Question 17

Personal History Question 17 is, “Write about your grandparents.”

My maternal and paternal grandparents could not have been any more different! My mom’s parents were older. They were divorced. And they could not be in the same room together. So, one year my Gram would come to Thanksgiving, and we would bring my Grandpa a plate. The next year it was the opposite. My Gram always went to our Christmas Eve shindigs, and we would see my Grandpa on Christmas Day. I remember the one time she came to our house when my Grandpa was there, sitting at the kitchen table. She had something she REALLY wanted to tell my mom, and did not even noticed that she had parked behind my Grandpa’s car in the driveway! My Gram was always going a hundred miles an hour, so she comes swooshing in ranting to my mom, only to realize my Grandpa was sitting there smiling at her. Her eyes got real big, she clamped her mouth shut, and exited the house as fast as she could. She drove like 80 mph up the street, and no one heard from her for days! She had remarried and had two more children. My Grandpa remained alone til his dying day. He told my mom a day or so before he died, that he loved her just as much now as he always had, and that it would’ve been impossible to remarry. They were both kind and supportive, and I knew they loved me, but neither were the lovey-dovey type. My Gram was rather matter-of-fact. She had no filter, if she thought it, it came out her mouth lol. Our conversations were usually brief. We used to watch a lot of baseball together, which was pretty cool. My Grandpa was much softer. He always wanted to know about your day, and when you spoke, he really listened. I loved my conversations with him. He loved puns and bad Dad jokes. 🙂

My paternal grands, my Nanny and Pop, were the opposite. Very loving and huggy/kissy. My Nan loved to snuggle. They were kind and loving and supportive. Their home was a place of comfort and love and happiness. My Pop had this big booming laugh that could instantly bring a smile to your face. He was always in bed by 8 and up by 4. My Nanny was up til 1 or 2 most nights cleaning the kitchen and enjoying the quiet time to herself. Pop would let her sleep when he would go to his woodshed in the early mornings. He would come up around 8 and make her coffee and wake her.

I was very fortunate to have all 4 of them in my life. They are missed, very much!