When I was a little girl my grandma’s room was full of wonders.
On her bedside table, then as now, sat a small white lamp and a thick black bible, well-worn even then. How many uncountable times did my grandma sit on the side of that bed, slowly turning brittle pages, seeking comfort, or peace, or giving praise?
My grandma’s dresser was no dainty bit of vanity. Made of heavy wood with drawers down both sides and carved doors in the center, it was strong and beautiful and I swear, those doors called to me. To be allowed to sit before that chest and hold a lap full of silk, the faded ink of love letters, the glitter of glass beads, and all those memories, her memories, in my hands…
My grandpa’s wardrobe was taller, more imposing, less accessible. But when he swung wide the big double doors, even a child could see it was full of dreams. Medals of honor and badges of war – curious jewelry to a child – shared space with carefully rolled papers and a violin. His maps to castles in the air.
On my grandpa’s nightstand, then as now, sat a small white lamp and, nearby, a guitar. How many uncountable times did my grandpa sit on the side of that bed, strumming with nimble fingers, seeking comfort, or peace, or singing praise?
My grandma’s room is much the same, then as now. It’s in a new house and some things have changed. My grandma still sits on the side of that bed. She still has that old black bible. My grandpa sang his last song this year, and now I sit on the side of that bed, finding comfort, seeking peace, and, as I look to those carved double doors full of memories and dreams, I give praise.
December 2nd, 2013 at 2:58 am
That was a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you.
December 2nd, 2013 at 5:44 am
Thank you!
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:03 am
That was lovely! Made me think very much of my own Grandmother and Pop 🙂
December 3rd, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Thank you! Mine was a Pop too. 😉
December 3rd, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Aw, really?! That’s awesome!
January 15th, 2014 at 2:44 pm
That was beautiful!
January 15th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Thanks!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:13 am
My grandmother also has a small lamp and thick black bible lol beautiful writing
January 19th, 2014 at 10:20 am
Thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:13 am
Lovely post!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:21 am
Thanks! This one was a tough one.
January 19th, 2014 at 10:59 am
Well, it was sure worth the read! I haven’t read Freshly Pressed in such a long time, but was moved to go there today, and luckily, found your blog 🙂 I hope to visit again.
Have a beautiful day!
Michelle (dogkisses).
January 19th, 2014 at 11:03 am
Thanks so much and please do come back! Dog kisses…I’ve got to check out your blog!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:20 am
Absolutely lovely.
January 19th, 2014 at 10:25 am
Aw, thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:28 am
Reblogged this on madlens fashion blog.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Little scraps of memory is all I have left of them. No physical evidence, no things I can touch, just a flickering fading light of four people who had me and my brother to share.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Remembering is very hard sometimes, especially when the memories are all you have left of a person. Thanks for reading.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
May your grand father RIP. Enjoyed reading about your experience of them both (grandma too). 🙂
January 19th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Thank you! I really appreciate that. My grandma and I are very close, and I still miss my grandpa every day.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
You got it Steph. 🙂 I admire your relationships.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
I love those sentences! You wrote it so lovely! Thx
January 19th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Thank you for reading! I wrote those sentences and scratched them out and wrote them again and scratched them out…it was hard to get it “right.”
January 19th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
I detect no lunacy here. What a well written piece. I can picture the room. I remember my own grandmama’s dresser. These words touched me today. Lovely.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Thanks much! I’m so glad you liked it. My crazy doesn’t show in every post, just most of them. 🙂
January 19th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Hello! I read Your post about Buzz haircuts. I am still laughing. I cut my husband’s hair, too, and many a time I cut his ears. You have a great sense of humor. I am glad I found your blog. Really.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Ah, you found my crazy! Lol! I’m glad too!
Husbands should know better, really.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Indeed. They keep coming back for more. Does yours mop up the hair afterwards?
January 19th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Yes, but he doesn’t really apply himself.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Beautiful post. Mirrors my sentiments exactly, under a slightly different scenario.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
My Grandma had a sherry bottle at her bedside and a copy of T.V. Guide. She refused to visit us in the country for fear of bears. Both of my grandpa’s ran off. But I think in her own odd way, the love was there. Beautiful writing- thank you.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:34 pm
Thank you for the compliment and for reading! “My Grandma had a sherry bottle at her bedside and a copy of T.V. Guide.” I love that. There’s a story there, I just know it.
January 19th, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Your grandparents sound like an incredible couple. What a great legacy they have given you!
January 19th, 2014 at 4:08 pm
They really are. They were together since my grandma was 17, and an inspiration to me always. Thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
Very well written really made me think about my own Grandma too
January 19th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
You like words and words like these are meant to be uttered. Beautiful.
January 19th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
What a compliment! Thanks so much!
January 19th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Such beautiful and fond memories of your grandparents. I’m sorry about your grandfather, but it’s very apparent that your memories of him give you peace of heart. Lovely story and congrats on being pressed.
January 19th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Thank you. He had Alzheimer’s, so I like to remember him as he once was, you know?
As to being pressed – I’m glad they chose this one, and thanks!
January 19th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
Beautifully written
January 19th, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 6:43 pm
This is beutiful!
January 19th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Thanks!
January 19th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
I love writings about memories, and I have a special relationship with my grandmother and her precious things, too. Embroidered gloves, beautiful scarves, costume jewelry. Thanks 🙂
January 19th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
It really is magical, isn’t it, to experience those slices of their lives, from before they were Gram and Pop? Thank you for reading and commenting!
January 19th, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Wonderful words and images.
January 19th, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Thank you! That photo is my Pop and I holding hands right before he passed. And now I’m crying! Ah, this is hard! Thank you so much for reading and for letting me know you liked it.
January 19th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
My pleasure and I didn’t mean to make you cry. And I realised after I posted the comment, by images I meant the picture you created with the words. Instantly I could see my grandmother’s room…memories from long ago.
January 19th, 2014 at 8:03 pm
It wasn’t you – this post just means a lot to me and I’m super-emotional about it, lol! Thank you again!
January 19th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
🙂
January 19th, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Beautiful!
January 19th, 2014 at 8:04 pm
Thank you!
January 19th, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Beautiful tribute…heartfelt and so moving. I can feel your pain, as I’ve experienced the same. It’s hard.. Keep on writing! That’s helps.
Sending you all good wishes.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:21 am
Thank you, I appreciate that. You’re right, writing does help. Be well!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:17 pm
Thank you for sharing what was clearly such an intimate part of your life. I enjoyed reading it
January 20th, 2014 at 7:22 am
Thank you! I had a hard time deciding whether to post this – but in the end I’m glad that I did.
January 19th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Very nice post 🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 7:22 am
Thanks!
January 20th, 2014 at 7:25 am
Welcome 🙂
January 19th, 2014 at 10:48 pm
I love your blog and i also miss my..
🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 7:24 am
Much appreciated. 🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 7:31 am
Thank you so much dear..
🙂
January 19th, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Worth a read. Inspiring!
January 20th, 2014 at 1:28 am
Le tue parole mi hanno commosso. Ancora di più la foto. Grazie di ciò che hai scritto.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:12 am
“Your words moved me. Even more picture. Thank you for what you’ve written.”
Thank you!
January 20th, 2014 at 1:40 am
Reblogged this.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:33 am
Thanks!
January 20th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 1:52 am
Beautiful and lively 🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 7:25 am
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:14 am
beautiful memories
January 20th, 2014 at 7:25 am
So thankful for them! Thanks for reading!
January 20th, 2014 at 3:44 am
wow! its a really beautiful piece! loved it.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:26 am
*blushing* Thanks. I worked really hard on it.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:11 am
Beautiful! Reminds me of how much i adore my own lovely nanna.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:27 am
Thanks. Yay for Nannas and Grams and Pops!
January 20th, 2014 at 7:37 am
Not a problem 🙂 exactly! Such wisdom too. I love every single one of her somewhat lengthy stories and memories. Wouldn’t know what to do without her ❤
January 20th, 2014 at 5:58 am
Your words paint pictures for me. Just beautiful!
January 20th, 2014 at 7:27 am
Thank you so much! What a lovely compliment.
January 20th, 2014 at 6:59 am
Love this. evoked memories of my childhood. Add a rosary and a statue of mother Mary and its almost word perfect. Except the grandfather part. His memory was maintained by a portrait
.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:28 am
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!
January 20th, 2014 at 7:29 am
Nice
January 20th, 2014 at 7:35 am
Thank you!
January 20th, 2014 at 8:04 am
Reblogged this on Curious eye and commented:
The care and love which grand parents could give…. is more valuable than any other thing in the world.
January 20th, 2014 at 8:32 am
Very true. Thank you!
January 20th, 2014 at 8:20 am
wow
January 20th, 2014 at 8:32 am
😉
January 20th, 2014 at 8:49 am
You captured good memories and two slightly different worlds beautifully. It reminds me of my grandmother and her big beads of rosary by her pillow
January 20th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Thank you so much!
January 20th, 2014 at 9:20 am
Thank you for sharing your memories. The love you had for them both shines right through your words.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Aw, thank you! I’m so glad.
February 9th, 2014 at 11:21 am
Thia made me miss my gramps so much.. My feisty Jade, whom left us three years ago and wound from her passing is still so raw.
Grandparents are the best peeps in life and should be cherished every single day.
February 20th, 2014 at 6:44 pm
I agree! Sorry it took so long to respond, somehow I missed this one!
February 20th, 2014 at 7:22 pm
It’s all right. I had since channelled all those energy to my parents. I guess the older you get, the more you value kinship.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Beautifully written!! Just about brought a tear to my eye. Such sweet memories captured in your words. Certainly worthy of being Freshly Pressed!
January 20th, 2014 at 3:59 pm
Wow, thank you so much! What kind words.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
My grandparents were my favourite people when I was a child. I loved their house with its uncluttered elegance.
Some of their furniture was big dark, turned wood with a distinct smell which I can recall but have never smelled anywhere else.
As kids we loved staying there. It had old fashioned charm, but also a Narnia hint, that you might just enter a magical world through those big wardrobes.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
That sounds just lovely. Grandparents really are magical.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
Beautiful post!!
January 20th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
Thank you!
January 20th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Love this post , so touching 🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Thanks for reading!
January 20th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
This was lovely. Couldn’t help but be moved. I never really knew any of my grandparents, so I suspect I missed out on a lot. Thanks for sharing.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it, and you’re welcome. Are there any “memories” anywhere that you could pilfer through? I suspect at least half my Pop’s stories were made up, but those were the best ones anyway. 🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
I absolutely loved this. You captured the settings and feelings beautifully.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
You made me smile, so thank YOU for reading and commenting!
January 20th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Thanks for being vulnerable on this one. I don’t know that I could write something this personal.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
You’re welcome and thank you. I originally couldn’t decide if I was going to post it or not – but now I’m glad I did.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Good going.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
I can relate to that. Beautiful (‘:
January 20th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Thank you! 🙂
January 20th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
I love this article, I can relate to it as well. You made me think of my grandmother and I cherish my grandmother a lot.
January 20th, 2014 at 6:13 pm
That’s awesome! Thanks!
January 20th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Really beautiful – I wanted more! haha Thanks for sharing!
January 20th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Thanks!