What do I owe you, kid?
February 17, 2010 | Nurturing Family
The winners of yesterday’s Proverbs 31 Ministries Whirlwind Carnival are: Bridget Turner: autographed copy of The Mom I Want to Be. Loved her tip on Granny Camp (plan to call it Gramma Camp when they come hang out with me!) Webcam: Mrs. R. Shephard, mom of 12, five still at home, one who is stationed in Japan. She plans to use the webcam to talk to grandbabies, and her military child!
The last few days I’ve been hanging out with Richard’s grandmother. She’s 95, though she insists she’s 100, and she is a storyteller! I’ve heard hundreds of stories the past few days, some of them more than once, but all of them fascinating.
She told me that her father was the first to have a phone in their home, and the first to own an automobile. She told me how she fell in love with Earl, her now-deceased husband, and how at a Christmas Eve party they decided to get married. “After all, the party was at a church and there was a preacher there.” And how Earl showed up after the party with his new bride, and how her mother-in-law didn’t fuss that she wasn’t invited to the wedding or that her son was bringing a girl home without asking. She simply welcomed her to their family with open arms.
I heard how she stood outside the door when her older sister gave birth, and how baby June was placed in her arms moments after birth so she could clean her up. She also told me how she gave birth at home to her first three babies, then went to a hospital for her fourth and they placed the wrong baby in her arms the next day. “That ain’t my baby,” she told them. “I know what a Franklin child looks like and that isn’t a Franklin baby.” They went back and brought her the right one. I think she was right because Sammy looked just like his brothers.
I rubbed her paper-thin skin, and bandaged an area on her arm where she fell a few weeks ago. I combed her stubborn white hair that wanted to stick straight up in back, and fed her chicken (“Now, this is what you call chicken!” she said, digging in). I worried that she was eating too much chocolate and then laughed at myself for the thought. One of the benefits of being 95 is that the doctor doesn’t care if you keep chocolate by your chair and eat a few pieces.
I’m leaving for a conference tomorrow morning, and I was worried about taking three days away from preparing to watch grandmother while my MIL and FIL traveled to a meeting, but I knew I was supposed to.
I’m so glad I did. I learned a thing or two, and it made me step back and appreciate my MIL, who is full-time caregiver, and my FIL who puts the paper on the kitchen table in Grandmother’s spot, so she can read it while she drinks her coffee.
It also caused me to struggle a bit. Aging is hard, friends. Not being able to be independent. Unable to walk steady on your feet. Your body frail and bent over.
But Grandmother has lived a rich life, and she gave me that big old smile when it was time for me to go. “What do I owe you, kid?” she said.
“I think you owe me a hug,” I replied.
“Well, you deserve two.”
And that’s what I got. Two big hugs.
Priceless.
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Love the grandma post. I used to be a home health care worker. I stayed with a few grandmas in my time. Some are sweet. Some are crotchety. Some are stubborn. But, they’re all wonderful people.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:46 amThanks for sharing. I miss, miss, miss my grandmas. One died 25 years ago, before I was even thinking like an adult and the other died after I was married, but still thinking small. Oh how I would love to hear some stories and ask them questions. There is so much gold in the older generation. My husband’s grandmother just passed in December, she was 92, and quite the gem. My only regret was that we didn’t record her stories. I’m so glad you got to spend time with Richard’s grandma.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:30 pmMy Great Aunt turned 100 years old the last time I saw her. She was very coherent and was slightly deaf and had sight in only 1 eye but she was aware of visitors. She enjoyed my company although it had been years since I last saw her. Her heart was uplifted as we sang hymns to her and then prayed before leaving. She went to see Jesus just after her 101th birthday. My sister is compiling a story about her and can’t wait to read it.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:38 pmWhat a wonderful and sweet post. I love how yesterday you talked about your soon to come grandaughter and today you talked about Richard’s grandmother.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:49 pmI know how special grandmothers are. One of my grandmothers died in 1988 when I was 19. I still cry at times when I think about her. It makes me sad when I think about how she didn’t get to see me graduate high school or see the things I’ve accomplished in my life. Things like getting a job and living on my own even though I’m blind. I’m still blessed to have one grandmother living.
I want to say how much I love your granddaughter’s name. I loved how in your post yesterday you called her Elle Belle. It made me laugh because I have a niece whose name is Ella and when she was a baby and toddler my mother would call her Ella Bella.
Reading your post yesterday and today has put a smile on my face and I really needed that.
What a wonderful post- thank you for sharing this. There are such legacies to be left in the sharing of stories, and this touched my heart.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:32 pm