them and yet, still brought more into the world. I loved all my brothers and sisters, but resented the newer ones coming it. It meant more work for me and less food. As we were growing up, each of us were given more and more responsibilities until there was never any time to play. We were even taken out of school to stay home to baby sit while our step father was supposedly looking for work. He never looked for work, and was one of nastiest, laziest people I have ever met. One day when I was eight, my mom told us that my younger sister, then seven and myself would be flying to live with grandma for a year. We were thrilled, we loved our grandma and only saw her on Christmas. We each ate two dinners on the Airplane - the stewardess could not believe we could pack so much food in. When we arrived in Washington State, Grandma and Grandpa were waiting for us. We were given great big hugs and immediately taken out to dinner - where we made pigs of ourselves again. Grandma, never said a word about our horrid table manners. When I think back, she must have been totally embarrassed. When we arrived to her country home she showed us our room and where we could put our meager amount of clothes. The house was incredibly clean - the big double bed had hand made colorful quilts on it. Large fluffy Pillows, four of them, with pillow cases that had delicate embroidery on the edges stared at us with invitation written all over them. That night, Grandma fed us again and put us in brand new soft flannel nightgowns that she had the foresight to purchase for us before we arrived to her home. We kneeled down on our knees and said our prayers, and were kissed and tucked into bed. We had never seen two sheets on a bed before. They smelled so clean and fresh. I tried so hard to remember the last time anyone had ever tucked me in. I sank my head into one of the pillows and slept the best I could ever remember. In the months living with our grandma, we learned table manners, how young ladies were suppose to present themselves, how to set tables, how to act in public and she gradually fattened our thin bodies into healthy vibrant young girls. She also taught us about promises, a place for everything and everything in its place, how soap was the most precious commodity in the world and that no matter how poor you are, you should keep yourself as clean as possible. There was no yelling in that house. Grandma was a school teacher, and each Saturday we cleaned house from top to bottom - we did not mind; it was way less work than what we had been used to doing. Then she would take us to her beach house and we would frolic near the hammock and pump the old red pump, wondering why we needed to put water into it to make it work. Later, we would scurry down to the beach and play Tarzan and Superman turn rocks over and see the crabs. We would get muddy and dirty, and grandma would have us wash up for our picnic lunch that she always packed for those wondrous occasions. Afterwards, we would ride home to her house, clean up again and put dresses on so we could go six miles into town where she took us to the library and let us check out books to our heart's content. The little brown country library was the most beautiful place that I can remember going to as a child. It was filled with wondrous books and smelled of pine. Grandma taught us about books and writing and how to play the piano and to appreciate art and music. We had a television, but it was only turned on for Grandpa to watch the news after dinner. After school, we would take the bus to our baby sitter's where we got to watch cartoons and where I learned how to ride horses and ride a real bicycle. Each evening around five o'clock she would pick us up and take us home where she would change out of her school dress and put on an older dress and one of her many colorful aprons. She would cook, we would set the table and grandpa would come in smiling for dinner. We could clear the table, but grandma would never let us wash the dishes. I remember telling her, "Grandma, I am big enough to wash dishes. You look tired." She would smile and say, "You are just a little girl. You are helping a lot as it is." In that less than one year, I learned exactly how I was going to raise my children. I have always pondered on why my mother would tell us how strict grandma was when she was a child. Yes, we had chores; yes, we were told how to act and behave; yes, we had many rules and regulations. But, every rule was consistent. There was never any slapping, hitting, yelling and I have never felt more loved then I did when I lived with my grandmother. I cried the day I got on the plane to go back to my mother. Grandma was 56, worked full time, had grandpa to take care of and it was years later, after she died when I inherited grandma's old trunk which her mother had brought over from Norway. It was full of her most precious things. It had her teacher’s certificate and pictures of her as a child. It had unused handkerchiefs each one embroidered with the names of her grandchildren. It had her worn locket with grandpa’s picture in it that one could tell had been opened many times by how worn the clasp was. It had many things that she cherished and I lovingly touched each one. The trunk held letters from her loved ones, and those interested me greatly. One letter had not been mailed. I opened it carefully. It was a letter to her younger daughter. I felt like I was intruding, but my curiosity won over my hesitancy. As I read, tears gushed out of my eyes, and I did not think they would ever stop. She told of how tired she was. She told of how much she loved us, and how she tried to keep us even though we were so much work. She told how my mother had demanded us back and with pain in her heart she sent us back to poverty and what she suspected was an abusive household. I carefully replaced the perfumed scented letter back into the envelope with grandma's beautiful handwriting, each letter perfectly formed with the meticulousness of her personality. I learned love and how much work it takes to love. And, I learned that throughout my whole life I have never met anyone as good and kind and generous as my grandmother. Oh, how I miss her. < !signature--> Teresa King www.tipsfortop.com [This message has been edited by netswan (edited 05-17-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Teresa King - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
Netswan, how I enjoyed reading this! I could picture every scene, smell the clean, fresh sheets on your bed at your Grandmother's house, feel the sting of tears as you read her heartbreaking letter. This is a beautiful, poignant story...and that through your Grandmother's care you learned exactly what loving means is the most touching of all. Just beautiful! ~ Claire Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau |
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WolfsMate Member
since 2000-01-14
Posts 121New York |
You where lucky to have such an opportunity. I never met my Grandmother's. Wonderful story. "You never have to worry...Never fear for I am near" |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
This is a great story! I could see everything as though it was a movie in front of me...you are lucky to have had such a woman of influence in your life. Good one! |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
fraid I don't have time to read this, so I'm using this to reserve my space and bumping you up. Printing this and will reply tomorrow! Thank you for responding to the challenge! |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
netswan, I miss my grandma too, and this one instantly reminded me of mine and almost have tears on my eyes at the thought of having lost her. 16 years it has been since she left us, but her face still is brilliantly lit in my sight. All I do is take one look at my palms and I focus on an image which is her.... This one was great? Thanks for posting this one.... regards, sudhir |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Swan, this was PERFECT...you wrote this so well I too felt like i was there with you, I could feel the calm and comfort that came in her presence. Now it is your turn for you to "remind me of me" you have written very much of my childhood here, in that it was always my grandparents who were my sister and I's saving grace. ANY character, or integrity I might have came from the things they instilled in us. thank you for reminding me of that. take care, jm |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Thank you everyone -- made my day to wake up to wonderful comments on my story --) I enjoyed writing it, and am very fortunate to have wonderful people like you to not only read my work, but to take the time to comment on it. Warmly, netswan |
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Dawn Eclipse Senior Member
since 2000-01-31
Posts 637The Horsehead Nebula |
Netswan~ That was a beautiful story. Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful person.  "Even a fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it doesn't stop a wise man from trying." Harry Anderson, "Night Court" *Cassandra Roseen* |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State |
*SIGH* This is so touching! Brought a tear or two to my eye! I found my self smiling as read each line. Seems that your Grandmother made a huge diffence in your life!  Truly beautiful Netswan ~Sheri |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Dawn and ~Sheri thank you so much for your comments. I am so glad that I could share my grandmother in this way. Warmly, ~netswan |
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