Over the weekend we went to our friends’ wedding and on the way a fellow guest we gave a ride to told some memorable stories about her Irish grandmother. Husband and I shared reminiscences about our equally colorful Jewish grandmothers and now it’s later in the week and I’m still thinking about mine. Three years ago I lost both my parents and my grandmother (see Ghosts In My Head) and none of them are ever far from my thoughts.
How someone as sweet and nurturing as my Mom could have been the offspring of my tenacious, headstrong grandmother is a mystery. I’m trying to think who to compare my Mom to so you get a mental image and all I can come up with is Edith Bunker in the best way imaginable, just go light on the dingbat antics but leave enough in to make it endearing.
For my 4’10” tall grandmother, think Ruth Gordon in every movie role she ever played from the wacky eccentric in Where’s Poppa? to the life-loving elder in Harold and Maude right down to the clever criminal in a vintage Columbo. They were similar in lifespan as well, both living to near 100. Despite her lengthy and successful career, Ruth Gordon didn’t win an Oscar until she was 72. In her acceptance speech she thanked the Academy saying, “I can’t tell you how encouraging a thing like this is for a young actress like myself.” It was sly and funny and exactly what my grandmother would have said.
One of the stories I shared in the car was about a day back in the 1970s when my grandmother was also in her 70s working alone in the country road store she owned and operated for decades. An edgy young customer came in and leaned forward against the counter she was standing behind. In response to her offer of service he said, “Just give me all the money in the drawer.” Her first reaction being ‘not on your life’ she said, “And why should I do that?” Because, he told her, he had a gun. “Show me,” demanded Grandma. No doubt startled, the jumpy young guy said, “You don’t need to see it, just take my word for it.” And with that he thumped his pocketed hand against the front of the counter.
My grandmother said by that point she was really annoyed. “That could be anything in your pocket,” she informed him. “You need to show it to me.” The young thug raised his voice and shouted for her to get all the cash out of the register RIGHT NOW! My grandmother turned the key in the register lock, pulled it out, and threw it over the guy’s head down the canned goods aisle. She leaned over the counter and said in his face, “You want my money so bad you can go get it.”
Two of her regular customers pulled up in a truck and the guy bolted out as they entered. The customers insisted on calling the police. My grandmother said not to bother, he wouldn’t be back. It was one of these customers who told me he retrieved the register key from the canned goods aisle or I might have had doubts about the accuracy of my grandmother’s account. But then again, probably not.
Some people make you feel instantly comfortable and they’re usually the people who are comfortable with themselves. So let’s have Daughter’s Featured Fotos today be all about Looking Comfy.
pants of tiles
snuggly camel toes
metal man crawling on wires
ahh, foam rubber