Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 632

In With the Old «

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 15176

Good read. I miss my grandparents (only one left, and I almost never see her anymore), but I never really got into deep conversations with them or anything. When I was actually old enough to think about that sort of thing, two were dead and I lived several states away from the other two.

Oh well, my loss.

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Emotional landscapes, they puzzle me. --Bjork
Graphic Cheeseworks.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Ivory Tower, USA
Posts: 1496

Nutrimentia,

Thanks for a terrific post. I knew my Grandparents quite well, but by the time I turned 21 all four had died within several years of each other. Now that I'm settling into a career and am even more eager to connect with my roots I so wish they were part of my life.

One set of Grandparents lived in NYC's Little Italy. I can still smell the basil, roasted garlic, and anisette smells that regularly wafted through their apartment. They were first generation immigrants to this country, eager to see their children fit into America's "melting pot," but also holding fervently to their memories of the "old country." I remember them speaking Italian to each other whenever they didn't want us kids to know what they were talking about. Now that I read and speak Italian with some degree of proficiency I especially miss them.

My other set of Grandparents were third generation Jews, their descendants having come to America shortly after the first pogroms. Thoroughly enmeshed in American mainstream society, they worked for social justice and peace for the better parts of their lives. Again, now that I've got a few more years and have moved in similar paths I especially wish they were still around.

My understanding, Nutrimentia, is that Asian cultures tend to revere their elderly relatives infinitely moreso than us Westerners. For example, sites like "Crazy Grandpa" would be semi-unthinkable to them, whereby many of us here in the West find that sort of stuff quite funny, albeit cruel.

Anyway, thanks again for such an insightful piece. And sorry to hear your Grandpa passed away. He sounded like an extraordinary person.

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"Pax et lux."

[This message has been edited by Agoust (edited 05-03-2001).]

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Ivory Tower, USA
Posts: 1496

quote:

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Originally posted by Agoust:
In case anyone's interested:
www.crazygrandpa.com

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: The Bottom of the Toyem Pole
Posts: 9468

Agoust, I checked out that link. One of the stories about the crazygrandpa is when he tore up the poppies, claiming they were growing drugs in the backyard.

This reminded me of another story about my grandpa. He had poppies in his garden and once told me how they garnered opium from them. I was surprised that he knew that and that he would tell me. That actually may have marked the first time that I realized he was a pretty cool guy. From that point on I was never afraid to talk to him about anything.

Another time I showed him my marijuana dugout and smoked some pinches with him while we smoked cigarettes, drank coffee, and talked about the world. He passed on the dope, but didn't care in the least about me smoking it.

Damn I miss that guy......

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The Law of Fives is never wrong.

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