G is for Grandparents

Growing up, I had infrequent visits with my grandparents.  One grandpa had passed away before I was born; the other lived far away and died when I was sixteen.  From my grandmothers, I gained a few, but precious, memories and mementos.

Both my grandmothers had gravy boats that I inherited.

I love the worn, delicate detail on this one.

My maternal grandmother had this one...

It's unique in that the boat is connected to the plate to catch drips. 

These gravy boats come with a long history of family meals and all that transpires around the dinner table: baby's first bite of birthday cake, updates on the school day, good news and bad news, and fighting over the last biscuit.  Families eating together at all.

My children had more time with their grandparents than I did with mine, as our family lived close to the grandparents for four years.  The memories my now grown children have are many.  Some of their favorites:

Grandma always had gum.

Grandpa took them to buy new shoes.

Grandma baked the best sugar cookies (a recipe we still use today.)

Grandpa gave them film canisters filled with coins.

For their birthdays, Grandma would send them the number of dollars that was their age.

Grandpa hugged so tightly, it was hard to breathe.  But, it made them laugh.

Grandpa took them for late-night doughnut runs - after they had pajamas on and brushed their teeth.

At Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa had a "grab-bag" of items they wanted to get rid of.

Grandma had more shoes than they'd ever seen, and purses to match. 

Once they were driving, Grandpa would fill their gas tanks.

Grandparenting today can be quite different than it was thirty years ago.  Families don't live close by as much as they used to, so some children grow up never knowing grandma; some grandparents are raising their grandchildren.  God bless them all.

I'm not a grandmother yet, but I want to be ready.  I already carry gum with me, but I might have to buy more shoes.