memories of your grandparents

[PRF]

PRF. I agree 100%. That's why I don't understand why my grandparents didn't and parents don't. I try hard to not be someone who will look back one day with regrets. Or at least try to minimize them.

You definitely have the right attitude.. I don't get it either, my grandsons are really important to me and spending time with them is great..

 

[Will_C]

I wish I would have time with grandparents! My grandfathers died by the time I was 6 months old. My paternal grandmother died when I was 5. My other grandmother was the patient, easy going person in my life-my parents were both emotional and prone to short tempers.

Will

 

[nybirdman]

I was lucky enough to grow up on the same street as both sets of grandparents;in fact the whole neighborhood seemed to some sort of relation.Probably the first real"life"experience was the death of my grandparents when I was a teenager.
My paternal grandfather immigrated from Germany in 1917 but didn't find out his life story until long after his death and a lot of hard work by one of my Uncles and cousins.

 

[mark02tj]

My paternal grandfather immigrated from Germany in 1917 but didn't find out his life story until long after his death and a lot of hard work by one of my Uncles and cousins.

Are you going to share his story??? That's what this thread is about!! One thing I'm curious about is how did a young man leave Germany during WW-I?

My aunt (married to my dad's brother, no blood relation to me) left East Germany in the 50's as a early teenage girl. She told me the story of the escape last year. Pretty exciting stuff! They managed to get into West Berlin on a train. They pulled into the station right as the East German guards were coming into their car to check papers. From West Berlin, they managed to fly into West Germany where they stayed for a few years until her mother was medically cleared to immigrate. Her mother had Tuberculosis during the war and it was quite a while until the doctors felt that she'd be cleared through Ellis Island. They were finally cleared and they sailed to the USA on the USS United States. They moved to New Jersey (where they already had relatives) and she and her twin sister started school in the 9th grade - speaking no English!! They learned the language and graduated from high school with honors. She met my uncle while in college in Maryland, outside of DC. I met her parents one time - a neat old German couple, sadly now long gone.

 

[TCowner]

I had an incredible relationship with my grandparents. In fact, it was my grandfather who created this insanity I have for tractors which brings me to this forum every day. When my wife complains about my tractor addiction I often times blame my grandfather. It was a special relationship. He passed away when I was 16 years old. I turn 61 next week and I still miss him dearly.

 

[tcreeley]

My wife's grandmother on her father's side emigrated from Ireland as an older teenager. A few years before she passed away, her grandkids offered to take her back to Ireland to visit family and see the countryside she had grown up in. She said she was not interested, no thanks, etc. Gradually it came out that she had swiped her older sister's ticket that had been saved up for, and had gone to America in her place! She didn't want to go back and face the music after all these years - though she had been long forgiven!

..........

I grew up without meeting my grandparents - early deaths, and divorce. I came across an audio posting this past winter, of my grandmother talking to my now deceased father back in the 1970's. They were going back through the family stories, but what was most striking was that she had grown up 16-18 miles away from where I live today.
My wife and two sons and I moved to Maine 35 years ago from Massachusetts. My grandmother had the same "local" accent of the older people I have worked with here in Maine these past 26 years while teaching. It is soft and feathery, clipped in its phrasings and tone, whereas my father's and aunt's accent are more reflective of the Acton area of Mass. where they grew up.

Family- valuable.

 

[forgeblast]

Love the stories!!
My gram, she was the person in my life who when I am at my best I am doing what she would do. She started working in dress factories at the age of 13 and when my grandfather died (coal miner who started at age 6 as a breaker boy) she put my mother through college. Growing up they had a farm and she ran shine during the depression to support her mom and dad. She was very independent. She worked hard and saved, but what I most loved about her was she lived. She lived after the death of her husband, she lived after she retired (traveled all around) and she almost outlived all 16 of her brothers and sisters. She would have been 93 the year that she died.
Around her I was never in the way, I was always included, and taught in a patient way. We would go hiking up mountains to pick mushrooms and blueberries. She taught me to cook, bake, garden, and how to be happy. I think about her every day, and I have to thank her for teaching me how to be a good daddy. My daughter is included with everything I am doing, from building, to mowing, to fishing, and gardening. She is learning how to cook and can, she can make bread and pierogies she is a natural.
My grandmother was the one who told the stories about her parents and her brothers and sisters, who made traditional meals and who in my mind kept the traditions alive. I am so thankful for knowing her.