MISSING THE GRANDPARENTS

My maternal grandmother was raised on a farm. Her mom was stoic and strict. When I was old enough to understand, she told me stories about her chores, their hardships, and what they had to do to survive. The story that stuck was about the chickens.

They raised chickens for eggs and for eating. When it was time for eating, my young grandma would “ring their necks” with her bare hands, and pluck their feathers. I don’t recall if she chopped the heads off. However, I do remember the “ringing their necks” part.

I loved spending time with my grandma! She was a gardener, a reader, crafter, and a housewife. She watched The Price is Right, Password, Hollywood Squares, and ROLLER DERBY! She baked mouthwatering pies and homemade bread. Thin and brown, wrinkled by sun, she was wondrous in my eyes.

My grandpa was delightful. As kids, we’d vacation with them. For one, remarkable week, every summer, we camped at the beach. My grandpa loved being in the water. With boogie board in hand, he’d wait for the perfect wave and ride it all the way into the shore. I miss his low giggling, as he scrubbed the sand from his knees, his eyes, his elbows, his whole body.

He ate with his elbows on the table and chewed with his mouth open. He told us stupid jokes and giggled that low giggle that I loved. He took his coffee in a cup with a saucer. Because the coffee was hot, he’d dribble some coffee in the saucer. When it was to his liking , he’d drink from the saucer. For breakfast, he liked runny, scrambled eggs.

We’d ride bikes, take walks, play baseball, go to the park. He spent time with us! He was a kind and gentle man.

The summer before my fourth year in elementary school, my grandma came for a visit; with loaves of baked bread in hand. In that week, she sewed dresses for me. She took my measurements and made her own patterns out of newspapers!

When I went back to school, no one had dresses like mine. We called them “twirly” dresses! When you spun around, the skirt would shoot up like a mushroom cloud.

I felt confident. I felt unique. I felt bold.

Sadly, They’re not with us anymore. I miss them so much…

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