Saturday, April 25, 2015

Memories


It's wet outside from the rain today, so I thought I'd take a walk down memory lane instead of walking outside.  

For some reason, my dad's parents were on my mind today.  My grandmother passed away when I was 10 years old and I don't remember much about her.   She was 3 years older than my grandfather just as I am 3 years older than BG.  Her first husband had died leaving her a widow with a young daughter.

My grandfather's first wife had died leaving him a widower, also with a young daughter.  He and my grandmother met and married.  When Granny was 42, my dad was born.  My dad then had 2 step-sisters...who ended up marrying brothers.  This was always fun to explain!  There wasn't much visiting between my dad and his sisters in later years, so I didn't really know them all that well.  

  
My dad had an excellent memory and was a great story-teller.  He liked to tell the story of the time my grandparents...who lived on a small farm and often struggled to make ends meet, particularly during the depression...were in the kitchen talking about taxes and my grandfather was worrying that he didn't have enough money to pay them.  He said my grandmother didn't say a word, but got up from the kitchen table where they'd been sitting and left the room.

Granny came back in the kitchen and handed a bulging envelope to my grandfather.  He opened it up and just stared.  There was enough money to pay the taxes.  There was a milk cow and chickens on the farm and my grandmother made butter and sold eggs along with the butter to a little country market to make extra money.  She had saved it unbeknownst to my grandfather. 


I wish I had an excellent memory like my dad.  I just can't remember what my grandfather did the years after Granny died until his health started to fail and he moved in with my parents.  One thing I do remember and will never forget...Grandpa gave me my first wristwatch on my 18th birthday.  It was a beautiful gold Hamilton watch and although he had little money, he wanted me to have a good watch.  I still have that watch in an old jewelry box.

Another memory is of him sitting in his rocking chair in his room, singing When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder.  That was his favorite hymn.  Grandpa was in a nursing home the last two years of his life and lived to age 92.  He was a dear, sweet man that I'm glad was part of my life.  I just wish I could remember more, but the important things are never forgotten.  He loved his family and he was loved in return.

Happy Saturday to you!
xo Cheryl 

37 comments:

  1. Cheryl, I love this post. I enjoy reading of grandparents. I do not remember ever meeting mine, as they passed away when I was a toddler. Your grandparents sound like wonderful people. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  2. you are lucky to have known them - especially him. my last grandparent died when i was 1.

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  3. Cheryl - love your story about your grandparents. I did not know my Grandfather because he passed away when I was just months old. But, oh how I loved my Nana and have so many memories of her. She lived with us and did all kinds of handwork. She taught me a lot about those things and life in general. She was a very special lady.

    Judy

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  4. Hi Cheryl~

    I loved this post, it really touched my heart. Family history is crazy - it's always the crazy things we remember! My grandparents were 1st cousins . . . my husband always says that it explains A LOT!

    I just love that you have those wonderful memories of your grandfather, he must have been an amazing man. I like to think that when we are remembering them . . . that they are very near, (I'm kind of strange that way... ;0) ). I'll bet you treasure that watch, what a precious keepsake!

    Loved the pictures of the Lilacs and the apple blossoms. My Lilacs just barely have leafs! I'm so looking forward to bringing a big armful of blossoms in and putting them on the kitchen table . . . mmmmmmm!

    Have a wonderful week-end!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  5. Thanks for sharing this sweet story. I always wish I had gotten to know my grandparents.On my Dad's side both died before I was 3 years old.I did get to know one grandpa,but he was not a happy man.The other grandma died 2 weeks after my parents got married.

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  6. Such sweet memories you've shared here. I loved the story of your grandmother giving your grandfather her savings for taxes.

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  7. I struggle with not remembering too. But it is so good that you have the watch! I think it is so important to tell these stories to our kids. Your lilac is beautiful! And what is the other?

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  8. Lovely story, Cheryl...it must have been bittersweet to write. The things we remember, good times and sad.

    I barely knew any of my grandparents...vague memories and not really the warm and fuzzy sort. I envy those that baked alongside their grandma. hung clothes on the line...chased the chickens. It's all a sort of fairy tale to me. But...love to you and big hugs for sharing something so special!

    Jane xxx

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  9. I really enjoyed your thoughts on family and grandparents. I especially loved the story about your grandmother earning money and keeping it for some need.
    My dad's parents died when he was very young. I only really remember my grandmother and a step grandpa. My grandmother died when I was twelve but I do have great memories of her. she was a town nurse and is the reason I became a nurse. I loved her nursing stories. blessings and hugs!

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  10. HI Cheryl I loved reading about your family and hearing about the history. I like you wish I had a better memory as I have forgotten many things but do remember the good parts. Maybe it is just as well. Have aa lovely Sunday.

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  11. I love this post and really enjoyed your walk down memory lane. I will be stealing this idea sometime in the future. my dad's mom died when i was 15 and mothers mom when i was 25.. my one grandfather died when i was a baby, so no memories but my other one was killed in a car crash when i was 9 and him i remember vividly.

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  12. Aww, now I'm missing my grandparents. I do from time to time AND as I get older it becomes more intense.

    Great memories (even though you don't think you have the memory)!

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  13. I enjoyed your memories Cheryl. Spring seems like a good time to have family memories. I loved my Grandad, my Dad's father. He loved horses and passed that love to me. I don't remember his wife, she died when I was young and Grandad married again. His second wife was a bit crabby.. all the time :) My Mom's Mother, I spent lots of time with her... she was a character and lived in St. Louis. I didn't know my Mom's father he left my Grandma with 4 young girls and Grandma raised them all alone. She never married again. She died when I was in high school. I have great memories of summer visits with family. One city family and one country family!

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  14. Sweet and precious memories, Cheryl. Family is the best... =) blessings ~ tanna

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  15. You saved the best memories! I so enjoy reading about blogger's families and their memories of "the good old days." Your grandparents sound like salt of the earth people. I'm sorry that you did not know your grandmother longer and how wonderful to have known your grandfather so long. One glad day you will see them again and pick up right where you left off.

    Your photographs of the lilacs are lovely. It's been raining here every day for a week with another four or five days to go to get into the sunshine. Sigh.

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    1. Some fine day, I am going to make my edits before hitting "Publish." That second sentence should read... a blogger's family OR bloggers' families, but certainly not what I have. Some fine day, I won't care. LOL

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  16. Aww..that brought back so many memories and tears to my eyes. My father's favorite song was When The Roll Is Called Yp Yonder I'll Be There....it was the first hymn I learned to play on the piano. His other favorite was The Old Rugged Cross. This was a wonderful walk down memory lane and such wonderful stories. xo Diana

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  17. First of all, Great Pictures today!!! But--your walk down memory lane brought back so many memories to me also --mainly of my parents and how they were able to do fairly well even though there was never much money.. Daddy worked hard all of his life supporting the family... Mom was a 'stay-at-home' wife/mother --and loved to cook, sew, and just be a house-wife (loving every minute of it). I had no grandparents --so I missed out on that.. BUT--my parents loved me and took good care of me. I miss them both.

    Great post, Cheryl.. Loved the story about the extra money.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  18. O, TFD....I just love hearing these kind of stories...this is an excellent post...and ...it made me tear up because I miss my grandpas, too. Both Grandmothers died before I was born so I never had one...I am blessed that God chose me to be a mother and a grandmother and now, a great-grandmother.
    On my way to our home fellowship gathering and now I have to re-do my eyes....:)

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  19. So glad you recorded those sweet memories, now they can never be forgotten. I can only remember my father's mother who was a dandy and a step grandmother who was also much loved. The rest of my grands passed when I was quite young.

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  20. I love stories and loved hearing yours . . ,
    Lovely flowering trees too . . .

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  21. These floral photos are just fabulous!

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  22. Sweet precious memories. I know you treasure that wrist watch.

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  23. What a wonderful story about your grandparents. We can hardly relate to the struggles and frugality of Depression Era people, but they are heroes in my book. How selfless of your grandmother who obviously believed that the two of them were a team. Thank you for sharing that with us!

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  24. What wonderful memories! I enjoyed then very much! :)

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  25. Aw...great memories... you already know that I love to think about the good old days too! My dad was a wonderful story teller and on Sundays at the dinner table, he would always tell us some great tales! The lilacs and redbuds are two of my favorites!

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  26. What a dear, sweet man, indeed. Giving you that watch for your 18th birthday was special, for sure. Loved hearing these stories about your grandparents. I had to smile when I heard about your grandma saving the day. I also have a little extra tucked away waiting for the day it might come in handy.

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  27. A wonderful trip down memory lane. Thank you for sharing them with us. I love remembering the stories my parents told me about my grandparents. The best kind of family treasure.

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  28. i enjoy memories. they warm your heart. i bet those lilac blooms smell heavenly. yum!! hope your weekend was a great one. we had lots of rain here in VA. does the watch still work? i know my mom has her Dad's watch & had it worked on so it would continue to work. very cool. those watches are not like anything they make these days. ( :

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  29. OH! Cheryl, How I loved this story, it brought back so many memories of my grandmother, who too lived on a farm, she had a cow, and chickens and would sell butter, milk, eggs to customers in town. When I spent summers at her farm I would go with her on her route both Friday and Saturday, I had so much fun, Thanks for the memory!
    Your grandparents sound wonderful, like mine. This post just warmed my heart!
    Have a blessed week,
    Sue

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  30. Oh Cheryl, I love your memories and your beautiful photos! Our lilacs are just starting to bud right now. We're a little later than you! (As I was reading your prior posts, talking about your BG being a lineman, our grandson in law is a lineman in Nebraska ! Praise be to God for these men!)

    Blessings
    Gert

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  31. Cheryl, this really touched my heart reading of the memories of your grandfather. What a lovely post. And the photos of the blossoms are so pretty too. Blessings. Pam

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  32. Cheryl, I so enjoyed this love story about your grandparents. What relief and appreciation and gratitude your beloved grandfather must have felt that day for his precious wife. Thanks for sharing it with us, along with your beautiful lilacs.

    Have a lovely Tuesday!

    Poppy

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  33. Such wonderful memories of your grandfather, Cheryl. He sounds like a wonderful man.

    Unfortunately both of my grandfathers died when my parents were very young, so not only did they not have a father we did not have grandfathers. I've laways missed that. My Dad died when I was a teenager and my husband's Dad passed when my children were very young so thye did not have grandfathers either. I hope my husband and I will be around for our grandchildren many years!

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  34. I enjoyed reading your memories and recollections. What a blessing that you know the stories of your heritage! I think that too many stories are lost because people don't pass them along.

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