Posts Tagged ‘grandmother’

Things My Grandma Left Me


Even though she’s hasn’t been around for most of my life, my maternal grandmother has had a huge impact on my life.
She passed away a few months after my 7th birthday.
My memories of her are mostly fused with what I’ve gleaned over the years from others about her.
She defied the conventions of her time and lived her life her way.
She was a great woman, what I’ve learned of her life inspires bravery and courage in me.

Earrings

My grandmother wasn’t wealthy by any means, but she had strong work ethics and a keen dedication to saving and investing.
She used to say “If you learn to live within your means, the rich man cannot make you his slave”.
I guess with the holidays coming up and being around my mom, I’ve been thinking about her lately.
I’ve always sort to be closer to my grandmother’s memory, I’m fascinated by her life.
There are so many things I’d would have loved to asked her, and so much more I don’t know about her.
There are a few things of my grandmother’s that I keep with me, makes me feel closer to her.

Bowls

Pyrex Bowls Veggies & Florals

These vintage Pyrex bowl sets belonged to my grandmother.
She collected a wide variety of designs, of mixing bowls, baking and casserole dishes.
I faintly remember those Christmases, where she’d bring out her best dishes.
Somewhere out there are sea chests full of these beauties,
I intend to rescue them one day and bring them back to their glory.

Rose Necklace

Rose Vintage Necklace

According to my mom, my grandmother had this necklace custom-made.
She said my grandmother loved how it turned out so much she said it’ll go to her first girl grandchild, – so technically this is my sister’s.
Adinkra Symbol Earrings

A couple of years ago my mom decided that my grandmother’s jewelleries were antiquated so she had them melted down and made these earrings and charms out f them.
That made me sad, it was almost as if I was losing her over again.
Thankfully we’ve managed to convince her that vintage is in again.

Maame


Today is the anniversary of my grandmother’s death.

I was exactly seven years, six months and twenty eight days old when my grandmother died.

My mom has told it a million times – how she came to find out. My father probably not wanting to deal with having to comfort her said my grandmother had been in an accident and my mom had to go to her. She recalls in disappointing tones how death was the farthest thing on her mind through the two hour journey to my grandmother’s home.

Family members had converged at the house; the women started crying when they saw her and that’s how she knew. She doesn’t remember passing out but remembers my brother Joe who was a little over a year then, slip from her arms.

Stories and memories of my grandmother has taken a mythical place in my life, She has somehow become a role model and iconic figure in my life, she’s up there with the saints and superheroes. She has an awe inspiring life story of fairy tale proportions.

My grandmother at a young age was forced to marry a much older man. In those days when women resigned to their fate, prayed and made the best of things; my grandmother found the courage to flee her unhappy marriage.

She’d go on to make something of herself. She built a business, a house and invested in stocks.

She never remarried though she had a gentleman companion. She lived a great social life.

My grandmother is one of those people you’d refer to as a good Christian woman and have it mean something. She was principled, kind, generous and loving – all who knew her loved her.

She left a great legacy

My great aunt Felicia (my grandmother’s sister) once told me that my grandmother lived a lifetime for all of us.

I’m so proud to have come from her house, proud that a woman like her came before me.

She was a feminist even before the word meant something.

She blazed the trails so that I never have to settle.

It hurts me that I never really knew her and I wish more people had.

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