She
was affectionately called “Little Grandma” in our house. She was a spitfire, lucky if she was 4’8” or
so and never over 100 lbs even soaking wet. She was the Mother of 12 children with too
many grand and great grand children to even count. Absolutely loved by all! There isn’t a one of
us that hasn’t been touched by her in some way.
While
my Dad was serving in Viet Nam, my Mom and I stayed with her and my
Grandfather. My Grandma would get up in
the morning and as soon as I’d started to make some noise she’d come and get me
from my crib and bring me downstairs for breakfast. My brother and I would spend our Christmas and
Easter breaks from school with them most days while our parents worked. No matter what time we’d have to be dropped
off, and that was pretty early on some cold snowy days, she was always ready
for us with a huge smile on her face and breakfast ready. Usually some Polka music on in the
background.
She
didn’t have material wealth, no fancy house or clothes but she had a HUGE
heart. She always made you feel special
and loved. My fondest memories of her
were sitting around the dining table and playing card games. If you were lucky you sat to her left and she’d
feed you the cards you needed to fill your hand. She loved to let us win, and trust me she
could have easily beaten any one of us at any time she was that good but she’d
rather see the joy on our faces. And not
one of us will ever just walk by the game of Yahtzee and not think of her. It was a rite of passage to sit with her and
play game after game of Yahtzee!
One
of my more notable memories was of my Mom driving us to pick up my Dad from work and
as we’re heading down Main Street in Oshkosh, I looked out the window and saw
my Grandma with her purse on her arm and the other arm just swinging away. She was going somewhere in a hurry and with a
purpose. She wasn’t even close to home. She never learned how to drive, she walked
everywhere! I mean everywhere and not
just a slow meandering walk a high- gear power walk! That gene has been passed down to some of us
and I have actually been told a time or two to slow down, you walk to
fast!
One
of her goals was to live to be 100. She
made it to 101! She went to live in a nursing home this past November as she finally needed around the clock care. She told my Aunt Dort she had 1 week to get her out of there! She didn't want to stay around all those old people!
Disneyland has a saying;
“The Happiest Place on Earth”, they’re wrong.
The Happiest Place on Earth was wherever she was.
You grew up in Oshkosh?
ReplyDeleteJust outside of in a town called Winneconne on the Wolf River. I was Miss Oshkosh in 1985.
DeleteMy Auntie was a 4'8" dynamo, too. Man, she could outwork us all and then spend half the night crocheting doilies. They just don't make them like that anymore.
ReplyDeleteTewshooz,
DeleteI would agree, they don't make them like that anymore. She sure will be missed.
Izzy,
ReplyDeleteGod Bless your Grandma, 101 years of age. What a little pistol!!!
Thanks Sandy! She was a pistol, and had the cutest little laugh that was larger than life as she always seemed to be laughing!
DeleteWhat a wonderful tribute; great post. What an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteLeigh,
DeleteThank you, and yes she sure was. I don't know how she handled 12 children! I have issues with just my 2.
What a sweet remembrance for your grandmother! So glad she made it to 100, what an accomplishment! Read the later post about the Moose's mother. I have a cousin that was diagnosed in November. Caught early & he's on his way to his 4th treatment this week. He has lost his hair (on his head but not his face) but not his appetite. It seems that it is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. Prayers heading her way.
ReplyDelete