Just Reject It

So here I am watching the Masterpiece Theatre version of "Emma" and thinking to myself, my, how much Granny would love this movie and then I can't stop either laughing or crying because I think of such cute things she said or did while watching one of her "shows." Grandma and Grandpa had more cable channels than we did and so I got her to tape old episodes of "Saved by the Bell", since, dorkily enough, (yes, I know that's not a word but it seems to fit)... that's what my friends and I used to watch to wind down from intense Nutrition midterm studying. I remember calling Granny and saying, "sorry hen, I'll come get that tape soon,"and then she'd always say, "don't worry, hen, I just rejected it." Of course she meant E-ject but it just made me smile every time I heard it her way. It kind of makes me want to watch "You've Got Mail,"or, I'm sorry, "I've Got Mail," just to remind me of something she always did when I went over there in the last year before Grandpa died.

For all the negative press TV gets, some of my favorite memories of Grandma and Grandpa and the funny things they said were in their living room, watching their shows. Grandma was also knitting, or cooking, of course, and Grandpa was reading the paper and listening to the radio, both feet squished on his chair close to him like someone who'd definitely been a catcher in baseball. How cute Grandma was when she'd get frustrated with Grandpa when he'd make fun of Regis and Kathie Lee in the mornings, or how much she liked Bob Barker and that one model of his, Holly, I think her name was - she always told me how much she seemed like such a nice girl - and then her scouring her cupboards to put together reasonable pieces to mimic the crafts on Mr. Dressup. I think some of my favorite memories growing up were in Grandma and Grandpa's house when I stayed home sick from school. No one - except Mom, of course - took better care of you when you were sick than Grandma. I remember the boiled potatoes, and weak tea, on TV trays, with blankets while I got to sleep in her "big" bed in the front room, entertaining myself with books and pretending not to jump on the bed while the sun streamed in the room early in the morning. I remember her running to get me new ice cream buckets when I threw up in that bed one day and surrounding me with lavender and peppermint so I wouldn't have to smell that smell of being sick.

It makes me wish she were still here to take care of me and yet so grateful I had such good care from a Grandma that seemed almost like an energizer bunny, the first person to run and get something for anyone, setting an excellent example for me as I endeavor to be the mom of two girls.

I wish she were still here to call and ask what to do about so many things. Especially this week. But I still hear that voice in my head telling me such gentle advice on how to care for fussy babies, and the understanding in her voice as she talked to me when I was at my wits end as a mommy, and wish that Elliana knew more the woman that taught me first how to care for sick children by providing such good care for me when I was that sick child.

This post ended more sadly than I expected but I just feel prompted to say tonight, Thank you Granny. I'm glad you were there.

I promise for something more whimsical next time.