Day 9

What is the most important lesson that you learned from your own mother (or other primary caretaker)? What do you imagine the name of your Grandmother's blog would be and what would she write about?

Whew, these are a couple of totally loaded questions Miss Calli.

I guess I'd have to say the most important lesson I learned from my mom was to treat others as you want to be treated. She may not have liked certain people, but she wholeheartedly believed that everyone should be treated nicely and with respect. I don't believe I ever heard my mom be rude to anyone...no matter how crappy they treated her, if they provided crappy customer service, etc. She might go to the car or in the other room and cry about it, but she was never rude or impolite in return. That's just how she was (and that's honestly something I see in myself). I sometimes wonder if she thought that if she was always polite and respectful to people it would eventually rub off (I sometimes think that). I know there are days I totally suck at this, but I try. People still tell me how nice she always was...I hope after I'm gone people can say that about me too.

Now, for Grandma's blog. I have 3 women I considered to be "Grandma" when I was growing up. One was my mom's mom, another my dad's mom, and another a distant cousin with whom my dad stayed with for some reason or another (I've never been told why). My mom's mom raised 7 kids, operated a grocery store, and had us grandchildren over the summer months, planted tons of flowers and trees. She also chopped wood and did farm chores. Her husband helped at the store, dabbled with farming and as an electrician. I bet she'd have some stories to tell. Maybe the name of her blog would be "Jane of All Trades".

My dad's mom lived in California, raised 4 sons, and made lots and lots of quilts, blankets, and afghans by hand. I don't feel like I ever really "knew" her and always felt like she played favorites with a couple of the grand kids (obviously, not me). She seemed like a nice enough lady, but, I guess I just really never felt that connected to her. Maybe, "Quilt Squares and White Hair" would be her blog name?

My other Grandma is the cousin. She is one hell of a great cook, lost one child at birth and another in the Vietnam war. She took us under her wing and we never felt like we weren't her grand kids. She taught me how to cut corn off the cob just right so it'd freeze well. They always had a bunch of cats running around, and a couple dogs. And the guest bedroom was always just the right temperature. I would LOVE for her to have a food blog. In fact, I was insanely craving one of her brownies. I have the recipe, so do other people, and NO ONE has been able to make them just like hers. SO SO SO good. Fried chicken, fried okra, mashed potatoes & gravy, creamed corn, biscuits & gravy, anything she makes is delicious! Sorry Pioneer Woman, but I think my grandma would probably out cook you any day (or at least in her younger days, as she's 80-something now and doesn't get around like she used to.). I think I'd like to see her blog named "Food from the Heart".