When I was in early elementary school my grandfather had a stroke which left him incapable of taking care of himself. This was devastating to him as he had been an active farmer all his life. My uncle was well known in our community and had much rental property in our small town. My uncle lived on the corner of our block and our house was beside it. My uncle had recently purchased a property on the other side of his which backed up to the back side of our property. The family chose to move my grandparents in to that location to allow us to all assist in taking care of my grandfather. In our family putting someone in a nursing home was just not what we did. In fact it was always my grandparents who took in the elderly in the family to care for them.
My grandfather needed assistance with everything and my grandmother had always been the sickly one. So we were only a phone call and a holler out the window away. It was hard on Gramp to allow any of us to help him out and see him the way we all must in order to take care of him. We had to assist in every way.
My grandparents were kind people, yet like most seniors they developed a very sharp tongue. It became sharper each year and the filter we all carry began to disappear. Looking back on it this is probably why my grandmother shared some things with me when she did.
Throughout my years living at home I would clean my grandparents home each week and earn money for camps and other things. I would also help my grandmother with balancing check books and she tried her best to teach me how to cook. That seemed to come naturally to her and not to me. She also taught me that you don't have to have all the fancy gadgets to do things. I learned to iron with her metal iron she heated up on the stove and a towel on the kitchen table as a board. Let me tell you she ironed EVERYTHING including the sheets and pillow cases. Laundry was hung out on the line to dry with every opportunity with the underwear located in the middle line and outer wear, towels, and sheets on the outside lines. Underwear went up last and came down first. I wonder what they would think these days when girls wear them as clothes. LOL
One day I remember cleaning and a family member came over that we all kept a close eye on for multiple reasons. I asked grandma why she even allowed him in. She responded that you can't choose your family but you can choose the ones you claim. I was taken back by that answer. But I think of that often.
I also think that works in reverse. While we may not be family by blood, we can choose who we connect with as family.
Grandma also told me many other things that were wise. First, use your fine silver often or it will tarnish. She said even if it is just eating bologna sandwiches and beans. Use your good china and silver. Now was she planting a seed to nurture? Because unlike my grandmother with an amazing green thumb, I on the other hand have little luck. But maybe she was also explaining to me that just because something or someone seems to be extremely valuable, they are not if they just sit and are never valued for their purpose.
She also said never go to bed mad or you will wake up mad. She was right. Tried that once and learned my lesson. Not again.
She also taught me how to focus on the things needed to be done first while putting the others on the back burner and pulling them up one at a time. I do that often. As example.....Today I must grocery shop to eat tonight, tomorrow I have a radio interview for our event on Saturday so in the morning I will prepare for that, Friday finish last minute items for Saturday and get rest, Saturday morning set up and event, Sunday or Saturday afternoon send thank yous out, Sunday rest, Monday my birthday and Rich has planned a great evening out with friends, Tuesday....rest, Wednesday prepare for Thanksgiving as much as possible, Thanksgiving make all the side dishes to Rich's smoked turkey. Friday Jump Up, Saturday and Sunday - rest. Then the following week begin promotion for Giving Tuesday. Then focus on the Red Out Nights coming up and helping the new Keepers Clubs get everything organized for them.
Grandma taught me a lot. Much I didn't even recognize until years after she was gone.
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