The mother who wouldn't sell anything...
(Just kidding, Mom!)
Seriously, I wanted to share a couple photos with you, if you don't mind. I have always been facinated with old photos- not just my family history photos, but other people's too! So hope some of you feel the same way...
Some of you know that I have mentioned being a part of the The Sandwich Generation in which I told of how the women in my family have tended to have their children later in life. My mother's mother, whom I called "Nana", had other grandchildren before I came along, but by the time I entered the scene, she was very ancient, indeed. I know to children, all senior citizens can seem older than the hills but believe me...she truly was ancient!
I wish I could have known her...really known her. But as I entered grade school, not only had her body become feeble, but her mind, as well. Most of my memories of Nana consisted of my tagging along with my mom to visit her in the nursing home. The dreadful smell would assault me and the sights of some of the ailing residents were disturbing to my young, sentsitive eyes. Sometimes, on a good day, Nana would would remember us...other times, she would talk in hazy riddles or ask us where her husband was.
Even I knew she didn't mean my grandfather, but her first husband, who had died in an epidemic in the 19-teens. That was the man whom she really loved. She had a small son when her beloved passed away, but my spunky grandmother went to work and raised him the best she could..until she met someone else she was willing to marry. The story goes that she looked considerably young for her age and deceived her new beau into thinking she was much younger than her 37 years. (He was only 25). They had two daughters, the first whom was my mother. And sadly, their marriage was marked with dissention and turmoil. My grandmother was a Christian and a true lady- and she certainly did not believe in divorce...but divorce happened, nonetheless.
So now, she was a single mother again. And her son became a sort of surrogate father to her two girls. He was twelve years older then my mom and both she and her sister adored him. And my spunky grandmother survived.
My mother tells me that for such a tiny little woman, she could surprise people with just how fiesty she could be- especially when it came to sticking up for right- or for the honor of her own loved ones. But in spite of this, she would sometimes cry when she became extremely angry...a trait, I might add, which has been passed down to her daughter- and to me!
There are so many stories about Nana...and I try to picture them all, even though the person I knew personally was only a shell of who she really had been.
Now, my own mother is approaching 80. And though there are times I know she wishes she was younger in order to enjoy her granddaughters in a more active way...I am still thankful she is alive and as healthy as she is- both physically and mentally. I'm happy that she can still read them stories and sprinkle them with gems of wisdom like only grandmas can. And that my daughters can witness, first-hand, the real person that she is, and enjoy her.
Nana passed away when I was 19. She had hung on until she finally was released from this earth and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 93.
And these days, I like to think of my grandmother not as the ancient, nursing home-ridden lady who only remembered her past but not her present... but as that young, fiesty, warm-hearted woman that I know from family stories, who loved her children fiercely and saw so many changes throughout her life and century.
Because I think she'll be the person that I meet in heaven one day.
*Picture 1...as a young woman
*Picture 2...with her little boy, my dear Uncle Les
*Picture 3...Nana holds me as a baby
**Edited to add...be sure to check out some of the photo details...like the high-button shoes in the photo with her son (1920)...and the beautiful classic pink car behind my grandmother and me. (I'd think I'd love to have that car now!)
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15 comments:
I love this story Tammy! Your Nana sounds like an incredible woman. Thanks for making her come alive in your post.
Tammy-
I like your blog name-Family Doin's. But if you really want to change it, how about using the Sandwich Generation theme! That is one of the first posts I read, and it kept me coming back. You just have to decide what kind of "filling" you want to be. ;>)
You are so blessed to have these amazing photos. And it's wonderful that you're posting stories like this. These family stories should be saved for future generations. Your Nana was an amazing creature.
Wow. I do love pictures like that and the stories behind them. It just amazes me.
Fascinating story, and I always love to see old photos. I want the car!!
What special memories of your grandmother! How wonderful that you know so much of her history, and can relate to her. (I love that pink car, too!)
Wonderful story! Your Nana sounds like a remarkable woman. I also can't help crying when I get really angry, nor can my daughter. I love the photos, especially the pink car!
Thank you for sharing your memories.
p.s. I tagged you for a meme.
What a great tribute to my wonderful mom. Talking about her being feisty, makes me want to write about an incident in my childhood where I really saw her at her most shining feisty moment so I will write about it & invite anyone who would like to read it to stop by my Blog grandmothersmusings
ruth
She was sure feisty! When I moved to Cleveland when I was a third grader, my teacher, Mrs. Doering, already was quite familiar with my family members. I joined my cousin, Roger, 2 years my senior but had been held back, and my cousin Ruby, 6 weeks younger than I. Dear little Roger was always in trouble. He once set the cloakroom on fire when he hastily shoved a burning cigarette in a coat pocket when Mrs. Doering opened the closet door. Ruby was a talker and was constantly in trouble for running off at the mouth when she should have been listening to the teacher. When I enrolled in the class, some six weeks after school had started, I wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. To mach a long story short, Mrs. Doering made my life miserable, blaming me when the culprit was someone else. I developed headaches, stomachaches and what have you. Finally, Mom had enough. She marched into the school and told Mrs. Doering, "Ginny is not Roger and she is not Ruby and I expect her to be treated as an individual. Mrs. Doering was quite chastened and the rest of my school year went far more smoothly.
A beautiful post. I had impossibly old great-grandmothers, who I only knew as these ancient old women - and yet they played such a big role in my life.
What a wonderful story, and great pictures! I wish I knew more about more Grandparents.
Aunt Ginny...loved getting your reply and hearing this story! If I heard it before, I had forgotten it. It adds richness to this post!
And Mom, I'm going over to read a first-hand account at your blog now...:)
Thank you to the rest of you for dropping by to see these pictures and hear a little family history! I'm glad some of you like other family history stories just like I do! If any of you ever post your own, I'm so there!
I'm glad Ginny added her story of her experience at our elementary school due to our cousins acting out. Being in a later grade, I didn't have that as much, but it may have added to a couple of teachers lack of patience towards me on occasion.
ruth
Wow...Now I gotta go post old photos too.
That is how I picture meeting my grandparents too! Like they were in my childhood - fun and full of life.
I loved the photos
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