112

[fbhjr]

If my mother’s mother had not died 63 days after my wife and I got married,
she would be 112 years old today.
She was the youngest of my four grandparents.  The only one born in the
1900’s.  You can make a case that is still the 19th century by official
calendars, but clearly 1900 is the 1900’s.
Both of my father’s parents were born in the 1880’s.  (1885 & 1887)
My mother’s father was born in 1897.

My mother’s mother was the only one I can really say I knew.  My father’s
father died 28 years before I was born.  My father’s mother lived in
Florida by the time I came along.  When I was very young she came to visit
and we went there a couple of times.  But, the last time I saw her was when
I was six.  I have always thought it strange than in the last 5 years of
her life there were no visits between us and her.  I know I certainly
wanted to visit, but it was 1500 miles between us.
My mother’s father and I never got along.  I don’t really know why.  He
liked my brother much more than me.  I guess because my brother was named
for him, although that seems like a petty reason.
(I was told by my mother that there was a curse if you didn’t name your
first son after their father.  My Uncle Ted’s first son was named Stephen
and died at about 6 weeks old.  My mother took this as proof of the curse
so when I came along there was no doubt of being named for my dad.  So, it
was my brother named for her dad.  Yes, this ranks with the swamp of death story
of things my mother told me when I was young.)

As I’ve said in other places, my grandmother was not a nice person.  And,
her birthday generally brought out some of the worst of that.

But, it did also bring out good.  Rather than dwell, more, on the nasty I
want to remember the good.

My grandmother’s birthday was a day my sister planned as the center of her
vacation.  Yes, the daughter of my father’s first wife always made it a
point to celebrate the birthday of his second wife’s mother.  So, it was
always at this time of year I got to see my sister.

And, my grandmother would do her best to get her children and grandchildren
together for her birthday.  Before the great split in the family my uncles
and their families often did join the rest of us for this event.

This was the time I got to see my uncles, aunts, cousins and spend time
with my sister.
That was very nice.
And, I do miss those times, if not the person who was the focus of them.