Sunday, September 13, 2009

A Tale of Two Grandmothers

     Growing up, I was fortunate to have the love and presence in my life of two, wonderful, different yet alike grandmothers.

     In memory, they impacted my life; in reality they continue to impact my grandsons’ lives because I want to be exactly like them. 

     Whatever grand-parenting model I have lodged in my memory bank is a combination of their love, their delight in me , added to the grandmother model of them all – my mother.

     Grandmother Mills, my paternal grandmother, lovingly called grandmother (because no better name existed), wore aprons, spoke softly, had soft hands, saved every letter ever written to her, gardened, grew all of her plants from cuttings in coffee cans, taught me to shell peas, never raised her voice,had 8 children, made homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls, named her 1-2-3 Cake Favorite Cake because it was my favorite, took me to the Baptist Church in Ricardo, Texas, canned, sewed, tatted, embroidered, smocked, said “Mercy!” and “I’ll declare” , owned a small store next to her house and had Lance peanuts in jars on the counter, was the absolute best cook in the world,

and smiled ,as if her love for me could not be contained ,whenever she saw me.

     Mamaw, my maternal grandmother, worked in the dry cleaners and laundromat that she and Papaw owned, she smoked, drove a red Cadillac with huge fins, made her grandkids sparkling burgundy (non-alcoholic) , served over crushed ice in colored aluminum glasses, let her grandkids walk to the movie theater, gave us money to buy cokes and popcorn at the concession stand, had a wonderful raspy voice that laughed heartily, named me Punkin, gave me her middle name Ellen, enjoyed going to the VFW, made pies good enough to sell, loved to dance, wore rouge, vacationed with Papaw, pulling an airstream trailer and caravanning with other trailer owners, made casseroles,

and smiled, as if her love for me could not be contained, whenever she saw me.

    

    

    

24 comments:

LPC said...

I love the nickname Punkin:).

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a great tribute to both of your grandmothers. You were so fortunate to get to know both of them and be close to them. I grew up with no grandfathers and only l grandmother that didn't care for children, so my thoughts of grandmothers was not very good. I did however have the best role model in a mother and she was the perfect grandmother to my children and they talk about her all the time still. What an impact she made on my life and theirs. I'm sure you are the perfect grandmother, it sounds like you had great teachers. I hope you will stop by my post and enter my 100th post giveaway. Hugs, Marty

Unknown said...

How wonderful. It is so important to have those memories of your grandmothers. I too, had two wonderful ones that shared their love and their lives with me. I work hard to be that kind of grandmother to my four sweet ones. Every day, I love them more and more.

Have a wonderful day.

Charla

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

What a fabulous picture you've painted of your grandmothers....I loved reading it.

Hugs,
Spencer

Rebecca Nelson said...

I so hope my sweet Miss K (and any other grandchildren God blesses me with) will love me like you love your Grammies.

Reading your beautiful words makes me wonder just how I will be viewed...

Blessings to you today~

Love, Rebecca

Jo said...

I, too, had 2 different kind of Grandmothers and was very fortunate to have all my grandparents until I was 18! My last grandparetn died when I was 38. If it had not been for those 4 people I would not understand the concept of unconditional love. What a great post and tribute to your grandmothers...........Jo

Glenda/MidSouth said...

It is great that you have wonderful memories of both of them. I have been known to call my Grands "Punkin". :)

Carole and Chewy said...

My grandmother's were also just as different as they could be and your post brought back their smiles.

BUT -how in the world did your grandmother raise 8 kids and never raise her voice.....

Blondie's Journal said...

You have written this so well, i can almost visualize your grandmothers. So what qualities did you derive from these wonderful ladies?

xoxo
Jane

Made In The South said...

How sweet. I to had a grandmother(from New Mexico) and a mawmaw (from Louisiana) they were so very different, but they both taught me similar things. What a great post, I love post that make me reflect back on my own life. Thank you for sharing.

trash talk said...

While I aspire to be like your Grandmother, I'm afraid I'm more Mamaw...try as I might not to be!
What a fortunate woman you are to have had these two distinct and different personalities in your life. Their imprint shows in your writing and I'd have to guess in your personality. Lucky you and what a pair to draw to.
Debbie

Marguerite said...

You were so fortunate to have known both of your grandmothers. I enjoyed reading your wonderful recollections of them. Great post!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Such a sweet post... lovely reading about two special ladies!

Kat said...

What a beautiful post! My grandmothers too were very, very different woman - your descriptions are darn close to what mine would be. But like you, the one thing they had in common was their absolute love for and joy in their grandchildren. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories. Kathy

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

I love this grandmother post. I feel the same way about mine...my mother's mother was like the first one, and my father's mother, Italian, smoked Luckey Strikes, took ume to Bingo at the church, and loved me to no end. I adored them both, too. Linda

Lynn said...

I loved this post. It is making me think of what my granddaughter may someday write about me...uh oh!

When she was first learning to talk, I taught her to say "Temporary Insanity!" when she did something she wasn't supposed to do!

blushing rose said...

Laura what a lovely memory & writing of your G'mas. Your words are are so full of love ... ty for sharing your precious moments.

Have a great week ... TTFN ~ Marydon

Sandra said...

Lovely post!! It is an interesting concept to compare our grandmothers! Love this. xoxo

Anonymous said...

What wonderful recollections, Laura. You must include them in your book about a young girl growing up on a ranch in deep South Texas. Karen

Domestic Designer said...

Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories of two special ladies. You are very lucky to have had them in your life.

Debbie's Garden said...

I was shocked at all you said about your Grandmother, it so describes my paternal Grandmother! The aprons, she taught me to tat, saying "I declare"!!! Gardening in every container she could get her hands on. A soft spoken, laughing at herself, always had time for you person. What I'd give for one more visit.

Deb said...

loved your description of your grandmothers...it's funny but it made me think of how different my grandmothers were...hum might just have to post about it....thanks for sharing...

Karen said...

What sweet memories of two different, but very special ladies...I enjoyed this!

RachelD said...

No matter what the feat or the job or the calling, it's a wonderful thing to have such a pattern and standard to go by.

We're both very blessed to have had two such women to love us and show us how to be Grandmothers.

Neither of my Mammaws smoked but one dipped, and I DO love the sound of those raspy, smoky-voiced women, like the best notes of a low saxophone.

 

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