Most of the memories I have of my grandmother take place on "the cape". It was not only time with my immediate family but also time with my extended family, my aunt and 2 favorite cousins. The 5 kids would ride the old broken down bikes around the bumpy dirt roads, walk to the beach, play house in Steve's camper, go to the dump (yes a trip to the dump was entertainment for us girls.) I can remember my sister Sandy catching crabs and running after me with them, trying to scare me. I can remember the way the salt tasted on my lips whenever I would jump off the dock. I can, at any moment bring myself back to the middle of the ocean riding the tube as it bumped me through wakes of water and I could see my family on the boat through the splashes of water beading off my face. I can taste steamers and I can feel the crisp hot feeling of a sunburn. Some of my favorite memories happened at that cottage on the cape. My memories of this part of my childhood stand shoulder to shoulder like soldiers and I can recall every detail. These are among some of my favorite memories to look back on.
As I have grown so has the relationship with my Nana. When I was walking the tight rope between childhood and adulthood my grandmother was forced to push me into the adult reality of losing my father. She spent the last days of his life being his nurse. I can remember a visiting nurse arriving to exam my father when he was home through hospice and only minutes after she entered his room I heard my father yelling "BETTY BETTY" he only wanted her. On one of my father’s final days I was sitting in the kitchen and my grandmother had a bottle of wine there with her. We were talking about what it would be like when he was gone and she asked me "do you want some wine." I said "no" because I knew I was to young at only 18 years old but I knew why she offered it to me. I was forced to deal with adult things and feel adult things didn't I at least EARN a glass of wine? She had a way of saying this, without saying anything at all…
As my Nana's favorite, I mail her books I read and enjoy and I make sure that I call and make time for her. I always tell her I love her and have even spent time alone with her at the cape as an adult just enjoying everything my Nana is and has always been to me. I am blessed to have her.
I began to think about all this because as my son gets a little older and begins to form bonds and relationships I see the special relationship forming between him and his Nana. I have begun to wonder what he will recall of his young childhood as they make memories. What will he recall when he closes his eyes? I know one thing... He will appreciate and love his grandmother just as much as I do.....
No comments:
Post a Comment