During my childhood my fathers mother lived about 2 miles from our house.  My grandmother had been widowed at a fairly young age and unfortunately I was not born in time to meet my Grandfather.  I remember from about age six having sleep overs at my grandmothers.  They would consist of her making a wonderful meal and sitting by her gas stove watching the black and white TV while play dominos or cards.  At bedtime I would share her large white wrought iron bed.  "Say your prayers and no squirming" she would always remind me.  I loved being under those thick quilts she had made by hand using an Army blanket as the filling.  I have no idea where she got an Army blank but I could imagine a GI in a tent enjoying its warmth like I did.  I remember the clock my Grandma had, it was loud as it ticked and it glowed in the dark.  She always seemed to wake before me, I would smell the coffee and homemade bread from the kitchen.  I would even as a young child have cup of hot coffee, one third coffee, two thirds cream along with a warning of not to tell my Mother.  She always made me a slice of homemade wheat bread, that she baked in a coffee can, smothered in butter.

After breakfast I would sew.  Grandma had a Singer treadle machine that she would let me make doll clothes on.  I loved keeping the beat with my toe while the machine stitched my new creation.  I would spend hours and hours.  She always had lots of remnants for me to select from.  Once I finished the outfit I would dress up my doll, then sit at Grandma's vanity.  Her powder and perfumes were all arranges on a mirrored tray on one side and her jewelry on a similar tray on the other.  Her jewelry always fascinated me.  I would try it on and ask her over and over about each piece.  Where did it come from and where has it been.  The brooches were my favorite.  I would put them in my hair, on my sweater, anywhere a brooch could be styled.  Those days are so clear in my head and so precious in my heart.

As I reached adulthood, I moved away from my little town, went to college, got my dream job and enjoyed a full social calendar.  My visits to my Grandmothers house remained on holidays and when I had extra time during visits home.  I always tried to bring her a gift since she was unable to get out as much had she had in the past and to let her know that I did miss her.  

Her health started to fail and a decision was made to move her into a trailer.  The plan was to close up her little house.  I had by this time secured a household of my own, about 175 mile away in a different state.  In a phone call to her she invited my down to help her go through items in her little house.  We set a date and I appeared for my appointment.

She simply told me to go around and pick out the pieces of furniture that I liked.  Not everything would fit into her new trailer and she needed to see what everyone wanted.  After all I was not the only grandchild.  My father had two older brothers who had families.  So I did not see this as anything other than a vetting process for her.  The odd thing is after I tagged a few pieces she laid two of her brooches out on the table.  These where my two favorite.  I had spent hours with these brooches as a child.  I was confused as to what it all meant.  She then asked if I had my checkbook with me, I did of course.  She instructed me to write her a check for $100.00.  This check would buy everything I had tagged and she would throw in the brooches.  This way she explained, no one can accuse her of favoring me.

So here I am over twenty years later with beautiful furniture and two beautiful brooches.  Maybe she did that because I was her favorite or maybe it was just because she knew I would care for them?  I will never know because she is with Grandpa now.  I am so thankful for the wonderful memories of her.  She is the person who beside, my own Mother, shaped the woman I am today.  One who likes large, gaudy, sparkling jewelry!