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Holiday blues


On 12/01/2015 at 06:28 PM by Ranger1

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This is kind of a heavy blog, and one that is difficult for me to write. I'm sorry I haven't been commenting on everyone's blogs, but it's been a tough couple of weeks. I found out from my mom a couple of weeks ago that my grandmother's health is rapidly deteriorating, to the point that hospice is being called in. Yes, my grandmother is 91 and old people die. But...she raised me. She's always been there for me, more like a mother than a grandmother. So you'll have to forgive me for not feeling the spirit of the holidays.

A little bit about my gramma: she was born in a little unorganized township in northwestern Maine called Chain of Ponds in 1924. When she was a little older, her family moved to a town called Flagstaff that is now at the bottom of a man-made lake. They moved before the decision was made to flood the valley to another tiny town called Eustis. She went to a one-room schoolhouse, and there were seven people in her graduating class. I met four of them at her 60th high school reunion. She met my grampa at a dance, and they got married and moved to western New Hampshire, where she still lives.

But there's a lot I don't know about her from before I was born. I talked with my cousin Sean this morning and we decided to do a Storycorps-style interview with her, if she's willing. I messaged my sister and Sean's brother and asked them if there was anything they'd like us to ask about, and sent them a link to the Storycorps DIY questions webpage. So that's what I'll be concentrating on for the next two weeks. If we pull it off and it comes out decent, I think it will be one kickass Christmas gift to the family.

Sorry to be such a downer. Just needed to write about it.


 

Comments

Matt Snee Staff Writer

12/01/2015 at 06:47 PM

I'm sorry your grandmother is ill. I lost my grandmother in her nineties about six or seven years ago and the last couple years were really tough on my mom. 

We tried to get my grandma to answer questions like you want to do but she wasn't interested.  she was really grumpy for her last decade, and really stubborn -- had she used her cane, she probably would not have fallen like she did a couple times and hurt her head, which we think led to her decline.  She was a tough old broad though and we mention her often. 

As my parents age I wonder what stories will be lost with them, but I am lucky that I'm with them a lot and the reminisce and tell a lot of stories of the past. I try to remember them.  

Anyway, I'm sorry things are rough right now.  You know where to find me.

mothman

12/01/2015 at 07:20 PM

My paternal grandmother was a big part of my growing up too. While my parents worked long shifts in the pubs around Bolton she took care of my sister and I. 

After we left England when I was 12 I lost touch and only saw her a couple of times before she died but that was many years later. I still have dreams that she is alive and in Canada for a visit. I always wake up after I realize that she died a long time ago.

I'm sorry to hear the bad news. It doesn't make any difference how old they are. It doesn't make it any less painful. 

Cary Woodham

12/01/2015 at 08:05 PM

Sorry about your grandmother.  It's tough when you know family that's not doing too well.  It was rough when my grandmother died a couple of years ago.

Super Step Contributing Writer

12/01/2015 at 11:05 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your grandma. Hope the interview goes well.

KnightDriver

12/02/2015 at 04:20 PM

Storycorps sounds interesting. I'd like to do that with my Mom and really anyone else in my family too. Could be very illuminating.

I haven't any grandparents left. I didn't know my mom's side but we visited my dad's side every holiday until sometime in the 90s. I used to think I saw my grandmother in the street every so often.

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