Grandma Liked Jazz
My Grandma Dillman died 21 years ago,. She was 91 years old. When I was young, I would spend the night with Grandma. We'd watch Friday night shows on her old black and white TV. We'd color with crayons from the cigar box she kept in the desk drawer. We would eat ice cream (the best ice cream ever & I have the bowls we ate from in the hutch), and we'd talk.
When I was a teen, I would ride my 3-speed Schwinn bicycle across town and spend part of the day with her. I would mow, do yard work and other odds and ends Grandma needed done. She'd send me to little grocery store at the end of the block to get a couple of ice cream bars.
A few years ago, my folks celebrated their 40th anniversary. My aunts and uncles came to the house. Some of my cousins were able to come too. My cousins scared my kids. They came in all bubbling and sweet and looked at my oldest, Paul, pinced his cheek and made all over him. Scared the poor 14 year old boy to death.
As the afternoon went on, the conversation came around to Grandma. We shared memories like the ones I shared above. As we talked, I mentioned that Grandma listened to Jazz music on the radio. Everyone gave me a stunned look. Nobody knew Grandma liked Jazz. It was Wes Montgomery style, bebop jazz, but it was jazz. The rest of the family didn't know that.
I probably spent more time with Grandma than anyone else. I was there a couple of times a week or more, helping, eating, and visiting with Grandma. She always had jazz playing on the radio.
I hadn't even realized it until we were talking about Grandma that day. She died in 1985 and I hadn't spent much time with her since 1976. I left for college, got a job, got married, had kids, and lived 3 states away. But I hadn't noticed until that conversation that she listened to jazz, a lot.
It important to pay attention to those we love. It is often called "taking them for granted." It is easy to overlook everyday or infrequent situations. I appreciate the times I was with Grandma. She was a godly women. A women of faith. She told me Bible stories, played silly games and colored with me. She even used a switch on me when I disobeyed. The vanilla ice cream from those bowls was the best I ever had. And I remembered her love for jazz music. Maybe, that is where I gained my love for jazz.
Look at those you love a little more closely. I've been married almost 28 years. Sunday afternoon, I learned that my wife doesn't like the food on her plate to touch. She's not nuts about it like some. But I did not know. Pay attention. Learn the little, mostly unimportant things. Grow to love them more completely and deeply.
Psalm 33:3 The best instrument you have is your heart!
When I was a teen, I would ride my 3-speed Schwinn bicycle across town and spend part of the day with her. I would mow, do yard work and other odds and ends Grandma needed done. She'd send me to little grocery store at the end of the block to get a couple of ice cream bars.
A few years ago, my folks celebrated their 40th anniversary. My aunts and uncles came to the house. Some of my cousins were able to come too. My cousins scared my kids. They came in all bubbling and sweet and looked at my oldest, Paul, pinced his cheek and made all over him. Scared the poor 14 year old boy to death.
As the afternoon went on, the conversation came around to Grandma. We shared memories like the ones I shared above. As we talked, I mentioned that Grandma listened to Jazz music on the radio. Everyone gave me a stunned look. Nobody knew Grandma liked Jazz. It was Wes Montgomery style, bebop jazz, but it was jazz. The rest of the family didn't know that.
I probably spent more time with Grandma than anyone else. I was there a couple of times a week or more, helping, eating, and visiting with Grandma. She always had jazz playing on the radio.
I hadn't even realized it until we were talking about Grandma that day. She died in 1985 and I hadn't spent much time with her since 1976. I left for college, got a job, got married, had kids, and lived 3 states away. But I hadn't noticed until that conversation that she listened to jazz, a lot.
It important to pay attention to those we love. It is often called "taking them for granted." It is easy to overlook everyday or infrequent situations. I appreciate the times I was with Grandma. She was a godly women. A women of faith. She told me Bible stories, played silly games and colored with me. She even used a switch on me when I disobeyed. The vanilla ice cream from those bowls was the best I ever had. And I remembered her love for jazz music. Maybe, that is where I gained my love for jazz.
Look at those you love a little more closely. I've been married almost 28 years. Sunday afternoon, I learned that my wife doesn't like the food on her plate to touch. She's not nuts about it like some. But I did not know. Pay attention. Learn the little, mostly unimportant things. Grow to love them more completely and deeply.
Psalm 33:3 The best instrument you have is your heart!
posted by Jeff Jordan | 11/14/2006 08:12:00 PM
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