Everyone Should Have a Ga-Ga

This is my grandmother, Ga-Ga. She's ninety-one. My girls and I had ice cream with her today. I used to stay at Ga-Ga's house all the time. In fact, I really believe I must have been the bad kid in my family, because I really was at her house constantly. Mom? Was I that unmanageable? Could you not stand for me to be in the house more than five days in a row? Is that why you sent me to Ga-Ga's every weekend? We need to talk.

But, oh...was Ga-Ga's house a delicious place. She had a hide-a-bed in her guest room that she left partially folded up so we could pretend it was the Santa Maria and discover America together. We watched Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart and I got to eat canned peaches with all the squirt whipped cream I wanted. I used to close my mouth around the spout and squirt it until my eyes bulged out of my head or Ga-Ga came into the kitchen, whichever came first.

She gave me baths in her kitchen sink when I was little. It might as well have been in a luxurious claw-foot enameled tub in a castle, I felt so privileged when I got to have one. And I'll be danged if I didn't negotiate one last sink bath when I was in sixth grade. Don't tell anyone. When I left for college for the first time and Ga-Ga and I said goodbye, I tearfully asked her for one last sink bath. She declined. And as I awoke from my emergency c-section two years ago and saw Ga-Ga sitting by my hospital bed, I said the first thing that came to my mind: "Ga-Ga? Will you give me a sink bath?" She rubbed my feet instead.

Ga-Ga is such a lady. And she has never---I'm using the word "never" here in its most literal sense ---said a negative word about another person. She taught me never to tell another person they were "silly". Now, "funny" was acceptable, but not "silly" because it might hurt their feelings. My siblings and I would not be allowed to call each other dumb, stupid, or idiotic while in her presence, and you can forget about saying the word "fart." I accidentally said it in front of Ga-Ga once (said it, not did it; don't confuse the two, for Lord's sake) and she squeezed my cheeks firmly together as she raised both eyebrows said through her teeth, "That's...not...ladylike."



Ga-Ga? I'm sorry about all the burps on my website. I know I've let you down. But I have to be me.

Ga-Ga? I love you. If you ever die, I'm coming with you.

Comments

[Robin]

Everyone SHOULD have a Ga-Ga! Absolutely, positively beautiful portraits--written and photographed--of your ga-ga-licious grandmother :).

[dadia]

What a beautiful, adorable lady! And what treasures the pictures are & will be. I was blessed with a Ga-Ga, and a little piece of me did go with her when she left for Heaven. But, ahhhh, the memories....and I look forward to being with her again some day, forever... ;)

Thanks for the reminder of my own GaGa this morning....she's one of the biggest blessings of my life, for which I am most thankful...

I hope your day is every bit as lovely as your blog entry.....

[wetsy]

Aw, what great pictures! I got teary! Gaga is da bomb.

[Morgie]

Ga-Ga is da bomb.com!

[Wendy]

Your Ga-Ga and my grandma sound very much alike. Sadly, we lost grandma last year around this time.

Thanks for the memories.

[Brandi]

Ga-Ga is rockin' for 91! I can't believe how mature Alex is and she's SO pretty!

[Sally]

What a sweet post - it gave me a lump in my throat and an inexplicable urge for a sink bath!

[CindyDianne]

I want to be LIKE Ga-Ga someday. I want my grandkids to talk about me like that.

(God, I know you listening. I promise I'll give great sink baths, provide ponies and go fishing with my Grandkids, if you bless us with them! Someday. But, I'd like it to be a while longer please.)

[bleeuw]

She's perfect.

[Jenni in KS]

My kids are blessed to have a Ga-Ga. She's dh's grandma, and she's only 75, so I hope that means she'll be with us for a long, long time. She's has always treated me like one of her own grandkids instead of just an in-law. All of the great-grandkids (17 so far) adore her. She doesn't give sink baths, but a trip to Grandma's is not complete without a bubble bath in her enormous tub.

Each Thanksgiving she gets the family to pull taffy together, a tradition started by her mother. Each Christmas she spends weeks making peppernuts for everyone in the family and invites grandkids and great-grandkids over to help. And each Memorial Day she continues the tradition, also started by her mother, of gathering the family to decorate all the family graves in Wichita and Newton, telling the old family stories, and having a picnic afterward at a the same local park.

I could go on and on about all the things she does and all she means to us, but I'll save it. I have to have something to write about when I get off my butt and get my own blog going. She's my hero, and, yeah, I wanna be just like her when I grow up.

[Julie]

All of the ladies in your family are so pretty. You all age well too it seems. My "ga-ga" is my granny and I love her so much!!

[Pam]

What a stunning post.
You make me cry and I don't even know these beautiful people.

I had sink baths when I was a kid but I have to tell you, I never asked for one...ever. Not that there was anything wrong with a 18 yo climbing into the sink for a bath mind you....
(are you kidding...WTH is wrong with you???)

But I loved visiting my Grammie. Unfortunately it was only once a year at Thanksgiving.

Beautiful B & W pics Ree.
♥Pam

[Pam]

BTW, Jenni in KS...I ♥LOVE♥ the traditions your dh's grandma keeps up. The Memorial Day one is truly inspiring. She sounds like one heck of a gal.
♥Pam

[mull-berry]

It is interesting that Ga-Ga singled out the word, "silly." My grandma-in-law, age 89, also has an aversion to that word. I think "back then" it was very derogatory and meant insanity. You'll have to ask her.

[claudia]

Your Ga-Ga sounds like a wonderful woman- You're so lucky and blessed to still have her!!

[PAMELA]

1st just an observation. Yesterdays post was Gay Guy, todays was Ga Ga. I'm think tomorrow should be a Go Go or a Goo Gah???

Back to Great Grandma. I'm insanely jealous. Never had an opportunity to be gradnmothered. I'm praying to get closer to my own grandkids... cuz I'm goo goo over all of them.

[Carrie]

Ga Ga looks great! Can't believe she's 91! She hasn't aged a bit. Is still living at home? Your story really makes me miss my grandmothers! Must be Thanksgiving. Let us all be thankful for our Ga Ga's.

[Carrie]

Oh yeah, forgot to tell you how beautiful you daughter is too! She has a lot of you in her -- especially the contortionist picture. She'll be sitting up in no time!

[James Cooper]

Another excellent story about another fascinating member of your family. My parents moved across the country when I was around four-years-old so I missed out on growing up around relatives and particularly spending time with my grandparents. I've seen them more in recent years but it really isn't the same once you're all grown up (so to speak).

Thanks for sharing these wonderfully told stories and your beautiful pictures. Incidentally, my girlfriend and I just moved into a new apartment last week and I intend to frame and put up the photos you sent me somewhere near my work desk :-)

[momto3cubs]

You're making me choke up here! How blessed you all are to have her. I was blessed with wonderful grandmas too. One's in heaven, and the other lives too far away, but I'll see her for Thanksgiving. She's making extra pies just for me!

[Darth Thug Softball Slut Putas]

She sounds lovely and wonderful

[Stacie]

No way she's 91! 61 maybe...but 91? How does she stay so young? I want her secret!

What a wonderful story about Ga-Ga!
Stacie

[Mindy]

That top picture made me cry!!!! BEAUTIFUL!! My grandma is 86 and I am so crazy about her. I am *SO* not ready to think about her dying!! She lives close by and I cherish every minute with her!! I'm going to call her right now!!

[Brooke]

Very sweet!

[Willowtree]

Nice to hear at least someone got a grandmother that wasn't wanted in a half a dozen states for crimes against humanity.