For several years while I was growing up, our family lived next door to my grandmother - we called her Nanny. From the time I was little, we always had a very close relationship. Each day, when the school bus would drop my brother and I off, we'd run up to her house and she'd always have a snack waiting for us. After our snack, my brother (who is almost six years older) would head to our house to start his chores.
I, however, would stay and hang out with Nanny. She would let me watch television, play in her jewelry, admire her shoes, go through her books, and snoop and play like any elementary school girl would want to do. Who wouldn't love that?
But one of the things I remember and love the most were her puzzles. She loved to work puzzles, beautiful 500 to 1000 piece puzzles. She had an entire cabinet full of them. Some of my sweetest memories with her are the many times she'd let me choose a puzzle and we'd spend hours working side by side putting it together until it was completely finished.
Although it's not something I've done much of in the past several years, I still love to work them. And when I do, I always think of her and those fond memories, and my heart can do nothing but swell.
Now, what's even sweeter is that my Little (who is just a few months shy of being three) is getting interested in puzzles. We'd purchased one a few months back and I'd tried to introduce puzzle working to him, but he wasn't quite ready. Then, about two weeks ago, it was just like one of those forgotten toys that all of a sudden shines bright again. Only this time, he was ready. So much, that we've even had to expand our puzzle collection.
He really is loving it. But his new found interest in puzzle working is not what prompted this story - it was my swelling heart and the realization of how sweet and special it would be to pass along this love for puzzles to him that my Nanny had passed along to me. It's knowing that although she never got to meet him, she's looking down and smiling proudly at his interest in them and at us working them.
As I helped him through each puzzle, I loved hearing "I don't know where this one goes" or "Mommy, I can't find it." For me, it was an experience where the past caught up with the present for just one moment, and my cup runneth over.
As always, thanks for reading.
Kate
August 19, 2013
7 Comments:
Your post is a heart warming reminder for me. I experienced the same kind of feelings you described while doing some pretty fun stuff with my grandmother. I still recall the smell of her house, and the way her fingers looked when they held the book she was reading to me.
Now my heart swells because YOU can relate to precious memories I carry with me.
TLW
this is a precious post! I love it :)
Thank you for bringing back such precious memories I had. My parents both worked so after school my grandparents would watch me. That paragraph about her letting you watch TV and look at her jewelry, I swear you wrote that about me. My grandparents had very nice taste when it came to accessories and decorating their apartment. When I'd go over there house it was like a toy store except I always had to be gentle with everything. It honestly made admiring everything even more special. They also let me sit in front of the TV with a big bowl of popcorn and watch General Hospital :)
My other grandmother LOVED puzzles, she still does although she doesnt do them. I cant even count how many puzzles I've done with her.
I needed this post today. I've read a bunch of your other posts and I'm SO glad to have found your blog.
happinessisntadestination.blogspot.com
I have spent a lot of quality time with my granny. Aren't they the best?
Puzzles are great. Reagan absolutely loves working on them with me.
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Your story reminded me of many happy hours spent with my grandmother. My children and I have also worked a number of puzzles in our day. I hope to be that sort of grandmother myself (but not too soon, hahaha).
My dad loves to do puzzles. It's always a great way to share time with him. Hope you have a great day.
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