I had the pleasure of chatting with my grandmother today. And yet once again it inspired me to write. So here you go.
My grandmother is the last of a great dying breed, a real class act. She was raised in Chicago but traveled out to New York for college WELL BEFORE most women were doing this.
She always told me no one can take away your education, so make sure to get it. I remember her once asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and when I answered, artist, she replied that is a fantastic hobby dear, but what are you ACTUALLY going to do.
I come from a long line of over achievers. I told you I come from a long line of EXTRA.
All of my cousins have multiple degrees. I truly believe this is the push from the ultimate matriarch, my Grandmother.
She is a woman who doesn't own one pair of jeans. She always has just the right pair of earrings and shoes to go with her outfit. Man does she dress.
After my Mom died and I was looking through some things I found a picture of my Mom as a baby with her and she looks gorgeous. She is so much in fact my kids along with her other great grandchildren call her Gigi. This is the acronym for gorgeous grandmother.
She has traveled the world. She is well read. She is well mannered. She is a catch. SO much so she has outlived three husbands, and who knows how many other suitors.
She always said, its not good to sit and look at the four bare ones. You have to get out there and live.
Pre-covid her social calendar was better than mine. She attended the Madonna concert in a private box. She went to Balls, Charity Events, Lunches with friends, fabulous dinner parties. Once she was flown on a private plane to attend a sporting event with the teams owner. People want to be near her.
There is something magnetic about her, she draws a crowd. She is fierce and brave and strong. She is intelligent and charming. She is a ray of sunshine to anyone who has met her.
I remember about 5 years ago while we visited her at her snow bunny apartment in Florida, we went out to dinner. When we returned there was a bag on the doorknob with gifts and a letter inviting her to be his Valentine. She looked at the name and said I don't even know this man with a giggle. If I told you how old she is, she would surely have me offed. So let's just say even as an older lady, she's got "it."
She wears silk robes with maribou slippers. She taught me to spray my pillow with perfume before bed. At 5 o'clock you put out appetizers on beautiful plates and have a glass of wine. Use the good china when you have guests. She showed me how to be the consummate hostess. She always said it was better to be the best dressed one, than a slob. Up until recently she rocked 3 inch heels. She reads at least 3 different newspapers everyday. She is class. Straight class.
When she says she no longer wants a certain item of clothing, I happily accept the hand me downs. Yep, I want to dress like my grandmother, that's how good she is.
I will never be able to live up to that, but in the meantime I can try. She has been quite the role model for the ladies in my family and continues to be. Even more so for me now.
When this is all over I can't wait to travel to Chicago and give her a great big hug.
In the meantime, I relish our weekly chats and her true grace under the fire of this pandemic.
If there is someone who wants to get out there and live right now, it's her.
God Bless my Gorgeous Grandmother.
Comments