Saturday, March 25, 2023
I am Brian, her grandson and favorite person , so I figured I should say a few things before my ‘allergies’ kick in.
My grandparents were a huge part of our daily lives and provided great memories like: eating Leo’s cheesesteaks, getting Dairy Queen, driving acrossed the country, weekends at Aunt Helen’s pool, doing a cup check before my little league games, scotch tape helmets, opening their 'icebox' for some Turkey Hill butter pecan or black raspberry ice cream, Rice Krispie treats, and seeing a shelving unit behind the basement door that was maxed out but stayed in-tact for at least 40+ years. Of all the things on those shelves, I only remember Quaker Oats, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.
There were not-so-good memories like: her see-through night gown, the slippers with the hole caused by the big toe on the left foot, the show Cops followed by Americas Most Wanted before going to bed, guilt tripping me when for stealing bubble gum when I was about 6 yrs old, and sleeping in a cot at the foot of their bed listening to their snoring and the radio chatter on the police scanner. And just when you thought you were about to fall asleep you’d hear my g-g’s bell ring and a “hhhhelp”.
One time my grandmother was at the kitchen table, doing a cross word puzzle with a weight watchers pen, while wearing my grandfathers flannel shirt, her blue shorts and yes the slippers. I must have been mouthy that day and thought I could out run her since she was in a seated position. I ran up the steps, went to shut the bed room door (the one with no door handle) and she caught me right on the knuckles with that white spaghetti ladle. Hell, I deserved it but, like I said…not all memories were great.
Her and my grandfather took family in, helped my mom get us where we need to go, and provided the most-fun family dinners & holiday get-togethers. They’d come over on Christmas mornings, we’d sit in the attic peaking through the gap in the door, trying to guess what presents they brought us. And always asking “can we come down yet?” But they made us wait patiently.
As we grew up we saw a little less of them but were still etching memories at sports events, graduations, and birthday parties. As we became young adults, still immature however, we started helping them here and there. For example, heading up on lunch breaks to set about 15 mouse traps in the basement to catch one little mouse. The little critter found a bag of chocolate in the dining room and it found out the hard way…should’ve stayed in the basement! Oh and while I was there seeting traps, I also had to reset the breaker panel. She would stomp twice and yell "it's working" to let me know the microwave was working again. These tasks came with the reward of a fried egg sandwich and a tin can of those amazing chocolate, peanut butter, & oatmeal cookies.
As we all got older, the tasks became more and more. For example, sitting through long nights at Briarcliffe bingo with about a hundred miserable old people, claiming to be having fun; the stench of cigarettes from the people can’t read the no smoking sign in the hallway; the women behind us with the truck driver mouths; and that god damn lady (sorry pastor) with the cow bell and her lucky number 29. Things like this is what we did to return the favor for all that they did for us.
She wasn’t very happy at Wesley but we tried our best. I hope that when she saw us in her room the evening before she passed, she realized we were there for her…as they were there for us. We’ll miss you Marian & Ernest George but thank you for every memory. You will always remain in our hearts.
