Grandmas

Someone on my friends list (it was a locked entry, so I won't say who) had a post concerning a grandmother who had recently died, and this person admitted not feeling any grief, but only relief because the relationship had been so toxic. I said:

I am sorry for your loss. And by that I mean not the usual condolence thing, because your grandmother has died, but the loss in your life of never having a grandmother you could love in the first place. I loved both my grandmothers, and the relationship with each was good. I'm sorry that you never had a grandmother like one of mine, one who played Chutes and Ladders with me, who had me sleep overnight in the Rose bedroom, who taught me how to make a Gentleman's Sandwich Loaf, who took me sailing, who showed me her beautiful porcelain tea cups, who gave me an extravagent doll every year on my birthday, or who gave me a sterling silver spoon, each in a different pattern and engraved with my name on my birthday, who called me "Lambie."

I am so sorry you never had that.

On thinking it over, I want to say, yeah, my relationship with both my grandmothers was really special. And I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my parents for picking pretty cool moms of their own, and for fostering those bonds of love.

I feel very lucky.