Show Monday May 7 1 973 Page 3 Grandmothers In one way or another they are y mine By talking and explaining Gram has tried to impress upon us kids the value of work But as she herself says “My words never sink in” She’s right in that respect but her example instills within us this value far better than words She is like a bee that leaves its hive before the world is fully awake to collect pollen and fly it home for the family She gets up early and I usually wake up to the sound of her humming amid the sizzling of eggs and bacon or ham as the tantalizing aroma creeps into my room Being away I can picture her hovering over the stove or working out in the yard She nudges nature out of lazy sleep as she putters around outside cutting weeds raking and burning trash She handles the shovel or hoe like a man swinging each tool with ease and experience Then she rakes newly cut weeds into a pile where she leaves them to dry Her washing machine usually has clothes in it while she’s outside clothes that were gathered up that morning whether or not the owner meant them to be washed She hurries in and out of the house carrying clothes to the line and I can hear her old man’s shoes clomp and scrape along the dirt as she scurries She is usually greeted at the line by her animals The dogs come barking playfully and jump all over her while the cats with their tails in the air encircle her lees meowine nurrine and rubbine aeainst her Her tone of voice towards them is loving sympathetic and understanding She talks to her animals'just as warmly as she does the kids although we think sometimes even more so Yet she can spout a little wrath when one of the kids cuts up or doesn’t mind or when the cats and dogs get too much in her way while she’s hanging clothes Sometimes she can be heard to say “getaway” The animals wilfscatter but they come riehtback Her diligence most shows in her cooking Her preparation is slow and deliberate yet it’s done in an atmosphere of enjoyment as she jokes and kids with any of us who jn ay ge tinherjway jjtjv i tii pickfng’Uf ilnrfuod She is continually putting in or taking out food from the oven or turning over something on the stove Between all this she is walking back and forth from the sink and cupboard and to the table She is the last to sit down to eat and completes the setting as she brings with her the last of the hot homemade bread Even during the meal she is up and about getting for the rest of us an extra cup of coffee the salt and pepper or forgotten utensils She is wise and good in her dealings with other people She’s thoughtful and considerate of their points-of-vieas well as their personal comforts It isn’t unusual for a visitor to find her thumbing throught the daily paper peering through her glasses and laboring over the words After a warm greeting she’ll carefully fold the paper and set it aside then she’ll prepare some kind of pastry and coffee or tea In wisdom gained over the many years she sits down to listen to whatever the other person has to say whether it is of serious nature or just trifles When things aren’t going well for me she seems to sense it So she will ask me to sit down while she listens She makes no judgment as to what I share but only listens and asks guided questions that lead me to a better view of whatever was bothering me She anticipates my hunger when I’ve returned either from work school or town Asking no questions she puts the frying pan on the stove shortly after I arrive warming up leftovers or thawing and cooking a fish or piece of rabbit While I’m eating she’ll put a cup of coffee before me and ask how things are going Then she’ll sit down and chat with me while I eat Yet her own life has been one of sorrow and heartbreak She was married until her man started chasing around and finally ran off with someone else But Gram stayed home and looked after the children raised them and encouraged them to get out on their own Then she began with another batch who are grandchildren and are adopted either formally through welfare procedures or informally by being asked to stay after frequent and lingering visits When I last came home from school I found her in the kitchen She greeted me with a hug and tears She had me peek into the oven where a rabbit lay smothered in carrots and potatoes It had been a long time since I had a home-cooke- d meal She had this one specially prepared special-particularl- -- Grandmothers to 4 L©vmg ©end I©ughimg ©mid homemade bpe©d anyjon-rho-may-stai- rfr w by John Martin ' !’ "ft 4h 99 Jfc |