Remembering Grandma....

We seem to get so caught up in living, we fail to remember and contemplate what we have learned from significant people in our past. As we go about our lives, we are continually thinking, whether it's about what is for dinner or how much we need to accomplish that day or remembering what it was like to have our Grandma hug us. We seldom take to time to reflect on what those special memories meant, let alone write them down for others to use in their journey through life.

My sweet Grandma Wilde always wore hearing aides. She had the old kind that tucked into her bra and had a cable running up to her ear. When the cousins would arrive for a visit, she would discretely reach inside her clothing and turn the volume down! Grandma was a "no nonsense" kind of grandma. She was always busy. Grandma and Grandpa Wilde lived in Kamas, Utah. My family lived in Idaho so when we visited so did everyone else. Lots of cousins, lots of noise, lots to eat, lots of games, and lots of work for Grandma. She had nine kids and thirty-one grandkids.

I guess what started all this reminiscing was thinking about the lessons I learned from my Grandma. She lived in the same three bedroom house where her nine children were born. x Grandma loved her dogs (all Pomeranian named "Tinker") and raising African violets. Grandpa built her a violet stand out of rebar that I use for my Family History books.

Grandpa passed away when I was twelve leaving Grandma raising my cousin, Mike. Mike's mother, Effie, had passed away when Mike was five. Grandpa had insurance but it was an accident only policy. Grandpa died of a heart attack. Grandma supported herself and Mike by working for the school lunch program. Her married children helped as they could but were raising their own young families. Grandma was a hard worker and determined to make a good life for Mike.

I guess what started all this reminiscing was thinking about the lessons I learned from my Grandma. She lived in the same three bedroom house where her nine children were born. Grandma loved her dogs (all Pomeranian named "Tinker") and raising African violets. Grandpa built her a violet stand out of rebar that I use for my Family History books.

Grandpa passed away when I was twelve leaving Grandma raising my cousin, Mike. Mike's mom had passed away when he was five. Grandpa had insurance but it wad accident only. Grandma supported herself and Mike by working for the school lunch. Her children helped as they could but were raising their own young families. Grandma was a hard worker and determined to make a good life for Mike.

Grandma never had much money but it never mattered. She made do with what she had. She took care of her things and made them last. Grandma shared whatever she had.

Grandma made me an afghan when I graduated from high school. I have a handkerchief Grandma and Grandpa gave me one Christmas. She croqueted a lace edge to make it pretty. Grandma always wore an apron and made the best cookies out of old bottled fruit. I remember enjoying her fruit cocktail  cookies even when I was in college.

Mostly I remember her hugs. I loved her humor - a little sarky -. She had a fascination  with unusual names she would find in the obituaries. Maybe that's why Uncle Jim had a goofy name for everyone!!  I loved her and I knew she loved me. That's what my Grandma was all about........