I look in the mirror through the
eyes of the child that was me.
-- Judy Collins
So the other day I sat enjoying Sean Dietrich's daily post, when a certain paragraph bulls-eyed its way into my consciousness:
"Have you ever noticed how today's old folk look younger than your grandparents looked? When my granddaddy hit 55 he retired and began pulling his pants up to his nipples. He looked old, and sat in a rocking chair. By the time he was 70 there was moss growing on the north side of his shoulders."
I can't say why.
But I've been thinking a lot about my grandparents lately. Which is odd, given the precious little time I spent with them. Like great-grand's oversize end tables sitting in my childhood home like benevolent sentinels. There, but largely unnoticed.
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| 1954: Paternal Grandmother Willer (74 y/o) ..... in her ever-present glass beads and sensible black shoes. Funny -- my favorite pair of lace-ups look remarkably similar to those she's wearing! |
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| 1956: Maternal Grandparents Hanson (ages 70 and 64) A farmer all his life, if my grandfather wasn't clad in bib overalls he enjoyed dressing 'up' -- even driving from Minnesota to New Mexico in an UNairconditioned sedan. I've no idea what my grandmother kept in the little brown bag, but like her handbag, she normally kept one at the ready. And her shirtwaist? I don't think I once saw her in slacks. I'll bet she didn't even own any! ... which brings another memory bubbling up to the surface. On our family's '57 trip to Europe, I remember being taunted, and called "boy! boy!" by the French children because my mother had the audicity (*smile*) to dress me in slacks that day. * * * Ugh, sorry for rambling. I've no particular beginning or end to this post. In fact, I woke up this morning feeling like I was back in high school, totally unprepared for an exam. So winding things down ... Do any of these ring a bell? There were coats ... and then there were car coats House coats (i.e., dusters) Shoe horns ("You're going to ruin your shoes if you keep stuffing your feet in like that!") Play clothes ("Get right out of your school clothes/Sunday clothes and put on your play clothes.") Reminds me of a favorite Chris Young song: |
I wonder, when my own granddaughters think of me what they'll remember?
Que sera sera!
Hugs, Myra
