1. Vearlie
E. is my maternal grandmother. I
practically lived with her until I was nine years old. As a child I was always told that I “talked
too much”. But she was the only one that
took the time to not only listen to me but also answer my many questions. Our special time together every morning was
eating breakfast together and her letting me take a sip of coffee from her
cup. We would then read the Bible and
say a prayer for the day before I went off to school. After school she always had a snack prepared
for me and my brother before we started our homework. We cooked a lot of meals
together too! I was often told by others
that I was spoiled because she spent so much time with me, but I can remember
her saying, “No, she is being well loved.”
I was eleven years old when she passed away. Forty years later it still seems like yesterday
that I was combing her hair while she sat on the porch in her favorite chair. I miss her more with each passing year
because there is so much I wish I could share and talk with her about my
life. Today as I help to raise my
grandson, I reflect upon how caring and loving she was to me. I want to model her and give him that same
feeling of security in our relationship.
2.
Sandra
E. is my mother. I am her oldest child. She and my father divorced when I
was four years old. As a single parent
she did her best to communicate to me and my brother that she had to work long
hours to provide for us. She stressed to
us the value of an education. She
encouraged us to do our best and get good grades. Math was a difficult subject for me, but if
my test grade was a C, she celebrated with me as if I had gotten an A. She set an excellent example for me as a
young child when she went to college and earned her degree in nursing. She has been a licensed RN for nearly forty
years. Recently, she has experienced
some health issues. I am her primary
caregiver and it hasn’t been easy for her to accept my help. Now the roles are reversed and she is the
patient. I will continue to do so
because I truly appreciate the sacrifices she made for me and
helped me be the woman I am today.
3. Doretha L. is my aunt. She was my favorite babysitter. I loved everything about her. I especially wanted to dress up in her
jewelry and high heels. She made my
childhood fun. We took long walks in the
park, to the library, or to play at my friend’s house. She instilled the values
of how to carry myself as a young lady. She is still my role model and confidante.
4. Michael E. is my uncle. He
was the father figure in my life. He
made me feel special because he would plan special dates for us to go to
McDonald’s every Saturday, gave me my
lunch money , and paid me to keep his room clean. I was very upset when he went away to college
and cried myself to sleep at night for at least two weeks. When he returned home he still kept our
“special dates” and that meant the world to me.
He gave me the standard as to how I should be treated in a relationship
with the opposite sex. His teachings
greatly influence the characteristics I look for in a mate.
5. Ann M. was my elementary teacher and middle school Principal. I thought she was the meanest woman in the
world on our first day of class. She
required more than the norm in classwork and homework. As I got older, only then could I appreciate
the work load she was preparing me for in the future. The most important thing I respected about
her was telling me that I was born to be a leader and educator. She planted the seed in me to be the change I
want to see in the world. She told me to
find a cause in the world that would help someone and always care for the least
of those in society. When it was time
for me to graduate from college she was the one to find me a scholarship. To her memory my endeavor will be to complete
my graduate degree with a specialization in Public Policy and Advocacy.
*To personalize my blog, I have added my personal childhood web at the bottom of my blog page as well.
Anne sounds like my mother. HARD line, tough. When we look back, that is when we see what they were doing. They were getting us ready for our "big girl" lives. I am a single adoptive mom, and my girls stay with my mom before school and after school. I hope that each of my girls will put my mother at the top of their Webs..We are lucky to be supported by so many!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had some very impactful people in your early life. Your memories of your grandmother are very sweet. I have similar memories of my maternal grandfather; one of my favorite photos is of me around the age of four combing his hair. He was mostly bald but he would let me groom him for hours while I talked to him about his cats and fish. It was a great bonding moment!
How lucky you were to have someone like Ann in your life, to see the potential inside of you and be a champion for you. The fact that she advocated for you and now you are getting a degree in Policy and Advocacy is just divine!
Hello Susan,
ReplyDeleteThe influential people in your life are very similar to mine. Grandmothers are AWESOME!!! They know that their roles of mothers and grandmothers are very different and perform them as such. My mother use to complain to my grandmother about how she spoiled me. One day she told her, I gave you what you needed, now let me give my grandbaby what she needs. I just laughed at the fact that she was getting on my Mom like my Mom was always getting on me, but now I know what she means.
I admire you for taking on the responsibility of taking care of your mother. KUDOS to you. I personally know the sacrifices that you must make to become the primary caregiver for your parent. Continue to be a blessing to your mother and you in turn will be blessed.
Tabitha Abney
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteYour maternal grandmother, Vearlie reminds me of my Aunt Daisy, who like a second mother to me, there are days when I wish I could crawl up in her lap and have cuddle and read or sing me a song. I use to share all of my secrets, hopes and dreams with her. And now that she is no longer with us, there are times when I find myself thinking about her and I began to smile and some how my days become brighter. The memories of her still live on inside of me.
You are very lucky to have had these people in your life! I love that your uncle still kept your "special dates" going, even though he was moving forward in his life. It is moments like those that really show that a person cares.
ReplyDeleteI also love your tribute to Ann M. She reminds me very much of a few of the most influential and memorable teachers in my life. I was lucky enough to have at least one special teacher in every school I attended as a child. I hope that I will become one of those "special teachers" for a child--and hope I am around to see my tribute-- ;)
Hi Susan, we have some of the same memories especially about our materal grandmothers. My grandmother like yours taught me to cook and I had my first cup of coffee with her too. I had a favorite aunt too as well. She taught me how to wear makeup and gave me my first make over. Fond memories.
ReplyDelete