Childhood Memories

This weekend, we got together with my dad's side of the family. Dad's one brother and his family were in town, so the whole family went to dinner and back to my Grampa's house to play games and catch up. Being at my Grampa's house always brings back so many memories. My Gramma used to watch us while our parents worked, so we spent many days hanging at their house. And on the days that my dad's parents didn't have us, my mom's parents did. Then, when we were older and in school, once a week my mom's parents would pick us up from school. We'd go to the bakery and get a glass of milk and a donut (chocolate covered for me) then head to their house, where our parents and mom's various siblings would meet us for dinner. Then we'd head to a neighboring school district and swim in their pool. These are some of the most special memories for me as a child. But there are so many things that remind me of my grandparents and catch me when I least expect it. So here are some of the memories and triggers of my childhood...

*Peonies-My Gramma L (Dad's mom) loved peonies and had the most beautiful bushes. I have planted peonies in my own yard, mostly in memory of my Gramma. I always think of her when I smell them or see them in bloom.

*Freshly cut wood and sawdust-My Grampa L worked at a sawmill for years. Every day when he came home from work, we'd sit with him while he had a snack, still covered lightly in sawdust. To this day, I smell sawdust or freshly cut wood and I go back to Gramma's simple, tidy kitchen and a snack with Grampa.

*Lilacs-Gramma C (Mom's mom) has a HUGE lilac bush in her yard and we would always pick them. Then, we'd bring them in and leave them all over the house. This is one of my favorite smells and makes me think of Gramma C.

*Talk radio-My Grampa C used to listen to talk radio constantly. Actually, I don't know that he listened to it so much as had it on for background noise. I was little and didn't pay attention. But whenever I hear talk radio--one local station in particular--I envision Grampa sitting at the head of the kitchen table, reading the paper and sipping coffee.

*Kool Aid-Gramma L used to give this to us as a treat, but we always knew to take a small sip first. She had a habit of forgetting the sugar, as this was before the days of pre-sweetened Kool Aid.

*Donuts-Like I said above, I will forever think of Gramma and Grampa C whenever I eat a donut. I don't have them often, but I owe my love of them to the Grandparents.

*Woodchucks-Whenever I see or hear of a woodchuck (a large, ground-dwelling rodent) I think of my Gramma L. She was a tiny little thing not even 5' tall and the most gentle person you could imagine. She was also a sharpshooter (no kidding!) and on more than one occasion we were startled by a large BOOM! as she would whip up the bathroom window and shoot a woodchuck out in her garden. She'd then carefully unload the shotgun, set it safely out of reach and continue with her day, nonchalantly mentioning to Grampa when he got home that there was a critter near the garden he needed to take care of.

*Sledding-My Gramma and Grampa C have a hill across the driveway from their house. When I was little, the hill was HUGE. I think it's shrunk since then, as it's not as big now as it was when I was little. Must have eroded...yeah, that's it. Anyway, when I was little we loved to go sledding down the hill. We'd pile as many of us as possible on the old toboggan, or ride the fast saucers, and down we'd go over and over and over.

*Songs-Both of my Gramma's loved to rock us and sing us silly songs. Gramma L sang songs about trains, and Gramma C sang songs about bees and peanuts. I sing the same songs to my girls.

*Love-I have the most wonderful grandparents that anyone could ask for. I only have one Gramma and one Grampa left here on earth, but that's neither here nor there. I think of them all often and I am so blessed to have had them in my life, helping mold me into the person I am today. I never doubted for one minute the love that they all had for me. I hope they all know how much I love them, too. And it almost brings tears to my eyes every time I see my girls run to hug and kiss my grandparents. I love that they have a special relationship with them, just like I did.