After the long weekend, a family one in my case, I choose today to muse about a special family member.
I must begin by saying that I love my family, recognize their quirks and love them in spite of them and am lucky enough to have a functional family unit compared to some of the crazy situations that I am well aware exist out there! I read once in a Yoga text book that you pick your family before you are born in to a new life. And as I grow wiser, I have found this idea comforting when my family drives me bonkers. I often think, "What is the lesson I was planning on learning when I chose you?" As my title today indicates, I have been thinking a lot about the amazing role that grandmothers play.
I might be biased because I adored my grandmother. And I got to enjoy her for 29 years of my life-- my eldest cousin was in her fifties when our grandmother died! She was a strong, stubborn worrywart with so much love and generosity. Wiser than Yoda and sharper than Rick Mercer-- zinging people with comments, in her broken English, like "Please talk more quietly dear-- I'm 92, not deaf". All of this, bundled in 4 foot 10 Slovakian immigrant frame, clad in a housedress, bearing only a grade four education. She moved to Canada with two small boys and later added two girls, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her highest-ranking job was working in a sewing factory in Toronto, her wisest business move was owning a triplex in a beautiful High Park area (cha-ching!), and her greatest investment was in her family.
OK. I hope I am not waxing cheesy Hallmark card on your here. But she was my initial self-help guru. She always said "Be you happy and be you healthy". How simple, and how ingenious is that? All you need. Happy. Healthy. There are many lessons that our grandmothers can teach us, so get to know yours! And if she is no longer in the living, learn all you can about her. What will you be like when you are a grandparent yourself?
I have figured out that one massive reason I chose this family for this life is my grandmother. Since you are reading this, I assure you that if you were to read my first novel, there will be one heck of a great grandma figure in there! Stay tuned...
Salad Girl's Tip of the Post:
When faced with a problem, annoying situation, or dilemma, embody your inner grandmother. What would your best advice be if you were yourself at age 80? It's fun to journal this one as a letter to yourself from your 80 year old self, or grandmother, but if you are not a diarist type, think about it. It's amazing what solutions can bubble up for you!
Top Five Grandmas who rock in the Media:
5. Estelle Geddy's character, Sophia Petrillo, on The Golden Girls. Lessons: Surround yourself with friends. Remember your past and learn from it. Make others laugh when you can.
4. Mona, on Who's the Boss? Lesson: Have fun. Get the pickle out of your butt, daughter.
3. Shirley McLean's character in In Her Shoes. Lesson: Forgive family mistakes.
2. Marilla Cuthbert in Ann of Green Gables (I know she wasn't a grandma, but she was older and wiser and she rocked anyway in Ann's fate....) Lesson: Get all your jobs done responsibly, but learn to let some flair and fun in.
1. Chloris Leachman's character in the movie Spanglish. Lesson: Calm down and have a drink!
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Ohh, Marilla was so great. I cried when she died (I cry at books, not movies). This post is very touching and makes me think of both my grandmothers. Great tip, too!
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