I first met my Grandma-in-law in 1989 or 1990 when I was dating Hubby. I can clearly picture her sitting at the kithen table describing how she had climbed up on the roof the day before to adjust her tv antenna. She was a spry 72 years old at the time I believe. (Note: I wouldn't climb up on my roof even then, at the ripe old age of 20!)
In the course of our conversation, she said, you're from Rochester NY right? I nodded yes. "Well," she said, "I just read about these women in Rochester protesting about how men are allowed to go topless in a city park but that women would be arrested for public ludity." (I think she was combining ludeness and nudity here).
I braced myself for a typical wise elder lecture about the morals of today's young women and the shame of my generation.
Instead Grandma said, "If I were just 10 years younger, I'd be out there with them myself." (Reminder...that would make her 62).
Grandma is not much herself anymore. Today, her spirit manifests in alternating bouts of temper, in imaginary relationships and flirting with men, in regressing to youth, and in uncensored blurting out on any topic. But the source of that roof climbing, topless wanna be soul is still there, hanging on, for dear life.
2 comments:
You do have a way of painting a picture with about a THIRD of the words it takes me. I could be bitter. I could be nasty. I was raised well, so I'll simply say that this simply entry brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for a glimpse into this part of your world, and "grandma's" Soul.
Your word sketch of grandma really evokes a sense of who she was in her 60s and 70s. adventurous and independent. Of course, it is sad to see her mostly living in her memories, but there are times when the spark of her soul still shines.
Thank you for the memory.
Mom
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