Today is Grandma's Birthday

Happy Birthday 1980-ish

Gertrude Young passed away on October 2nd, 2009. She was 95 years old, survived by
two brothers, two daughters, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

That's what the newspaper said.

Seems like enough information when it's someone I don't know.
But it doesn't even scratch the surface. There is so much more.

When Grandma passed, my sister-in-law, Jeannine started an e-mail going around the family, asking each of us to share a memory about Grandma. It's a great idea, and as I was thinking about all of the wonderful moments with Gram that I wanted to share, it was really tough to choose just one. I'm sharing a few more out into the universe so that when my friends and family read it, she will be honored.

The Little Things
I was winding a ball of yarn the other day, and I remembered that Grandma had taught me how to wind the ball so that the end pulls from the middle instead of the outside of the ball. I wonder how many things I do every day that I learned from her?

Speaking of Knitting

Gram (and Mom) both taught me how to knit. She was always very practical, but at the same time wanted to make sure it was fun. She taught me to weave in the ends as I go along in the project. Not to leave all that tedious work for the end. Good advice.

Ever Relevant
Up until just the last couple of years, Grandma kept up on what is going on in the world. She read the paper daily and was good for a lively conversation on politics, local news, sports. She had an open mind, would listen to my point of view and freely share hers. After her eye-sight failed, we read many newspapers together. We would read articles, and talk about what we thought. Local news, Bob Welch and Dear Abby were her favs. I would read her horoscope, she thought that was a little ridiculous, but she would get a laugh. I treasure that time we had together.

Cast Iron

Gertrude & Gene

I can remember having huge family dinners at Grandma's house in Fall Creek. She cooked for 20 people on a great big wood burning stove and her meals were fabulous! I am practicing with cast iron pans, and think of those times when I use them. We would all gather around their big ol' dining room table with card tables added on out into the living room. Piles of fried chicken, home grown vegetables, such a happy place to be.

If we stayed late enough on Sunday evening, we would see the beginning of Disneyland and we got to see the NBC Peacock fan it's tail in COLOR. (Our TV then was black and white.)

The Little Post OfficeGrandma worked at the Little Fall Creek Post Office on Saturday mornings.  Paul and I would take turns getting to spend the weekend at Grandma's, so we got to go to work with Gram pretty often.  The Post Office is tiny in my memory and you know how things are usually smaller than you remember?  So that tells you how small it must have been.

It was freezing in there and she would build a fire in the wood stove first thing to warm it up, and then we'd be peeling off sweaters like crazy in no time.  She would sort the mail into the slots, and folks would come in and visit and pick up their mail and some cheery words from Gram. I was amazed how she knew everyone and everyone knew her too.

Grandma & me at LA Zoo 1971

The Wanderer
Between Grandma and Aunt Ruple, I don't have to guess too hard where my love of travel came from.  After she moved in to Eugene, Gram used to take me, Paul and Mom on road trips every summer.  We would pack up her little lemon yellow Chevy Luv pick up truck and Paul and I would throw our beanbag chairs in the canopy and ride!  (Yes, I am a child of the 70's.)  We saw Oregon in style.

Gene, Gertrude & Friends

I really admire her sense of adventure.  She went on tons of trips with her girlfriends from Lakewood Park.  They drove all the way to Vermont to see the Fall Colors.  Branson.  She'd drive to Montana with Uncle Dave (her brother).  She was always exploring and enjoyed every minute of it.




Polly Anna
Steve's Mom called Gram Polly Anna, she said her Dad used to call her that too, so she really liked it.
And she was.   

Beauty
Gram just got more beautiful every day.

You are loved and missed today and every day.