My grandmother was one of four girls. She never had her own bed. She slept with her sister Ruth, and the two girls would lie on their sides, back to back, keeping each other warm, not to mention providing good back support.
Ruth died young. I never met her.
Gramma never shook the need to "back up to" someone. In her nineties, she moved a firm couch into her bedroom, preferring it to a bed, because she could back up to it.
That's what I like about getting older.
To hell with it.
If I want to sleep on a couch, I get to sleep on a couch. That kind of thing.
I miss my Gramma.
At 87, she moved in with us to take care of my little brothers. They were 2 when my Dad left. I was 17. She insisted on getting me a high school class ring. Surprised me with it even though they couldn't afford it. It didn't occur to me until recently that the reason she was so adamant about it was because she never got one. She only went to the eighth grade.
Then I lost it.
With no reprimand, she took the original order form, and had a duplicate made. The exact one.
Years later, after I'd graduated from college, she saw what looked like the glint of a broken Christmas bulb in the radiator. She took her broom and swept out my ring. Now I have two.
I did not appreciate her enough.
Tonight before I go to sleep, I'll ask her to "back up to me" in my dreams. We have a lot to talk about.
* Doris Wilson 1902-1997
11 comments:
What a great testimony of goodness and grace. She looks like a tough but sweet lady in that picture.
I had a Remarkable Gramma too. She did much of the raising of my brother and me, while my mom, a single parent, was at work and at night school. I miss her desperately -- and I'm particularly sad about the fact that she never got to meet my kid, whom she would have loved.
So beautiful! You got my cryin'! (And her name is Wilson, so I love her double.)
What a stunning story -- the back up to me, the class ring. I am in awe.
My grandmother is also named Doris, and she is extraordinary. It's a good name!
I miss my gramma...so much. She only had an 8th grade graduation, but was pure grace, wise and gave unconditional love. I wish my girls had knew her or knew that kind of love.
How blessed you were and what a moving tribute.
Grandma Yoli - 8th grade. Smartest woman I've ever met. She could turn leftover nothings into a feast. Bake with scraps of dough and a jar of nothing. Sew remnants into pretty clothes. Supported my Mom and her brother and sisters in her own hair salon. Worked like a dog her whole life. Kindest, most selfless person I knew. Thanks for this reminder of Yoli, Michelle. I hope I back into your Gram in a dream too. She sounds like a Peach.
Beautiful. My grandmother was the antithesis of yours. She could not even remember my name, not because dementia or anything, simply because she didn't care enough to bother. Oddly, though, she wanted me to be with her when she died. Life is a mysterious journey. I'm glad you had such a wonderful grandma.. and that you shared her with us.
Good god, of all the amazing stuff I've read here, that's the most amazing. It raised the hair on the back of my neck (the ultimate test). This tale belongs on NPR's Storycorps. Next time the mobile truck arrives in Cleveland, I'm going to grab you and drive you there to digitally immortalize this story.
'scuse me I have to go call my Grandma.
Thank you. I got tears in my eyes. I'm enormously close with my grandmother and it's those sweet oddities I will treasure in her. Thanks for the reminder to do it!
This is a very sweet post. I was thinking of my Grandma today and thought "I should blog about her."
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