My paternal grandmother was named for her father, and my younger brother has their name as his middle name. (My middle name is my maternal grandmother's.) She was born on the same day, month, and year as the late Queen Elizabeth II. They led very different lives. Gram grew up poor in rural Texas. Her mother died when she was 11 of complications of an abortion, after her doctor told her not to get pregnant again but her husband didn't care. She wanted two things when she grew up: nice clothes and to travel. She got them both--visiting 27 countries on four continents!--as well as a long career as a night psych nurse. She joined WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), went on a blind date, and met the man of her dreams. They married and had four children, five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
I was the first grandchild. Gram has been the longest reader of this blog, which I started to document my travels. Friends and family recently gathered from around the country to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Some of her favorite things
- cheese and crackers and a glass of wine in the evening
- strawberries with Nutella
- tissues in her pockets and candy in her drawers
- researching family genealogy
- reading
