Oh My Gosh, I'm becoming my Grandmother!

Oh yes, it's true. Just becoming my mother isn't enough for me. I have to reach back even another generation and become my grandmother!

   Grandma and me. She was over 100 in this picture.

This morning I took some peaches out of the thin produce bag from the store. I looked at the bag for a minute, then wadded it up to put in the trash, thinking "I have enough bags." I cut up half the peach for my smoothie, then started to reach for the Saran Wrap to cover the other half of the peach. "Wait!" I thought, "I can use the produce bag!" I grabbed the bag, cut it into a smaller piece, and wrapped it around the peach, feeling very satisfied with myself.  

Then it hit me. I had become my grandmother! I remembered Grandma using a bread wrapper to cover food, or even wrap sandwiches in. I thought of how often I watched her smooth out a piece of 'tin foil' and put it away to use again later. And I smiled, remembering the gift wrap paper that was carefully collected at Christmas, only to show up again the next year, and sometimes the next after that!

At the time, I thought she must be either very poor (though she seemed solvent in other areas), or just a penny pincher. After writing her life story, I realized how hard it had been for her during the Great Depression, and how they couldn't afford to throw anything away, because they'd probably not be able to replace it.

When we remember these traits––whether quirky or practical––of our parents and grandparents, we are provided with clues as to why we do some of the things we do. If we write down all the little things we remember about our ancestors, we'll begin to see a pattern and we may discover the reasons behind their actions––and ours.

And when we write about our own life, what we've been through and how we coped, we will be providing the same kinds of clues for our descendants.

I'd like to think that someday, when one of my grandsons is asked by his child why he does something a particular way, he'll smile and say "I don't know, it's just the way my GranDee always did it."

Writing Prompt: Write about something you remember a parent or grandparent doing that you always wondered about, or that seemed strange at the time.

Then write about something you do that your grandchildren might wonder about.

Comments

[new balance]

Interesting article as for me. It would be great to read a bit more about that topic.

[lifestorylady]

Thanks for your comment. Sorry I'm just getting back to you! I've been working with 3 great clients writing their stories, and they're keeping me busy! So glad you enjoyed the post. I'm hoping to write more often after the first of the year. Have you written any of your story?