Tuesday, April 10, 2012
While visiting my parents this Easter, Madeline and I took my mother to se the new movie "The Lorax." We really enjoyed it, and one of our favourite characters (besides the Lorax of course) was the grandmother who helps the
boy find the Once-ler and then get a Truffula seed to plant. The grandmother in the movie was smart, wise, supportive, adventurous and fun. Madeline is a lucky girl who has two amazing grandmothers in her life. Jim's mother "Grandma Betty" grew up in Orillia on a farm with 7 other
siblings. They lived in a 3 bedroom farm house with no electricity, no indoor plumbing, a huge garden that took a lot of work and lots of animals all which provides a wonderful background for many stories that Betty shares with Madeline. We have a picture that hangs in our home of Betty and her brothers and sister when they are all quite young (Betty looks about 7). Her younger sister Izzy is obviously pouting and Betty tells us it is
because she didn't get to wear the one pair of "dress up socks" that she and Izzy shared. Betty loves to talk about how the eight children shared a single pair of skates and no one dared complain because they were just so happy to skate. Grandma Betty is sweet, kind and a gifted artist and
storyteller. I just love that Madeline hears her stories about living so simply and happily. We all laugh a lot when Betty starts telling her stories. Madeline calls my mother "Punk Grandma". Her name is Marie and she is a character. She is 78 and cuts her own hair (very short and punk
like). She swears like a trooper and is the hardest worker you'll ever meet (she still works full time). She grew up in England and was about 6 - 12 years of age during World War 2. She is a very private person who never
told me stories about her life growing up, but is starting to now because Madeline asks so many questions. My mom has started to tell Madeline about what her life was like during the war. Her parents hosted people from
London who were evacuated because of the bombing. She talks about what it was like when bombs were dropped near her home. She has been telling Madeline about the food rationing and how her mother (Madeline's Great
Grandmother) always shared her chocolate rations with the family dog (I do truly come from a long line of dog nerds). My mom also is an avid gardener and lives very simply even to this day. I'm very grateful that both of these women share the stories of their lives with my daughter. They are
both wise, smart and very generous women. We love our Grandmas!