Ahhh..Winter! It is the season that tends to bring memories back to all of us, more than any other time of year. I am no different. For myself, this is the time of year I feel closest to my Mother. Her birthday was December 17th, and that is probably the day that losing her hits the most. I wonder, did she feel that way about her Mother? I never knew those things about her, I have truly come to know my Mom much more since she left. We never really think of our parents as people, when we are young, do we?
Any how, that is what brings me to the point of sitting and putting my thoughts out to the world.
Growing up, I had grandparents on both sides, as a child. Both sets, were very far from us, but I did have opportunities to spend a little time with them. Christmas was a given time that gifts would arrive from both. My Mom's mother would always send knitted slippers. To this day, although I have intentions of learning how to do this myself, I will pick up local craft fair knitted slippers, because they are high on my comfort list. My Dad's parents would send the ever special hankies with thistles embroidered on them, and candy from Scotland. I felt very special having candy no one else in town had..still remember them when I see Castle rock candy. However, as I said, they were not close, and my childhood was like most of the kids in our town, Grandparent free. I recall only a few kids had the pleasure of a close relationship with their parent's parents. We would make the routine Christmas calls to Ontario and Scotland, that was ever so exciting, but unlike most of my cousins, my extended family were just photos.
Today, things are so very different. We have facetime, we have email, we have so many ways to connect far away. We are all a wee bit more technical than our own grandparents would have been. That is a good thing! My grandchildren are simply a click away, although they, like they should be, are seldom on my limited internet ability, I do not instagram..LOL. But if they wanted to speak to me, it would be within moments.
My grandchildren do not live close, but I really do not feel they are far away. I can follow their days through my daughter's calls and messages. I know what is happening in their worlds daily. I can offer advise, or commiserate immediately. That is something I did not have with my Grandmothers. Cripes I didn't even have it with my Mom when I lived away from her. So, today I thought of all the differences time has made in my life as a Grandparent, to that of my own Grandparents.
This has been on my mind, because very soon, I will become a Great Grand parent. What a bizarre concept!! Also, I am in touch with all the other Great Grandparents. That was not the case with my childhood. I doubt my own Grandparents ever communicated, but times have changed, and circumstances are so different. We as a group are all close by, plus we are all connected by Facebook.
My Great Grandparents were long gone before my time. This little boy will have 3 extremely young sets of Greats, and a Great-Great alive and kicking.My 2 youngest children grew up without Grandmothers, and now we have a child who has a huge collection of "Elders" awaiting his arrival. We are all excited, and he will be very lucky to have so many of us to love and protect him.
As his arrival gets very close, I was surprised that my thoughts have been on my Mom. As I stand outside with my morning coffee and watch the birds who have become my new "passion", she is foremost in my mind. I wish she was here to welcome the 4th generation made possible because of her, and her Mother, and her Mother's mother. Nothing against Fathers, but this is the way..women are the ones who give birth, so they are the strongest link in the chain. Yes, we are special, without us, humanity would stop..well outside of science I suppose. But these women have created all of who we are. Because I have been bit by the ancestry bug, I can offer this child a list of generations before him, he will have the knowledge at least on one branch of this enormous tree. Until one starts into ancestry, there is really no concept of how incredibly huge this tree is.
I have added my branches to this tree, 3 times. My oldest has added 3 more. Now her oldest will be adding another. It is massive, and God willing, it will continue spreading branches long after I have passed, like my Mother.
As I mentioned, I had the ability to know 2 generations before me, but now we have a child who will know 3 even 4!! I hope he is ready for all of our knowledge, and advise, because now each and everyone of us alive, are the Matriarchs of our family. There are days I feel my age and my struggles and sadness and loss, but they have all been lessons. This is what it means to be an Elder, we have seen far more over the years than the younger ones, we have made mistakes, and our duty is to ensure those beginning, do not have to make the same, not that they, themselves, will make no mistakes, but they will not be the same ones. We have all been placed in the position of utmost importance, this is only because we have built our branches and must ensure the ability for others to grow strong on the tree. It is now, our most important job, and I am indeed looking forward to it.
I think my Mother has been standing close, because she knows I sometimes wonder if I am doing a good job in my esteemed position, and if I will do this with the newest twig on the branch. But, with her beside me, and the knowledge of what she gave me, if I follow her lead, this new generation will be strong, independant, and have a huge heart, just like his Great Great Grandmother!!
