Recently, I've taken to reading some of my books a second time. They are usually books I've loved that have spoken (or screamed) to me in some way.
What I've discovered is just how much I missed the first time, or how reading again in a different mood or under other circumstances still offers new, joyful and (sometimes) eye-opening perspectives.
Reading My Grandfather's Gallery by Ann Sinclair the second time, did just that.
Ms. Sinclair coins the term: "Grand-mere Gateau" when referring to her maternal grandmother. (Gateau is cake in French!) I'd never heard this before in English or French, but I immediately thought of our own Nannie.
Clara Bohland was a Grand-mere Gateau in every sense of the word...pastries, lots of love and snuggle love, and providing whatever you wanted purely on mention. All you have to do is say the word, and it magically appears!
Going to Nannie's and Papa's was always a treat. After Papa passed away, Nannie would get on the bus to come visit us in Dellwood. She always brought pastries and always our favorites. She spoiled us!
Our girl Cathy who lives with us at the Chatette, was just one of many of those kinds of gifts from Nannie and Papa. Mom made Cathy a whole wardrobe of clothes and Papa built a doll bed and doll wardrobe for us to hang all of Cathy's beautiful clothes.
And then there was the piano.
All I had to do was say that I wanted to take piano lessons and Mom and Nannie went to work et voila...a piano and piano lessons for me!
I don't want to forget Columbus Street-it was Nannie's help that enabled me to buy Columbus Street in the spring of 1980, prior to her departure.
One of the bigger things that struck me again as I read Ms. Sinclair's book, is how as children we often miss the opportunity to truly know our grandparents who we loved so much.
I've often thought of the questions I would ask Nannie as a grown-up. She passed away in 1980, but she is right beside me every day.
Ms. Sinclair was able to go through old family letters that shed light on some of the questions she had, but never asked. I'm afraid that we are in danger of losing these valuable sources of information in our lives as technology takes over.
I'm very grateful that some of the letters between Mom and Dad and Nannie and Papa that I'd brought here to the Chatette with me survived the fire. (I know, I know-scan and digitalize for safety!)
Did you have a Grand-Mere Gateau? Maybe you ARE a Grand-Mere Gateau! Here's to all! And, a huge merci encore to mine!
Happy Tuesday!
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