Grandmothers

 

March 12, 2023

Dear Family: 

Happy Birthday Mike!  Amy and Mike are away for a birthday weekend.  Last weekend we had fast Sunday dinner here and I’ve been thinking about grandma and grandpas all week.

I never met my great grandparents and I don’t remember my paternal grandfather.  My great grandparents died before I was born and my paternal grandfather died on Thanksgiving when I was about 4 or 5.  I remember sitting on the couch at their home looking at a Boston fern in the front window all day.

I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to bond with my great grandsons – Cooper and McKay.  As soon as Claire gets old enough to not be frightened of me, we will bond too. 

We are watching a video I took of them in the fort while I was asking "What are you doing in there?" and they are answering "Nothing." We were laughing so hard it was silly.

So this opportunity to be together with my great grandchildren has turned my thoughts to my grandmothers. 

My grandmother Myrtle Short scared me. 

She wasn’t a warm and fuzzy nurturing type.  She gave birth 7  times; 3 boys (my dad was the youngest boy) , 3 girls (Aunt Margaret was the youngest girl) and twins Cleo and Leo died shortly after birth.  Her oldest daughter died of heart disease shortly after giving birth to her son Jay.  Myrtle was a farmer’s wife; she worked hard, had few luxuries, canned food, grew chicken for meat and eggs, and grew fruit and vegetables.  She used a wringer washer and dried her clothes on a clothes line outside.  He husband Ira was a bishop in the Heyburn ward for over 20 years (during this time he served a 6 month mission to Coos Bay area.)  He became ill and suffered for several years before he passed away.  She died the weekend that Brian had surgery on his pyloric valve when he was just a few weeks old.  

My grandmother Mary Bankhead Glenn Green Leishman was my idol. 

Age 80

Mary came for Christmas at our house in 27th St, in the 80's?

She loved to see her little granddaughters burst out of the car and come stay with her and her 2^nd husband Andrew.  She doted on us and made us feel like we were the most important people in her life.  Her high school graduation photo looks enough like my niece Janna (Glennda’s daughter) to be scary.  She had a hard life too.  She married a veteran of WW I, Charles Harvey Green, and before my mom was born, he left.  He was sick and spent the next few years in a veteran’s hospital in California.  She was divorced and it was 1923, in small town Wellsville Utah.  So she went to work for Andrew Leishman whose wife had died giving birth to 12^th or 13^th child.  She cleaned, cooked, did laundry for a huge family – a few of which were already married and gone.  They later married and her 1^st child, my mom,  was raised by Mary’s parents a few blocks away.  Andrew was a farmer and raised milk cows, chickens, used work horses to plow, harrow, rake hay.  She made several loaves of bread every day, and worked from sun up to sun down.  They had 3 more daughters.  (Aunt Estella, Rita and Erma).  Those 3 girls worked hard on the farm too.  I have heard stories about how hard Andrew was on my grandma but I can only imagine.  She wasn’t skinny.  She was plump, warm hearted, delightful and had a fun sense of humor.  We 3 girls totally adored her and wanted to be just like her.  She told us of a Halloween when she and her sister in law dressed up like Indians and went to sit at the local bar.  The bar tender and patrons didn’t catch on for hours.  I could go on for hours about my memories of her and how much I love her and treasure those memories. It is because of her that I’ve spent my lifetime learning the domestic arts; crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and quilting.  I even made rag rugs because she had two in her living room.  I even have one of them. The cabinet next to my piano was hers.  I have “Desert Rose” dishes because she did and they remind me of her.

Andrew Leishman and Mary Bankhead Glenn (Green) Leishman

Now in my 70’s my great pleasure has been watching my children become grandparents.  To be frankly honest, my children were cheated in the “grandparents” department.  Both sets had a child one year older than Brad.  They weren’t interested in being grandparents.  So when Brad saw Aunt Margaret’s example in Roseville California, he said, “Mom I want you to be a grandma just like Aunt Margaret.”  She made them feel totally loved, welcomed and treasured.  She put on the grand celebration for them, food, fun, talking and genuine love. Brad went with me to her funeral.

Watching my children be grandparents is probably one of the choicest experiences of my life.  GOOD JOB! BRAD, BRIAN AND AMY!!!.  Thank you for making me a great-grandma.  (Amy is the latest to become a grandparent and watch out world!!) I just watch and smile.  One of my sorrows is that Judy’s grandchildren won’t remember her or get the benefit of all the love she could shower on them. 

Quotes about Grandmothers:  (Enjoy these – they made me smile)

Grandmotherhood initiated me into a world of play, where all things became fresh, alive, and honest again through my grandchildren’s eyes. Mostly, it retaught me love.” —Sue Monk Kidd

“Every house needs a grandmother in it.” —Louisa May Alcott

“A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.” —Unknown

“If nothing is going well, call your grandmother.” —Italian Proverb

“There’s no place like home—except grandma’s house.” —Unknown

“When a child is born, so are grandmothers.” —Judith Levy

 “It’s such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother—that’s why the world calls her grandmother.” —Unknown

“Having a grandmother is like having an army. This is a grandchild’s ultimate privilege: knowing that someone is on your side, always, whatever the details. Even when you are wrong. Especially then, in fact. A grandmother is both a sword and a shield.” —Fredrik Backman

“Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while…but our hearts forever.” —Unknown

 “As I learned from growing up, you don’t mess with your grandmother.” —Prince William

“If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it!” —Hannah Whitall Smith

 “The best babysitters, of course, are the baby’s grandparents. You feel completely comfortable entrusting your baby to them for long periods, which is why most grandparents flee to Florida.” —Dave Barry

 “You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.” —Proverb

 “A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television.” —Unknown

“Grandmas don’t just say ‘that’s nice’—they reel back and roll their eyes and throw up their hands and smile. You get your money’s worth out of grandmas.” —Unknown

 

News:  Haley Schnell Lewis seems to be enjoying life with her new knees!  Keep it up girl.  Kelsy is a year older and expecting another boy in May.  Cole is climbing stairs and loves spaghetti.  Emery and Addie have been making mud pies.  Cooper and McKay like to play “forts” at my house, and they love the Fisher Price airport and school house that belonged to their grandpa. 

 

I spent 5 days last week calling 50 Retirement homes, sending them a “Reduced Price Special” and booking 9 new gigs for the two big bands.  What a week.  I was either sending emails, making “Now Appearing” posters, sending invoices or answering phone calls all week other than when I was teaching piano.  I’m glad last week is over!.

I hope you enjoy thinking about grandmas and grandpas today.  I’m grateful for my grandchildren and my great grandchildren.  It makes my life have meaning and purpose.  If you get a chance, look at the photos and memories on familysearch.com.  It’s full.

 

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne