Scavenger hunt:: Grandparents day!
6So today is Grandparents day! Did you know that? Well I say ready set... 
Today's is something fun. If you are a grandparent say something amazing about your grandchildren, It's free bragging time ;) If you're not... Either share a fun time you had with your grandparents write a poem, send some love to your grandparents.
I'll start.
I am fortunate enough to have my son see both sets of his great grandparents (my grandparents) he missed his great great grandfather by 4 months :( But I digress. One of my favorite memories with my grandparents was seeing them interact with my son. My grandparents haven't been in the best of health recently, but seeing them with him has brought their spirits up and really made their day. I'm off to give my grandparents I don't see that often a call but have fun with this. Remember them if they aren't with us, give them love if they are! I think it's a weekend... and scores could use a boost.. how about this being a 5K event? (already doubled!) Oh and if you don't want to share that's ok, just tell us you did remember/give love to get the points!
- 18 comments, 21 replies
- Comment
My grandparents are all gone now. But I was lucky enough to have my great-grandmother in my life until I was 20. I was her favorite, the one allowed to stay in her room when we'd visit after moving away. The one she'd sit and show every little precious piece of her salt and pepper shaker collection to. We would sit at her kitchen table and talk while she sipped her coffee from her saucer.
She never drove a car, wore a swimsuit, or cut her hair after the age of 50. Staying in her room was a treat because I'd get to help her braid the hair that pooled at her feet, and few ever got to see that.
Nope, I'm not sitting here with misty eyes. Thanks for giving me a reason to think back on her today.
The last remaining piece of her collection.
@jaremelz - That piece looks very old - is it a salt shaker?
@KDemo It is. They gave it to me at her funeral almost 25 years ago. She was 98 when she passed and had it since I could remember. I wish I knew how old it was!
@jaremelz It's amazing! My grandparents have some salt and pepper shakers, but nothing that elaborate yet simple. I remember from my great grandmother, (my Mother's father's mother.) She had cups similar to this:
and probably hand knit coozies on them. My mother used to use them only for ice cream floats when she was younger.
@sohmageek Those tumblers are hard to get these days. My friend used to collect them and I was always so envious. My great-grandmother used tiny empty jelly jars for drinking glasses. I always thought that was so precious. Guess what I have a few of in my cupboard now?
I loved her, and she loved me. In a fairly distant family such as mine (my mom is my best friend, but she's all there is really), that's something I'll never stop feeling.
@sohmageek - We had those cups when I was very young! We had 2 each of several colors, but only one purple, so of course my brother and I always fought over the purple cup. They remind me of delicious cold cold milk.
@jaremelz I'd love to try to find a few of them... but the knit sock coozies are what made it special. We have had some family issues on my mother's side of the family, and none of them ended up going to our side of the family (my grandfather had a sister who was the favorite of my great grandmother, my great grandfather didn't take sides on the family, although I was his only great grandchild, he passed away before my sibling was born.)
@sohmageek It's always those little things that make the memories stick. It's funny that I can't remember big blocks of my childhood, yet I perfectly recall every single thing in her home.
@jaremelz It's the little things. :) I don't remember a whole lot of my childhood, but there are a few things I remember about my great grandparents, I hope that Raylan can have some of those memories with his great grandparents. I know my paternal grandparents are doing great considering... however We've been told a few times that they probably won't last more than 2 years. (That was 7 years ago) I personally think they have quite a few, but I've had to realize their own mortality.
@sohmageek My mom moved back to be near my boys a couple years ago. She's a wonderful grandma and they adore her. As I said before, she's my best friend. I cannot think of anything happening to her. Hell, we ride at least once a week together, minimum of 14 miles, and she's 67. She's invincible, in my heart. But my brain knows better. Ok, back to happy thoughts!
I only knew my paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother.
When we lived in Wichita Falls my grandpa came to stay with us a while and we'd walk down to the local fishing hole and do some fishing. I always liked being around him, he was so much fun.
My grandmother was a little intimidating. She lived in Ireland (where my mother was from) and she came to stay with us for a few months and the thing I most remember is her telling me at dinner (I was under five years old) that I didn't want to eat the fat on the meat, it was rubber, to give it to her. And she would eat it, I guess. I just know that to this day, I'll trim as much fat off of the meat I cook as I can.
My grandparents are still around- it was fun visiting them when I was younger: you got awesome grilled cheese made with Velveeta, plenty of soda, and lots of cool VHS tapes you could watch.
I gave my grandfather the awesome slot machine I got from one of the Mehrican Exchanges, and he enjoys it quite a bit.
My granddaughter just turned 3 :-)
@KDemo She's stunningly beautiful! My youngest had this crazy blue eyes when he was little.
@jaremelz - She's pretty special, thanks. Precocious and very outgoing.
Some artwork by my 3-year-old granddaughter. I'm going with genius, but insane is a possibility.
there are like fifty people here at my mom's for my grandmother's 80th
80 points for grammy plz
@Lotsofgoats Opposing teams be damned, yes, 80 points for grandma, please!
My last grandparent passed away last year at 98. She was the only one to live to the mobile phone era so I have more photos of her than the others. She was feisty up to 90+ but it was so sad to see her slowly waste away over the final years. Made me change my mind about wanting to live as long as possible - quantity does not equal quality.
@hallmike - I LOVE your grandmother!
@hallmike i love it! she's giving the international @carl669 greeting!
All of my biological grandparents are gone now. Some old family friends (probably more like godparents or something) are the closest I have and I've always thought of them as family anyway. She kept me during the week when I was little until I started school.
She turned 82 this past week and he will be 88 in January (and just retired a few weeks ago!).
They are both pretty awesome. I definitely get my love of puzzles and problem solving in general from him. We were out there last weekend to celebrate her birthday (they live about an hour and a half away now so it's not really possible to get there during the week) and she didn't bat an eye when I jumped up and said I needed to take a picture of the head of lettuce for one of the quick rounds lol
@stardate820926 - It's awesome that you got to bond with them when you were little, and that the bond lasted this long.
Well... everyone is sharing so I can share a little more... :) I called both sets of grandparents. They are doing well. Then I had my wife call her grandmother, She's not so well. She is in the hospital and won't accept phone calls. We figured she would be going to the hospital soon, she's up there, (it's never polite for a gentleman to ask a lady how old she is) and her health has been pretty poor for the past few years. She keeps saying every holiday that she may not make it till the next holiday (yet for someone so negative and down on the world and in not so great health, she's doing remarkably well.)
I have very fond memories of a few of my great grandparents, all of which have passed away by now. My Great grandfather that passed away just recently was a purple heart recipient from WW2, Battle of the Bulge. Apparently there was a very large funeral I was unable to attend. I had very limited leave left and I had to pick between taking a day to see a funeral, or taking an extra day right after my son was born.
I meant for that to be upbeat and positive but it seems more like a downer.
Sent some love. Thanks for the reminder!
Background info: My mother was my father's second wife. My mother is Jewish. My father (and thus his parents) are 100% Italian. As you may have surmised, my paternal grandmother did not like my mother. My paternal grandfather really didn't care either way. The only time we saw them was holidays or necessary family events. I have a half-brother and a half-sister from my father's first marriage. They were both close to those grandparents and my sister and I always felt left out. In other words, my paternal grandmother was a bitch and we were never fond of her. It wasn't our fault that we were from the second marriage. He passed away first (probably to get away from her) and she went about 2 years later. She left a nice inheritance to everyone but my sister and I. Fuck her.
My maternal grandmother is still alive. No one likes her, including her own kids. She's ornery, whiny, and a general pain in the ass at 93. Yes, that sounds mean, but it's deserved. Sadly, my maternal grandfather passed away when I was about 3. After he passed my mother had my name legally changed to give me his name as my middle name (I wasn't given one at birth.) Every word I've ever heard about him has been sweet and kind and he's the one grandparent I wish I was able to have a relationship with. While it wasn't always easy as a kid, I proudly carry the name Simon with me and I know he's always looking out for us. So there it is - Happy Grandparents Day Pop-pop.
@cinoclav - Wow - I can identify. My paternal grandmother was a cruel and selfish woman who rained hell on my real father. She lived into her 90s as well, not many grieved when she died. My maternal grandparents were loving people, just the opposite. Families, huh?
@KDemo Yup. Some of them just suck. But if nothing else, they teach the wonderful lesson of doing our best to never be like them.
@cinoclav My double Maternal side are 100% italian. My great grandfather was born in Italy. My biological grandmother (their daughter) I never knew. She died when my mother was 2 from a mosquito bite at a fair. However, I see a lot of my Great grandmother in my mother. Also we may have watered down the Italian bloodline a lot. However, having a dinner with an Italian family is a whole lot of fun!
Grandparents! I only remember my mom's mom - Grace, or Nana as she was to us. She kept her hair dyed Lucille Ball red, and drove an early 70's 4 door Dodge Dart sedan, back when they were not cool, and was an earthy brown. Wow, memories of her horrible old lady driving and when I gave her directions that involved the interstate! I have her jewelry box full of chunky plastic jewelry and treasures from the 70s/80s. I will keep those forever, as she died while I was in college.
I tell my kids and grandkids that I was able to talk to a person who was born in 1864. My great grandmother lived to be 101. She was a fun person to visit with.
I have 4 grandkids and they are great fun.
My grandparents were always kind and loving. RIP
Sadly, all my grandparents have passed away, and quite a long time ago now too. They were all great in their own ways of course. I remember though my one grandmother always used to take my brother and myself out, she always let us eat all the stuff our mother wouldn't! My favorite? Strawberry shortcake, and she would scoop spoonfuls of sugar on the strawberries, then lots of whipped cream! YUMMY!
@SavvySapphire - I want to be that grandma.
@KDemo @savvysapphire I have grandparents that were very much like that, and parents that gave me tons of sugar growing up.. I can't blame them 100% for the choices I made, however it is VERY hard to break the sugar habit. I honestly think that the only thing that kept me from being diabetic by now is my wife. Her cooking is much more spice oriented (not always hot) instead of just add tons of sugar! I now eat Rice Krispies without sugar on top of it. My diabetic Grandfather can't stop adding sugar to it, he just won't eat it without sugar.
However, I don't think the grandparents were at fault. It's their job to spoil kids. IT's the kids that have to learn that it's a treat not the norm for life.
I only have one grandmother who is still with us, and she is an amazing woman! She was a nurse for all of her life, and even after retiring she nursed at a local camp for a few decades.. She's 85 years old now, but has the energy and optimism of a teenager! She's so fun to be around all the time! My kids are so lucky to get to know her :) And she's still in great health overall :-D
All of my grandparents (except 1) died when i was young. i think make up for it, my one surviving grandmother is 96 years old and living along in her house, and going strong.
@Bogie I shouldn't post things so late at night... "All of my grandparents (except 1) passed when I was young. To make up for it, I feel that my remaining grandparent is trying to live forever. She's 96, lives alone in her house, and going strong. "
all of my grandparents are gone now. but, i'm lucky enough to have had my son meet his great grandmother.
Both sides were immigrants. Came here for a better life. Dirt poor. Worked hard, maintained their culture while assimilating into "Americans" (was important to them). Survived the Great Depression & the 1st generation born here proudly served in WW 2. Truly a unique generation! Proud to say, for the most part, the 2nd & 3rd generations aren't squandering the opportunities their sacrifices provided.
My grandparents lived close by (one set right next door) & gave us unconditional love. They were kind, gentle people who appreciated life & everything they had. I fondly remember each grandparent's special traits & what they taught me!
Thanks for taking me down this memory lane.