What beautiful memories you have of your grandmother. I suppose many of us can relate, I know I can. My grandmother grew up on a farm in upstate Connecticut, and we have old black-and-white photographs of her plowing, milking, and even one picture of her with her adopted father And other family members, taking the day off, as much as possible, all smiling and holding up a can of Peels beer. I remember her mostly from the time that she was older, with grown children and grandchildren, and the fact that she rarely spoke unless she had something important to say. One of the things she said has stayed with me, even as I approach the 80 year mark. I'm sure that other people have said it, but I remember my grandmother saying it to me for the first time, "Never, ever lie. Always tell the truth; because when you lie, you will need to keep track of all the lies that follow naturally. With truth, you don't have to keep track of anything, because it will always remain the truth." I have missed her for a long time, but I am grateful for the memories.
Thanks! Dora sounds like a nice person…sorry she missed the fair. That was a true turning point in the whole American relationship with progress. And too those ‘progressives’ of the day were normal people, farmers, hardworking, seeking fairness, practicing values that built up, not tore down. Good people! We need more good people…in goodness there’s hope.
My great-grandmother, Maude Ellen Johnson Oakes, was born in 1881—one year after your grandmother. I was three weeks shy of my 14th birthday when she passed in 1972, so I knew her. I found her a little intimidating, somehow, though she wasn’t unkind. I can recall that my mother would bring her gifts—a small bottle of perfume, a nice nightie—and Grandmother would always say, “That’s too nice to wear” or something similar. And Mom would later find those gifts tucked away in a drawer. Great-grandmother hadn’t known many luxuries in her life, and when she was presented with them, she wasn’t sure quite what to do with them, it seems. Born in Illinois, her family lived in Iowa and Kansas before coming to Oklahoma territory in a wagon (a covered wagon, the story went, but I suspect that was an embellishment) during one of the land runs. Maude did live long enough to see men walk on the moon, and the ascent of motion pictures, radio, and television before that and so many other advancements. She also lived through several wars—including two World Wars. Hers was quite an eventful lifespan. She saw so very much in her 90 years.
I also had a grandma Dora Jane Goss. She cooked, sewed, cleaned and canned all the fruit and vegetables my grandfather grew in his large garden. She raised 5 children, never wore slacks, never drove a car, but was a kind and loving person. I was lucky to know her.
BUT, THEN AGAIN, AND LATER ON OUR LIVES, WE'LL ALL SEE IT AGAIN I'M THINKING....THANKS GK, PS: YOUR GRANDMA IS A LOT LIKE MY SASKATCHAWEN AUNTIE....WE LOVED HER STORIES AND SONGS....TK
Thanks again Garrison. You started me thinking about the grandpa who would take me fishing and would often come out to the farm to repair things. One day he was busy repairing our corn picker and I decided to pee on the gravel at the top of the lane and then went over to watch him. He looked up and said what's that on your' forehead and I said it's a pimple from eating chocolate and he said no, it's caused from peeing in the middle of the road.
Thanks for your heart-felt commentary on Grandma Dora. I have a feeling many of us had Grandma Doras - at least those of us that are about your age. My grandma Theresa came as a 16-yr-old refugee from Austria and was interned at Ellis Is. before making a home and raising a family in NYC. She never had an education, but was street-smart and loving. Those are my very best memories. RIP, Grandma Theresa.
My grandmother lived to just shy of 100. I had the wherewithal to record her recollections of growing up before electricity and all of the rest of the modern conveniences we now take for granted. It was amazing listening to the way it was and the monumental changes within her lifetime. Life had not been easy for her, but I was always amazed at the gratitude she felt for what she did have. It made me appreciate the here and now through her eyes.
I am 71 and have been in and out of AA for years. One thing you hear in there is, "If you're looking for sympathy here you'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphillis." So no sympathy for the Devil, and none for thee, Mr. Keillor. Why has it taken so long to look in the mirror? All the really stupid, truly shitty things I've said and done are now finally coming to my consciousness. (I am also a recovering Catholic.) There's nowhere left to run. I have a plan. Easter Sunday. Right after everyone's had their communion and are feeling all holy and sanctified.
My Great Grandmother came from Norway and loved being an American! She came as a mail order bride! And married a man who worked on the railroad. They lived out on the plains of South Dakota. She would cook only American style.
We sang that great lyric with you in Natick, Ma last month and it was moving. Admitting though: my friend and I argued over the lyrics on the way home and did resort to google to settle things. Neither of us was right of course. Thank you for that moment, and a nice evening!
What beautiful memories you have of your grandmother. I suppose many of us can relate, I know I can. My grandmother grew up on a farm in upstate Connecticut, and we have old black-and-white photographs of her plowing, milking, and even one picture of her with her adopted father And other family members, taking the day off, as much as possible, all smiling and holding up a can of Peels beer. I remember her mostly from the time that she was older, with grown children and grandchildren, and the fact that she rarely spoke unless she had something important to say. One of the things she said has stayed with me, even as I approach the 80 year mark. I'm sure that other people have said it, but I remember my grandmother saying it to me for the first time, "Never, ever lie. Always tell the truth; because when you lie, you will need to keep track of all the lies that follow naturally. With truth, you don't have to keep track of anything, because it will always remain the truth." I have missed her for a long time, but I am grateful for the memories.
Thanks! Dora sounds like a nice person…sorry she missed the fair. That was a true turning point in the whole American relationship with progress. And too those ‘progressives’ of the day were normal people, farmers, hardworking, seeking fairness, practicing values that built up, not tore down. Good people! We need more good people…in goodness there’s hope.
You come from good people Garrison and I shows♥️🇺🇸
I=it
My great-grandmother, Maude Ellen Johnson Oakes, was born in 1881—one year after your grandmother. I was three weeks shy of my 14th birthday when she passed in 1972, so I knew her. I found her a little intimidating, somehow, though she wasn’t unkind. I can recall that my mother would bring her gifts—a small bottle of perfume, a nice nightie—and Grandmother would always say, “That’s too nice to wear” or something similar. And Mom would later find those gifts tucked away in a drawer. Great-grandmother hadn’t known many luxuries in her life, and when she was presented with them, she wasn’t sure quite what to do with them, it seems. Born in Illinois, her family lived in Iowa and Kansas before coming to Oklahoma territory in a wagon (a covered wagon, the story went, but I suspect that was an embellishment) during one of the land runs. Maude did live long enough to see men walk on the moon, and the ascent of motion pictures, radio, and television before that and so many other advancements. She also lived through several wars—including two World Wars. Hers was quite an eventful lifespan. She saw so very much in her 90 years.
Wonderful story! And now I understand at least one reason why you keep going, in spite of the fact that you've earned a rest.
I also had a grandma Dora Jane Goss. She cooked, sewed, cleaned and canned all the fruit and vegetables my grandfather grew in his large garden. She raised 5 children, never wore slacks, never drove a car, but was a kind and loving person. I was lucky to know her.
AMAZING! ISN'T IT????
BUT, THEN AGAIN, AND LATER ON OUR LIVES, WE'LL ALL SEE IT AGAIN I'M THINKING....THANKS GK, PS: YOUR GRANDMA IS A LOT LIKE MY SASKATCHAWEN AUNTIE....WE LOVED HER STORIES AND SONGS....TK
Thanks again Garrison. You started me thinking about the grandpa who would take me fishing and would often come out to the farm to repair things. One day he was busy repairing our corn picker and I decided to pee on the gravel at the top of the lane and then went over to watch him. He looked up and said what's that on your' forehead and I said it's a pimple from eating chocolate and he said no, it's caused from peeing in the middle of the road.
Thanks for your heart-felt commentary on Grandma Dora. I have a feeling many of us had Grandma Doras - at least those of us that are about your age. My grandma Theresa came as a 16-yr-old refugee from Austria and was interned at Ellis Is. before making a home and raising a family in NYC. She never had an education, but was street-smart and loving. Those are my very best memories. RIP, Grandma Theresa.
Bless Dora! What a wonderful gift, Garrison!
My grandmother lived to just shy of 100. I had the wherewithal to record her recollections of growing up before electricity and all of the rest of the modern conveniences we now take for granted. It was amazing listening to the way it was and the monumental changes within her lifetime. Life had not been easy for her, but I was always amazed at the gratitude she felt for what she did have. It made me appreciate the here and now through her eyes.
What a very cool Grandmother!
A blessing for your family.
I am 71 and have been in and out of AA for years. One thing you hear in there is, "If you're looking for sympathy here you'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphillis." So no sympathy for the Devil, and none for thee, Mr. Keillor. Why has it taken so long to look in the mirror? All the really stupid, truly shitty things I've said and done are now finally coming to my consciousness. (I am also a recovering Catholic.) There's nowhere left to run. I have a plan. Easter Sunday. Right after everyone's had their communion and are feeling all holy and sanctified.
My Great Grandmother came from Norway and loved being an American! She came as a mail order bride! And married a man who worked on the railroad. They lived out on the plains of South Dakota. She would cook only American style.
We sang that great lyric with you in Natick, Ma last month and it was moving. Admitting though: my friend and I argued over the lyrics on the way home and did resort to google to settle things. Neither of us was right of course. Thank you for that moment, and a nice evening!
My husband’s grandparents were older than most of my great grandparents, even though he is only 6 years older than I am.