How are you keeping cool this summer? Way back in the 1950's there was no air conditioning that I ever heard of. We would run under the sprinkler, or lay in a plastic blow up pool. Fans would be running inside, and we would be outside as much as possible. Find some shade and play in the cool grass. In the evenings I would swing high on my swingset and sing my heart out as my hair flew back and forth in the breeze.
A few times in the summer heat our family would pack the station wagon and we would head over the Peace Bridge that took us from New York into Canada to Crystal Beach on Lake Erie. This was the ultimate summer treat!
The photo above shows my grandmother, on the right, relaxing with friends in the water. She has the cute hair thingy on. I have been wondering how old these ladies are? I am guessing they are in their fifties. My grandmother was born in 1898, and this photo must have been taken in the early 1950's. Here is hoping that Grandma doesn't find out about me sharing this picture or there may be a haunting taking place.
Grandma is the one who taught me to stop and smell the flowers, literally. When I was 18 months old I escaped from my crib during nap time and walked to my Grandmother's house. She lived around the block from us. My mother never knew I was missing. After that Mother always walked me to the top of the street and I walked the rest of the block alone, with Grandma waiting at the bottom of the block. And I actually remember this! While walking with me Grandma taught me to look at the flowers and smell them, but don't pick! I also remember her leaning over me as I examined bugs and she would identify them by name.
Now I am the grandma, and I sometimes wonder if my grandchildren feel linked to me at all in the same way that I was to my grandmother? It would be a great honor if they did, but in the hectic lives that everyone seems to live these day would they even notice that I tried to teach them to smell the flowers?
I think my grandchildren don't worry so much about the flowers. They think "Life's a Beach"! I think my grandma could have told them a thing or two about that as well!
17 comments:
Nice post. 8-)) It's getting me to think along those lines. Remembering my Grandmothers.
I loved my "Oma." She has been gone for over 23 years, but - boy, do we have the Oma stories! She was a wonderful grandmother, but I would not have wanted to be her daughter-in-law since her sons could do no wrong. And, she was an excellent German cook - everything in suger, cream or butter or all three. Both Oma and Opa lived to be in their mid-80s, which is hard to believe since we even caught Oma putting suger in her orange juice! The old family farm is right down from my favorite quilt store, Ye Olde Schoolhouse. In fact, there are old pictures of the school children who went there on the walls and I do believe Oma and/or Opa are in one of them.
I bet your grandchildren love you to pieces and think you are the best grandma ever!
Oh Marcie! I love the picture of the bathing beauties! I'm sure your grandmother would be quite embarrassed to have all your blogging buddies peeking at her in a bathing suit! Fond memories arise when I see photos such as this one.
I think Grandma's are meant to teach the younger generation of children to slow down and smell the flowers!
What a stinker you were! An 18 month old escape artist! At least you knew where you wanted to go!! LOL!! :0)
You sure brought back fond memories of my own grandmother...though I never saw her in a swimsuit! Fantastic memory and photo. Is it true that as a grandma you take in so much more of the little things they do than when they were your own? I'm waiting my turn...patiently. No hurry since the oldest just turns 20 here in a couple of weeks. :-)
Marcie, that's the cutest photo ever. You have nice grandma memories.
One of my Grandma memories is of one very hot day when she took a cold bucket of water and dumped over my head -- while I was fully clothed! It actually felt so good that I begged to be allowed to do it again several more times that summer.
Marcie, I hear what you're saying. Today's kids have grown up with the sensationalism and over-the-top stimulation of TV and the ever encroaching technology as they lounge inside in the safety of their "hothouse" environment. The wonders of nature and the treasure of relationships are seldom of interest to them. They are missing so much. I cry inside when I see what is happening to our little gkids. But they are growing up so far away that I can't do anything about it. The mama was raised that way, too, so she doesn't know any different either. But they will make it ok. They will learn other things. Things I don't know about and have no interest in. It all evens out.
Cherish your sweet memories.
Marcie having just lost my grandmother in the last 6 months this struck me right in the heart. I hope that my kids are forming the bonds of love and caring that I had with my grandmother with theirs.
I think we all have very special memories and links with you, and if life's a beach, then you're the one WITH the beach.
I remember you telling me names of your flowers when you had that big garden in Seattle.
What a great picture and wonderful post, with a reminder to stop and smell the flowers. That is so great you have the wonderful memory of escaping to your grandmas house. I know with my little grandson I really try to take great joy in the small things and see things new through his eyes. It is such a gift to be a grandma.
It was 62 degrees here this morning Marcie - a welcome break in the heat. My grandmother was the best...made me macaroni necklaces and wrote poetry about 3 squirrels playing in a tree to entertain me. I miss her still. blessings, marlene
sweet picture, and if they are in their 50's I hope I look so good in my 50's! What a cute grandma. Did you say you would climb into your wagon, or station wagon? I love grandma's and miss mine too. I think your a great grandma, too bad we all live so far apart.
I love the photo, I enjoyed reading about your Grandma memories, and the comments have been just as enjoyable to read. I hope I create such warm memories for my grandchild.
Oh Marcie - your photo is just priceless *S* There is just so much for us to learn from our Grandmas - even now. But the most important really is to take time to smell the flowers.
That's a great photo. What wonderful memories of your grandma. I have a lot of special memories of my grandma. Now that I have a 4-month-old grandson, I'm working hard to create some of those same memories and will continue to do so as he grows up.
My grandmother was a very significant person in my life. She was 40 when I was born and she was the most loving thoughtful person that I have ever known. She taught my mother the importance of kindness and caring who then passed on those same values to me. I try to live my life practising those values.
I think your grandmother must have been a very charming loving lady. I expect you have many fond memories of lessons like stopping to smell the roses. My gran loved all things in nature - the animals, the birds and the flowers.
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Warmest regards,
Anna
What a wonderful old picture - thanks for sharing it and the lovely memories of your grandma.
Post a Comment