Have you ever missed someone who is actually still on this Earth with you? Someone you can visit and to talk to? But yet, that person doesn’t remember you, can’t say your name and can’t even talk to you? Simply put, I hate Alzheimer’s. This horrible, invisible disease took over my Granma. Well, it’s not really invisible. You could see it in the hollows of her cheeks, the sunken look of her eyes while she either looked you over trying to remember who you were, or as she looked right past you like she didn’t even realize you were standing there. You could hear it as she tried to mumble what it was that she was thinking or what she wanted. And it made me wonder, “where is my Granma” and “I wish we could have her back even if it’s just for a minute”. I know she was still my Granma, and regardless, when I think back to “who” she was, I’ll have my memories. But seeing her like that just slowly made those memories go away. So while you’re listening to this and if you have your own memories, smile and be thankful for them.
My morning started off fixing Addilyn breakfast. When we went to the grocery earlier in the week, I picked up grapefruit. So while fixing it this morning I remembered Granma (she was “mammaw back then but that’s a whole other story in itself!) showing me how to slice the fruit in half, take a knife to break up the edges and then sprinkle sugar to give just a bit of sweetness to the sourness. And then just like I told Addilyn, “the best part is getting to drink all the juice when you’re done”. It was something as simple as a grapefruit that brought a smile and a sweet memory to mind.
I know the girls will agree with me on this one. Sleepovers at Granma’s were the best. Before you could even ask if you could spend the night, Granma would whisper in your ear “wanna stay with me tonight?” sometimes you’d sleep in the front bedroom and other times we’d snuggle up in her bed. We’d say our prayers (the woman was a walking bible) and sometimes it felt like they would go on for hours. You’d find yourself dozing off and she would nudge ya and say “you still awake” and we’d keep on going. We would then talk for a few minutes and then fall asleep. And the next thing I knew it was morning and I was in bed by myself cause she was already up drinking her coffee and making me chocolate chip pancakes and maybe doing her nails. Which leads me to my next memory.
In the hall closet of her house was a shoe box that held bottles and bottles of fingernail polish, remover, clippers, nail files and more. She’d spread it all out on the dining room table and go to work giving you a personal manicure. It was just something simple like that that sticks in my head.
And coffee. The woman would warm up the same cup of coffee over and over and over again. When I was younger, I thought that was normal. Now I wonder how she drank it. Yuck! She’d put it in the microwave, walk away and 2 hours later go back to get it and reheat it. Repeat all over again.
Anne Wiseman was a woman who was 100% put together. Never a hair out of place, earrings that didn’t go with the necklace and her shoes always matched her attire. It’s probably from owing a fashion store “back in the day”, but regardless, the woman was ALWAYS in style and looked very put together. I remember her picking me up from track practice back in middle school and someone asking me who she was. I told her she was my Granma. She commented on how pretty she was and didn’t look like a Granma. Granma just smiled when I relayed the compliment to her.
You could ride down the road with her (which sometimes got a little scary!) and she’d reach over, pat your leg once, then several more times, each time a little quicker and she’d say “you know what that is?” and before you could answer her, because you always knew the answer to it, she’d say “that’s a love pat” My sisters and I can be riding down the road together and every once in a while that memory will surface and we’ll do it to one another.
Granma was great baker. Her homemade yeast rolls were a staple at thanksgiving and her cream cheese danishes you could expect on Christmas morning. I remember the last night I spent the night with her. Rachel and I stayed with her together and we were even in high school. Granma taught us (however I don’t remember now) how to make icing. To put it in a Ziploc baggie, twist it, snip a small hole in the end so you could easily squeeze the icing out in a fine line. I didn’t care about how to do that, I just wanted to lick the icing out of the bowl like a 3 year old.
In the basement was a chest that held dress up clothes. We’d get the old clothes out, and believe me they were O.L.D. A peach polyester suit with bell bottoms, and a braided belt that went around the huge shirt, chunky heeled wedding shoes that were 7 sizes too big, peep toed navy heels and one very ugly navy and plaid dress. I’m sure there were more; these are just the ones I remember. We’d dress up in these clothes, get out an old missalette from church, line up our chairs and play church. Rebecca was always in charge therefore she always got to be the priest. We’d get lays potato chips and cranberry juice and play “body of Christ”. We’d sing hymns and go to church. Oh the good times
These are the memories that I will forever hold in my heart when I think of my Granma. I hope my children are able to have their grandparents for a very long time and never take for granted the time they will get with them. So I want to thank you for letting me reminisce and travel down memory lane and the roads of my childhood to that brick house in Rineyville that holds so many memories for me. God sure did bless us with a wonderful and classy Granma.
