Saturday, January 02, 2010

Is it possible to love someone you've never met and mourn her passing?

You bet.

7 comments:

Maryannwrites said...

What a great story. Thanks for the link Janet. Hope you have a great year this year.

Sha'el, Princess of Pixies said...

My grandmother died some years ago. When I was a child, we saw my grandparents twice a year. We'd drive off to the little lumber town where they lived, and later in the year they'd drive up to Washington State. When gramma would come, I'd crawl into bed with her and tell her all my complaints and problems. She kept a straight face.

Grandma's family were fairly poor when she was young, and grandma was thrifty as a result. But she was generous with herself. I miss her still.

There were other grandchildren, of course. My sibblings and my aunt's children all vied for gramma's attention. I remember snuggling up to her, probably when I was about seven years old, and wispering, "Gramma, I'm your favorite, aren't I?" She tactfully said, "I love you all equally."

When she was in her last years and living with mom, she reached over and patted me. She said, "Yes, you are my favorite. Just don't tell the others." It made me laugh that she remembered it all those years later.

An honest assesment is that my grandmother was a much better grandparent than she was mother. That may be true for all of us; I'll figure that out when I have grandchildren. ... I will always miss my gramma.

I got in a tiff with my oldest male cousin. We were both really young; he was six or so and I was maybe five. Grandma made us sit on a chair ... together ... and it was awful. I remember both of us trying to fill the opposite side of the chair. Boy Cooties! It was an apt punishment.

My cousin grew up to drive trains, and I refuse to grow up. Writing simply isn't an adult occupation. It's a disguise for childhood imagination continued.

My grandfather left me with pleasant and loving memories too. He was a lumberman, a conservationist, a hunter (not as incmpatible as you may think). He was a good man, short and very strong.

Anne Gallagher said...

Thanks for sharing Karen's story. Happy New Year Janet!

Karen Kirkpatrick said...

Thank you, Janet.

astrologymemphis.blogspot.com said...

*sniffle* That made me cry. I miss my grandparents. They were the people who made me feel the most loved of anyone in my life (along with my favorite Aunt Mildred & Uncle Joe Sullivan). Every one of them was a fascinating person who left indelible impressions on me. I can't wait to see them all again in the sweet by & by.

Bernita said...

"Is it possible to love someone you've never met"
Yes.
Please don't die.

Marjorie said...

Yes, I love Jack Kerouac and I miss Edie Beale.