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| That’s me on the left, my Grandpa and my sister Tracy. |
My grandparents lived in Oregon. We picked them up at the airport every other year. The trip to the airport was a treat to watch people coming and going.
Grandma and Grandpa were different than our Ma and Pa, who lived in Georgia in a small holler. We could see them anytime.
Our Oregon grandparents stayed a week or more and left. They randomly called and talked to our parents.
One year, I got chicken pox during my grandparent’s visit. I spent an entire week at home with them while my sister and brother went to school. I don’t recall a single thing we did during their visit, but I remember being with them.
The phone rang one night and we were told that Grandpa died. There was no funeral like we attended when our Ma died. Instead, the next summer we went to the airport and took our first family plane trip to Oregon.
Our Grandma was happy to see us. Dad treated us to maple iced treats from a local bakery. We dipped our toes in the cold, cold ocean. We picked up pieces of drift wood from the beach. We met some of our dad’s relatives.
Every time I smell a maple iced donut or cinnamon bun, I think of our trip to Oregon when we visited Grandma and didn’t get to see Grandpa.
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| My sister, brother and me in Oregon |
I didn’t know you are a twin 🙂
Oregon seems like a nice memory.
Erik, we had a great visit there.
It’s funny, isn’t it, the things you remember and the things you don’t, and how things can hold associations forever. I also had one set of grandparents across the country whom we saw about once a year, and my other grandmother lived nearby and we saw her often. I remember my far-away grandma’s blackberry pie, and my close grandmother reading to me when I was in the bathtub 🙂
Susanna, what fun memories. You really really liked books to have them near the bathtub.
Agree with Susanna…funny the memories we have (mine is powdered mini donuts with Mom during our beach week).
Karen, Powdered mini donuts and Mom sound good to me.
Lovely thoughts (and scents) of Oregon.
Thanks Mary.
Interesting, isn’t it,the difference between grandparents …
Beth, Yes. Grandparents and twins hold plenty of differences.
Enjoyed this memory trip to Oregon! One set of grandparents I only met once or twice and have no memories……. both sets lived far away.. Love the shot of the two of you with your grandpa!
Joanna, My twin is why I often use “we” in childhood stories.
I cherish dearly the cowboy films and books we read with the grandad who died when I was only six and remember the pigeons he used to keep. Grandads are great for doing the same thing year on year, so no matter how early they ‘go’ the memories are distinct. Whereas with grandmas you remember things like them having their hair in curlers and making a brew lol.
Catherine, We watched the Lone Ranger with my Pa. He lived with us later and I have many memories of him.
This post choked me up Stacy! The sense of smell can be so evocative, and I remember distinctly the scent of my grandparents’ homes. My grandmother used “Deep Magic” hand lotion – it will forever be her scent in my mind!
Cathy, I think it’s neat that we remember the regular scents of our families.
As Cathy said, evocative post. *Hugs* for the visit where you didn’t get to see Grandpa.
I was very close to my paternal grandparents (my maternal grandparents died before I was born). I have so many memories of Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma urging Grandpa to cut a rose for me to take home. Grandpa lifting me up to see baby robins in a nest. Grandma singing to me, and reading to me. Grandpa teasing me. Oh the twinkle in those blue eyes!
Thank you.
Beth, I love your grandparent memories and the twinkle. Thanks for sharing them.
It always amazes me that sensory memories can be so strong for us. I have many of them that instantly take me back to a particular moment in time.
Susan, I’m discovering that many of mine are related to specific foods. So, I guess there is something to be said about trigger foods.
I can appreciate this to although my grandparents are gone too. Lovely memories all the same.
Thanks for stopping by Jenni.
I love hearing your memories. Like you, one set of grandparents was close, while the other set we rarely saw.
Even though my sister and I are a year apart, my mom dressed us the same and everyone always thought we were twins.
~Debbie
Debbie, I realized many years later that dressing alike most likely avoided fights.
Lovely memory post about Oregon. You and your sister were so cute. It is interesting what remember and don’t about our childhoods. It’s always fun to talk with my three siblings as we each remember different things and have different views of the same memories.
Patricia, Every familly member has his or her own version of family stories.
Wonderful memories. I live not to far from Oregon. It’s a beautiful place to visit. I like that the beaches there are all public, no one can own them privately.
Now I want a maple iced donut. Ha!
Emily, I ate a couple in preparation for this post.
Sweet post. I grew up in Oregon (and recently returned), so it also holds a special place in my heart. I’ll be dipping my does in the cold OR ocean this summer. 🙂
Enjoy being back Hannah.
Looks like you girls got your gorgeous eyes from your grandfather there.
I’ve heard rumors of that cold Oregon ocean water.