{senses from my past} my grandmother

This photograph of my Grandma Marge and me hangs in my bedroom along with her lockets.  The only thing I wanted of hers, after she passed two years ago, was these lockets that I remember from my childhood.  I would always get them out of her jewelry box.  I never noticed the initials on the larger locket until they became mine - initials of my great grandmother - which made it even more special.  My Grandma was a huge part of my childhood and most of my childhood memories involve her.  I can't explain why, other than she was always there for me...always!

My Grandmother was a housewife - always cooking, cleaning & watching her soap operas (or her "stories" as she called them).  She would spoil my brother and me every time we were with her.  She always kept our favorite foods and treats on hand.  For some reason, I loved chicken noodle cup-a-soup and she always had it in her cupboard.  She made the best hamburgers and I still make hamburger patties just like hers.  To this day, I can not eat toast with peanut butter & jelly without thinking of my Grandma.  I remember sitting at the desk in the kitchen pretending I was a secretary.  She kept a drawer of old papers in the desk that I used for my pretend office.  I remember the other big wooden drawer in the hallway filled with coloring books, crayons & markers.  I remember hours & hours of playing kickball, whiffle ball & basketball with the neighborhood kids.  I remember the chairs she had in her living room that twirled.  My brother & I would spin in them until we got caught. :-)    

I remember her saving the plastic bowls & cups that butter (or I guess it was margarine) came in and re-using plastic silverware.  I remember her making instant coffee & the sound of the tea kettle whistling on the stove, doing dishes with her at the sink, my Grandpa smoking Camel cigarettes, sitting around the kitchen table with them, her packing my Grandpa's lunch in his lunch box for work every day and the bread box that had all the goodies in it.  I remember her taking care of me when I got my tonsils out when I was seven & letting me eat bacon when I wasn't suppose to eat it.  When I was sick, she would warm a towel in the dryer to wrap around my neck before she put Vicks on and tuck me in.  I'm not sure why any time I remember being sick I was at her house...maybe because my Mom worked.  She would make chili without kidney beans just for me.  She had the softest skin, pretty finger nails and beautiful blue eyes.  I remember how good she was with house plants, hanging clothes on the clothes line outside, Puff, the cat & Nioki, her spoiled dog, playing cards & yahtzee with the jars of pennies she would keep for us, going up north every summer and having the best time...and, most of all, her unconditional  love. 

I took this photo next to the red rose bush I just bought the other day - red roses were her favorite.  She would have been a couple years younger than I am right now in this photo, which seems unreal to me.  I miss her and hope she knows how very loved she always made me feel.  I feel blessed for having her in my life as not everyone has the opportunity to experience such a loving Grandmother and for so many years.

{my grandmother's lockets}