If she’d lived longer than the 97 years God gave her, Grandma would have turned 102 this past weekend. That’s how old Aunt Bess was when she passed, so it’s not much of a stretch.
I wear the engagement ring my grandfather gave her on my right ring finger. She had largish hands and when she gave it to me she assumed I’d need to get it sized. It fit perfectly, which I think delighted her as much as giving it to me did.
Here’s what I miss about her:
- Playing ring around the rosey in the side yard where the sweet william bloomed.
- Games of button, button, who’s got the button, hide and seek, crazy eights and old maid.
- Cutting roses, flags (irises), mountain laurel and peonies from the front yard.
- Making popcorn and grilled cheese sandwiches in the same skillet on a gas stove.
- The tick, tick, tick of the gas stove lighting and then the sulphur smell of matches.
- Dirty socks from running around shoeless in a house with a coal-burning stove.
- A TV tray at the front door with Halloween candy laid out, waiting for trick-or-treaters.
And Sunday dinners (usually ham, don’t forget the bread) and playing in the creek and “bless your heart” when I was sad and a jewelry box that unfurled when you lifted the lid and head scarves and white sweaters with shiny buttons . . .
But most of all, I miss, “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck,” followed by the most wonderful, I-love-you-forever Grandma hugs.
And even though she’s gone, I know she does love me forever. And I love her, too. A bushel and a peck that run clear to heaven and back again.
Miss you Grandma.
I forgot this year about her being “sandwiched” between Hannah and David. The thing I remember regarding her and you kids, is when you would ask her to do something with you and she would say “Let’s don’t and say we did.” 🙂
And now I say that to kids in my life!
That’s beautiful, Sarah. I miss my grandmother so much, too. I loved the brooches amongst jewelry. The quilts and scraps of fabric falling out of her closet. I loved every single thing about her. It sounds like we both had hands-on grandmothers … we are very blessed. <3
Oh to spend a sick day on her sofa sipping Sprite and being petted!
I got into poison oak while staying a week or more at her house. The best miserable time I’ve ever had … in that bedroom, pictures of family all around, window open, breeze blowing curtains, dogs barking, cows mooing, wolves howling … yeah. <3
I was with you right up to . . . howling wolves!