shanna murray

memory: abby's grandfather and mackenzie's grandfather

As I spend time on the west coast with my grandfather while he comes to terms with terminal cancer, I'll be sharing posts from dear friends - all in tribute to our grandparents.  I've asked friends to share a favorite memory and a photo, and I have to say that I am truly so very honored by the beautiful memories and photos that landed in my inbox.  I think you'll love these posts as much as I do. And I hope you'll join us with your own memories in the comments. 

Good morning, friends! This morning I thought I'd share two short but very sweet posts about grandfathers from two of my dear friends. I hope you're enjoying this series. I've so enjoyed reading all of the lovely and loving thoughts here this week, and hasn't it has been wonderful to see the photos?! It's been an honor to learn more about you all with what you've shared. Thank You!

This series will continue through the weekend - there are some really gorgeous posts still to come! Then, I'll resume regular posting again on Monday, with a fresh start of sorts. But enough about next week, on to more memories!

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From Abby Powell

the south pacific, winston cigarettes, telephone poles, oklahoma, old orange pick ups, fishing in the high sierra, hard work, americana, mule days, soft chuckling ...all of these things remind me of my grandfather. he was the only grandparent i knew and he was the greatest. he is surely missed, but i do treasure memories of him. 

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From Mackenzie Sasser

My grandfather Marlow is my last remaining grandparent here with us. His wife of over fifty years passed suddenly over five years ago, which was a very hard loss for our family. Through it all, he was always the one with a smile on his face. To me his smile reveals his true personality; kind, loving, loyal, immensely generous and selfless. He isn't a man of many words, but he silently shovels all his neighbors walks, restores furniture for my family, gives advice as an accomplished gardener, and volunteers his time every week helping others (among countless other things). 

He used to go to the Oregon coast and find smooth stones, polish them and stamp them with a picture of a bee. He would give them away to family, friends and strangers to keep with them as a reminder to "bee" happy. I love him so much, and he shows how much he cares with that twinkle in his eye. He is an example of what it is to truly be selfless, and I hope I have a little bit of that in me. Since moving away from family I don't get to see him as often as I would like, but for now I cherish his kind words on the phone and that little stone in my pocket.

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From Abby Powell

the south pacific, winston cigarettes, telephone poles, oklahoma, old orange pick ups, fishing in the high sierra, hard work, americana, mule days, soft chuckling ...all of these things remind me of my grandfather. he was the only grandparent i knew and he was the greatest. he is surely missed, but i do treasure memories of him. 

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From Mackenzie Sasser

memory: heather's grandmother

As I spend time on the west coast with my grandfather while he comes to terms with terminal cancer, I'll be sharing posts from dear friends - all in tribute to our grandparents.  I've asked friends to share a favorite memory and a photo, and I have to say that I am truly so very honored by the beautiful memories and photos that landed in my inbox.  I think you'll love these posts as much as I do. And I hope you'll join us with your own memories in the comments. 

After a really tough day with my grandfather at the oncologist I came home to find this in my inbox last night, and it just made my heart ache and soar all at the same time. Thank you so much, Heather. This was exactly what I needed to read as a bookend to the day. 

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful memories you're sharing in the comments. All that you have shared, along with the beautiful posts from friends have helped me to feel not so alone during a really sad time. xxoo, S

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From Heather Smith Jones

Thank you Shanna for inviting me to share here.  At first I thought, how can I choose one memory about one grandparent?  Then this photo (from my baby album that's at my parents house and I haven't even looked at for ages) came to mind repeatedly as I was thinking about what to write.

I'm not sure I remember this moment looking at queen anne's lace with my grandmother behind my dad's pottery studio.  But I can't say that I don't remember it either, because this is how she always looked, gentle and poised.  The memories I have of Grandmother (who passed away this January) are a gathering of moments, echoing sounds, images that tease my memory like a flashbulb, and sweet aromas all wrapped together.

My sister and I would spend a few weeks each summer with our grandparents doing fun summer stuff like riding big wheels and bikes up and down the street with our cousins, playing croquet in their tiny front yard which at the time seemed huge, swinging in the back under the apple tree, eating fresh cucumber slices with ranch at lunch, and so on. When Grandmother looked at one of us, she would wink and her face literally sparkled.  I hear the sing-songy way she'd call "morning glory" to wake us.  At night her face smelled soft of ponds facial cream and her 'tuck us in' kisses would smack and ring in my ear. When I recall Grandmother slicing fresh peaches for cobbler and the oozy sweetness dripping from her hands, or the summer ritual of making homemade apple butter, the clanky sound of the recliner kicking back in the den, or the rhythm of their footsteps on the linoleum floor, these memories now become a discovery to me.  These every day experiences are cherished and renewed because times together like this won't happen again on earth.

And that is something special about grandparents; I think they have a way of making grand life from these moments.  The daily habits and routines we shared become like something never before seen, like seeing the soft whiteness of queen anne's lace for the first time as a child. They remind me, that these small moments collectively make up the important parts of life.

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memory: lisa's grandfather

Hello there and happy Tuesday friends!  Here's what's happening this week: as I spend time on the west coast with my grandfather I'll be sharing posts from dear friends - all in tribute to our grandparents. A very worthy subject to pay tribute to, don't you think? I've asked friends to share a favorite memory, and a photo, and I have to say that I am truly so honored by all the beautiful memories and photos that landed in my inbox this weekend. I think you'll love these posts as much as I do. And I hope you'll join us with your own memories in the comments. 

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From Lisa Solomon

I was fortunate enough to have the grandparents on my father’s side be a mere 7 minutes away from my house. Growing up they were constants in my lives. They would pick me up from school and we’d get treats [ice-cream with my grandma and donuts –which we called secrets because we kept it secret from my folks- with my grandpa], I’d swim at their friend’s houses [they had a couple friends with great backyard pools], we’d play games [queens, crazy 8’s, blackjack, pool, gin rummy], we’d go to movies, eat at Changs [my grandfather’s favorite Chinese restaurant]. The normal stuffs of happy childhoods. I am who I am today because of their influence. I see them and feel them in my day to day life even though I can no longer physically hug them. 

My grandfather was quite a character and quite a talker. He would make friends with someone wherever we would go. He was such a tease that you couldn’t always trust what he said. As a small girl my grandma and I worked out a system. He’d tell what might be a tall tale, I’d look at her, she would nod if it was true and shake her head if it was false. My grandmother was the most nurturing person imaginable [it was impossible to go hungry at her house - mostly because as a good Jewish grandmother she would ask you every 10 minutes if you needed anything to eat]. If you asked her for the moon, she would have attempted to have it delivered to you on a silver platter. But enough already. Here’s a memory that always gives me a giggle [which is something my grandfather would like]:

In general my grandparents were big supporters of doing “cultured” things. So much so that my grandma signed me up for children’s theatre when I was still young [under 8]. Every so often on Saturday she would take me to a grown-up theater and we’d watch a production/event catered for kids. One time she couldn’t take me, so Papa [that’s what I called my grandpa] gallantly stepped in. There we are in the theatre... The show starts.... It’s dark.... You hear loud laughter now and again from the kid filled audience. And then. You hear snoring. It starts out quietly enough but then crescendos into VERY LOUD snoring. Snoring that could blow the roof off the place. And in horror I realize it’s Papa sitting next to me. So I tap his arm. Tug on his arm. Loudly whisper Papa Papa ! Wake up ! Furiously embarrassed I elbow him in the ribs – as HARD as I can. He stirs, snorts, shakes his head, looks around confused, looks down at me. Papa ! I whisper – you were snoring ! He sheepishly smiles- says ouch that hurt. Then says sorry and whispers back – I promise to stay awake for the rest of the show. And he did, although I kept my eye on him the whole time ready to elbow again if need be. I remember being proud that I figured out how to wake him up and I remember us laughing and laughing as we told my grandma and parents what happened that day. 

 

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memory: molly's grandmother

Good morning, friends! 

This week, as I spend time on the west coast with my grandfather I'll be sharing posts from dear friends - all in tribute to our grandparents. A very worthy subject to pay tribute to, don't you think? I've asked friends to share a favorite memory, and a photo, and I have to say that I am truly so honored by all the beautiful memories and photos that landed in my inbox this weekend. I think you'll love these posts as much as I do. And I hope you'll join us with your own memories in the comments. 

I've just landed in Seattle and I'm off to get my bag and say a happy hello to Molly outside the terminal. There couldn't be a more fitting way to begin...

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From Molly Wizenberg

The last letter I got from my grandmother came in December of 2007.  It was a Christmas card, a pretty one with an illustration of a partridge in a pear tree, and though she was already not well, and her handwriting was awkward and wobbly, she had managed to write a classic Nanny greeting: "Moll-do, my love!"  She told me that she was proud of me, and that she loved me, and she sent "hugs to our Brandon!!"  I've had it on the fridge since the day it arrived, and I think I'll probably keep it there for a long time.  I hope that, wherever she is now, she's young again, and healthy again, and happy.

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wishing

That's me and my grandparents, I think I must be 4 here. I've always loved this photo. It makes me feel inside what that huge smile on my face is saying. Happy, happy, happy they are mine.

After the weekend I'm heading out West to be with my grandfather. He's got some cancer to deal with, and I want to be by his side. I'll be out there for a while as we figure out where to go from here. Fingers are crossed that where we'll go is East, on a giant adventure. That's my birthday wish this year. 

I'm beyond grateful that I can pick up and go, thanks to C and to all of you who so kindly support me through kind mentions or purchases from my shop. I've never been more grateful that the work I do is completely portable! The shop will remain open, thanks to my awesome little team, and all orders will be shipped as usual. Thank you too, for all the supportive words you've sent my way over the past couple of weeks. They've meant a lot. More than I can say.

Next week I have something really special planned to share with you here. I've asked some dear friends to join me for a special tribute. They've got some pretty great posts to share with you all, and I can't wait! 

So, I'll see you here after the holiday, though when the first post goes up I'll be somewhere in the sky on my way to give my boppa a great big hug.

A wonderful weekend to you, S

sunshine

It's July! 

This has always been my favorite of the summer months. July has always felt like the summer version of the holidays to me. As a kid there was an almost aching anticipation for the very best summer month to roll around. I'd dream of block parties, watermelon, swimming with friends, fireworks and a big birthday cake. I was born on the 4th, and growing up my dad always used to say that the fireworks were for me. Such sweet memories those are. 

This past week or so has been a bit heavy for me, but the company of some really terrific friends has been like a giant ray of sunshine. I don't know what I'd do without them. Nikole has been so good to me this week - she's sent good cheer through happy emails and even picked me a lovely bunch of wild berries. Thanks friend, I really needed that. We have a little sunshine to share with you, too - a desktop calendar for you, dear friends! Here's to a month of happy memories for us all! And hopefully a big piece of cake!

Love, S

Just click on the image for the large version and drag to your desktop or right click to save. Enjoy!