| As I gaze out the window at my Grandmother | | | | "Valley of the Dolls". I was so proud that I was |
| walking swiftly up the path in her backyard, I sit in | | | | playing a duet with my Grandmother, that I could |
| awe and amazement of her. At nearly 83 years old, | | | | barely hit the right keys. She bought my first piano |
| she is as vital as any of my peers. She has as much | | | | for me. An old upright. I played it day and night. |
| energy as anyone I have seen in their 30's, and she | | | | Evenings at her house were special too. She would |
| certainly does not look more than 50. She is an | | | | read the paper in her chair by the wall and I would |
| amazing woman. | | | | watch her turn every page. It would soon be my |
| Most of my fondest memories are of time spent | | | | turn to sit in her warm soft lap and watch the |
| with my Grandmother. The trip to her house always | | | | pictures go by in the Beatrice Potter book she would |
| seemed so long I could hardly wait to see her. I | | | | read to me. "Benjamin Bunny" or "Peter Rabbit" to |
| would ask my mom every few minutes, "How long | | | | name a few. Then it was off to bed and off to sleep |
| 'till we get there?" Once there warm hugs would | | | | with the sound of her piano lulling me into sweet |
| follow. I would look up at her face and see her | | | | dreams. |
| sparkling eyes with her hair pulled back in a neat bun, | | | | She remembers the days when things were simpler. |
| and I knew I was home. This was the home of my | | | | A happy time when there was no such thing as |
| heart. The smell of fresh baked bread permeated the | | | | self-service gas stations; milk was delivered to your |
| air, as I would rush to the cookie jar to grab a few | | | | door in glass milk containers; people smiled and said |
| of Grandmas' cookies. | | | | hello to one another; and you could pick up the |
| Days spent with Grandma were always an adventure. | | | | phone and order your groceries to be delivered to |
| The mornings were a quiet rush down the hallway | | | | your home for no extra charge. For her the 50's are |
| into the kitchen, trying not to wake anyone else. The | | | | modern day. These must have been great times, if |
| first child at the breakfast table dressed and with | | | | for no other reason than they were graced with her |
| their bed made was given the honor of using the | | | | presence. |
| Silver Fish Spoon. It is a time-honored tradition | | | | Things haven't changed all that much for me. There |
| passed on from her childhood. No other spoon can | | | | are still warm hugs and sparkling eyes to look at. The |
| equal the taste of any food that is eaten from that | | | | smell of fresh baked bread still permeates the air. |
| spoon. | | | | The cookie jar is still ever welcoming, although my |
| Days were spent watching her do her gardening, | | | | Grandmother says she has help from Pillsbury now. |
| playing in the playhouse in the backyard, walking up | | | | She is still helping me on the piano, cooking three |
| town, dressing up in period dresses, playing with | | | | meals a day, and running the house. |
| antique dolls and tea sets (each with a wonderful | | | | The only changes now are the garden is a plush, |
| history that Grandma would tell), and learning to | | | | beautiful jungle that captures the imagination, and I |
| crochet. | | | | read "Benjamin Bunny" to myself. Nevertheless, with |
| Afternoon would find her playing the | | | | everything she is, there is still so much more that I |
| piano...Beethoven, Chopin, Joplin. I remember climbing | | | | am just beginning to discover. Now that I have |
| onto the piano stool when I was 2 years old and | | | | become an adult, my awe and wonderment of her |
| watching her fingers glide across the ivory keys of | | | | are only added to as I discover how incredibly |
| her baby grand. She never said a word as I would | | | | intelligent she is. Who needs a library when I have |
| try to mimic her playing on the upper register of that | | | | her? |
| piano. Patiently she would play as I wrecked her | | | | She is truly an amazing woman my Grandmother. I |
| masterpieces. I wanted to be just like her. | | | | can only hope and strive to be the same kind of |
| When I was a little older, I got an old tiny keyboard, | | | | woman she is when I reach her years. |
| I sat on the floor, and we played our first duet, | | | | |