As Written by Christopher Ghuzzi
Love and pride - These are the attributes that come to mind when I think of grandma. There was certainly never a shortage of love for her entire family, both immediate and extended. Yet, as I’ve grown older, it has become increasingly clear that as her grandchildren, we brought grandma such a sense of overwhelming pride. We were the center of her universe, and the source of her unwavering pride.
This fact became starkly clear just a few days ago when Aunt Jane discovered a green three ring binder amongst her belongings. Inside this scrap book lay sheet upon sheet of paper, outlining our accomplishments from childhood through college. There was an article entitled “When I Grow Up” from the “Newport Costa Mesa News” written by Shaunna, and numerous programs from Christmas concerts spanning two decades. From little league write ups, to Honor Society inductions, to awards and civic accomplishments, she had saved it all, and had been there for each of us.
A substantial portion of my fondest memories bring me back to childhood and that cozy house on South Park Terrace. There was absolutely nothing like Sunday dinner at Grandma Jenny’s house. After dinner, the adults would sit at the dining room table, while us kids would ultimately be relegated to one of three places – the basement, the front porch or upstairs. It was in these moments that we would entertain ourselves with the now infamous two-stringed-guitar, the bongo drum and the “Lite-Brite.” Inevitably, our games of hide and seek would escalate, and grandma would march up the stairs and yell, “You kids need to calm down…the chandelier is shaking!”
Sometimes, when grandma would use the electric mixer in the kitchen, the television would fill with static, and the lights would dim just a bit. It was a modest home, but it was filled with a grandmother’s love. When we were really young, grandma would have sleep/overs. We’d watch the “Golden Girls,” she’d teach us how to play cards for pennies, and spoil us with cookies and caffeine-free soda. I distinctly remember the ceramic cookie jar in her kitchen, truly a grandmother’s touch. We’d piece jigsaw puzzles together on the living room table, and try to help her with her crossword puzzles.
Living as a widow my entire life, we all chipped in to help with the upkeep of grandma’s house. When we were old enough, Brian and I would ride our bikes over to her house to mow the lawn, wash the windows and rake the leaves. One time, she handed Brian a steak knife from the kitchen drawer, and asked him to go out into the yard and cut the weeds. Like a loyal grandson, Brian marched into the backyard, got down on his hands and knees, and began weeding with an ordinary kitchen steak knife. Grandma’s house wasn’t exactly equipped with home Depot’s finest, but we made due.
Holidays’ elicit some of the warmest memories for me. Every Christmas Eve, we’d pick grandma up and bring her to our house to help prepare for Christmas dinner on Carteret Ave. She would sit at the table and wrap all my presents, and would always tell me that Santa’s little elves were watching to make sure I was behaving. She would stuff the turkey and attend Christmas Eve mass right here at Holy Spirit with us. As young children, if we became restless during mass, she’d always have wintergreen lifesavers in her purse to keep us occupied. Then, on Christmas morning, as we opened our presents, she’d invariably say “You people have no idea how lucky you are to have parent’s who give you so many gifts. When I was a little girl, we each got just one gift.” Over the last few years, Christmas Eve just never seemed the same without grandma there to share it with us.
Looking back, I think we may very well be the only grandchildren who can honestly tell people that our grandmother laundered money – literally. Every Easter, she would give each of us a solid chocolate bunny with a crisp $5 bill attached. You see, grandma would actually wash the money and then iron it so she could give us crisp and clean bills. So, it was a running family joke that grandma laundered her money.
Grandma always seemed to refer to her grandchildren as a group. It was always “You people this” or “You people that.” She’d never single any of us out, and she treated each one of us the same, even though we have all grown to be unique. She would constantly remind us that “You people are so lucky.” Well, we certainly were lucky to have a grandmother who was so proud of each of us, and who took the time to become such an integral part of our lives. She loved “you people” with every ounce of her heart, and we all loved her, just the way she was.
posted by Wozzy Bear @ 10:44 PM
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