I think of my Grandma today. The little television set in her kitchen. Her closet. A treasure chest of costume jewelry and coloring books.
I picture myself curled up on the couch cushions beneath a portrait she made, from thread, of a girl reading. How it came to our house when it no longer belonged in hers.
I remember, just after she was gone, someone wondered out loud, if we had been close. And I didn't know how to answer that. I didn't know if I had ever been close to anyone. What it meant to be near anything at all. So I stumbled over words. Well. No. Yes. But...still.
She kept plants at the window, always. Some bright and in bloom. Others with leaves yellow, withered. I asked why she kept those at all.
They'll grow back, she said, standing over a pot of coffee.
And they did.
So beautifully said.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I think I'm gonna cry. You just made me miss my mom. :(
ReplyDeleteYou write beautiful posts...
Wonderfully worded, grandma!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful image you created with so few words. Thank you for sharing this, I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of my grandma lately, too. she was very classy, a total Donna Reed from the 1950s, to the point she still wore pearls and low heels while making dinner for everyone into her 80s.
ReplyDeleteAfter a friend's brother-in-law was killed tragically, a coworker asked her if they "had been close." What response were they looking for, I wonder? Would it have dulled the pain of his passing if she said "no"? We talked about that for quite a while over dinner. I know people struggle when others are grieving, and no one knows "the right thing" to say. It's just so hard.
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely remembrances of your grandmother -- I'm sure she was a very kind, wise woman.
You totally made me miss my Grandma :)
ReplyDeleteVery well expressed without lots of fluff.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - reflective, understated, poignant.
ReplyDeleteMoving. I've been thinking about my grandmother a lot lately too. I had a kind one and a difficult one, and I realized how we overlooked the kind one so often because the other was so full of drama. I miss my kind grandma. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous. You have a naturally poetic voice. Thank you for sharing, this brightened my day.
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
This is gorgeous. Such emotion. Very well done!
ReplyDeleteSo nice. I love how the circle of life can be seen in the everyday.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post, Melissa. And a wonderful grandmother. And the answer to the question you were asked is, can one truly 'know' another person? I believe that you have held onto a precious thread of your grandmother that is opened with that simple memory.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful. Funny how a relationship can be so hard to define. I love how elegantly you show how a person can weave themselves so tightly into our life without us even realizing it sometimes.
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