Thanksgiving and Grandma

Today is Thanksgiving, a time to take stock of all for which I am grateful. I am grateful for many blessings including my husband, children, grandchildren, friends, work, health, and freedom. I appreciate the earth, nature, and all that is good.

Around the holidays I think of someone who was and is very special in my life, Grandma Woods. I am especially grateful she was in my life. She was my mentor, though she may not have realized it. She was my rock and my inspiration.

Grandma did not have a formal education and she spent her life raising eight children and she also raised some of her grandchildren. For many years she washed clothing on a washboard and then a wringer washer. As she aged her fingers were knotty and her spine crunched and popped when she changed position. She gardened in what I now realize was a very small area, just a large yard in town. She raised wonderful vegetables and she canned. She baked in her little kitchen and shared her baked and canned goods. One could not visit her home without leaving with a large bag of home canned foods, cookies, and fresh vegetables.

There was always room at Grandma's house. If one visited during dinner time they were her guest. There was always enough to be shared even though Grandma and Grandpa were not people of means. There would be a place set for all who were there and she made certain all had enough to eat. She never judged who may or may not be worthy of her generosity. All were treated as welcome guests.

Grandma taught me how to bake, can food, do laundry, to make jellies and jams, and sew. She taught me how to make simple quilts. Most of all Grandma taught me how to be self sufficient, how to work hard with joy in my heart, how to appreciate growing things, how to take joy in growing flowers, how to appreciate the fragrance of line dried clothes, how to treat all people without judgment and as guests, how to be generous, and how important it is to be a loving grandmother.

I remember my beautiful grandmother every day and if I am even a little bit like her as a woman and as a grandmother I will have honored her memory.