Families of the Lounge

[1mach1]

Great shots, JennyLou! You guys look awesome.

 

[JennyLou]

Thanks 1mach1!

 

[Big Man]

I debated where to post this photo. It was taken in October of 1979, so it's old enough to be in the "vintage family photo" thread. It was taken in my grandmother's house (my house, now), so it could qualify for the "show us your vintage house" thread. Heck, I'm even wearing an L.L. Bean "Moose River" hat, so it could go in that thread or even the "show us your hat" thread. But, I decided to post it here in the families of the lounge thread.

This is my grandmother, Nora J. Brown, my Dad, Bill Brown, Jr., me, and my son, Will Brown, IV. My grandmother was 98 years old when my son was born. Her house was the first place we took my son following his birth. My Dad had retired in June of 1979, and kept my son while we worked. Every Wednesday for almost two years my Dad and my son came to my grandmother's house for dinner. She was still keeping a garden, and cooking all the meals. When I say "dinner", I mean a real dinner. Things like roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade yeast rolls, and a cake or pie for desert.

I am so very glad that we all had the opportunity to spend time together like this. Once my grandmother, at almost 100 years of age, was no longer able to be independent, she came to live with my parents. I worked just a few miles from their house, and had an hour for dinner every day. For the next two years, we had the privilege of sitting at the table with four generations of the family for our dinner. Those were sure some grand times.

 

[DesertDan]

What a fantastic picture Big Man, thank you for sharing it with us!

 

[dh66]

What a fantastic picture Big Man, thank you for sharing it with us!

Agreed!

 

[sheeplady]

I debated where to post this photo. It was taken in October of 1979, so it's old enough to be in the "vintage family photo" thread. It was taken in my grandmother's house (my house, now), so it could qualify for the "show us your vintage house" thread. Heck, I'm even wearing an L.L. Bean "Moose River" hat, so it could go in that thread or even the "show us your hat" thread. But, I decided to post it here in the families of the lounge thread.

This is my grandmother, Nora J. Brown, my Dad, Bill Brown, Jr., me, and my son, Will Brown, IV. My grandmother was 98 years old when my son was born. Her house was the first place we took my son following his birth. My Dad had retired in June of 1979, and kept my son while we worked. Every Wednesday for almost two years my Dad and my son came to my grandmother's house for dinner. She was still keeping a garden, and cooking all the meals. When I say "dinner", I mean a real dinner. Things like roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade yeast rolls, and a cake or pie for desert.

I am so very glad that we all had the opportunity to spend time together like this. Once my grandmother, at almost 100 years of age, was no longer able to be independent, she came to live with my parents. I worked just a few miles from their house, and had an hour for dinner every day. For the next two years, we had the privilege of sitting at the table with four generations of the family for our dinner. Those were sure some grand times.

That is an amazing story and picture.

I had one great grandmother whom was alive when I was born, but I don't believe I ever met her.

You are very lucky. thank you for sharing.

 

[dh66]

I had a great grandmother who was still alive when I was a kid, I remember her very well, she passed when I was still in elementary school. I still (and hopefully always will) have the bible she gave to me that she wrote her name in.
My children have great grandparents still living on my wife's side of the family. They all live in other states. Some of them have seen my older boys, one g.g.m. has never seen any of the kids. They just don't seem to give a ****. It breaks my heart. I adored my great granny and consider myself lucky as hell that I knew her.

 

[sheeplady]

I'm sorry to hear that dh66. Both my husband and I come from very messed up nuclear families. Despite this (and the fact we should know better based upon our own childhoods), it still boggles our minds how plain uninterested in our respective parents are in our daughter.

So sad to say, I'm not surprised. But I am sorry that someone else is going through that with their kids and a relative.

 

[Big Man]

The blanket my son is wrapped in (in the photo above) was made by my grandmother. When we found out we were going to have a baby, I asked my grandmother if she would try to make one more blanket so my child (her first great grandchild) would have a blanket from her. She managed to get it done, and my son came home wrapped in that blanket. When the next child was born, he came home in that same blanket, too. Likewise with child three and four.

When MY first grandchild was born, he came home in the same blanket. So have every grandchild since. One of my grandchildren, a little girl, died just a few hours after birth. We cut out a corner of the "family blanket" and placed the little baby's head on it when she was buried. We did that for two reasons, first so she could "go home" with that blanket like all the rest, and second so the missing piece from the blanket would always serve as a reminder that part of the family was missing from our presence.

Hopefully, when it's time for my grandchildren to have children, they will carry on the tradition of bringing their babies home wrapped in the "family blanket." I know if I'm around, that will happen.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

"One of my grandchildren, a little girl, died just a few hours after birth. We cut out a corner of the "family blanket" and placed the little baby's head on it when she was buried. We did that for two reasons, first so she could "go home" with that blanket like all the rest, and second so the missing piece from the blanket would always serve as a reminder that part of the family was missing from our presence."

Brought tears to my eyes,William...but what a wonderful thing to do.
HD

 

[dh66]

That is a beautiful and moving story Big Man. I'm sorry to learn of the loss, but you are such a lucky man to have a family like you do.

Sheeplady - Thank you and I appreciate your comment. I also extend my sympathies to you for the lackadaisical grandparent situation. At the very least my kids have two grandmas they are very close to, and who live in the same city.

 

[dh66]

I don't know which one is getting bigger faster.

 

[dh66]

We had Ukrainian chicken meatball soup for dinner. Here's my little Ukrainian eating the **** out of it.

 

[Shangas]

Hi Big Man,

A beautiful and precious story. People who are lucky enough to have GG-children, and children lucky enough to have GG-Parents don't always seem to appreciate how amazing it is. On either side.

My nephews and niece came over to Australia once to visit my grandmother (their great-grandmother) who was then about 95 years old.

At the time, a LOT of family was making the pilgrimage to Australia to visit granny. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. Because they knew granny wouldn't live for much longer, and they wanted to see her one last time before she kicked the bucket.

Anyway my cousin brought his son over (then about 10 years old I think) and the poor kid wouldn't go anywhere NEAR granny! I think she scared him or something. Which I think is hilarious, because my grandmother ADORES children. Either way, I don't think Timmy realised what an amazing thing it was to be able to say that he had the chance to meet his great-grandmother. Certainly, I never had that chance in my life. Lucky kid, he was. Granny died two years later.

 

[dh66]

6 year old & 4 year old in a rare moment of getting along.

Standing up for the first time.

 

[1mach1]

Very nice, Dale. Great looking kids you got there!

 

[Big Man]

... 6 year old & 4 year old in a rare moment of getting along ...

I remember those days all too well.

 

[dh66]

Thanks Harv & Big Man

These days that 6 year old would argue with her own shadow.

 

[Big Man]

My number one helper planting flowers today at the old homeplace. She's always ready to help with anything needing to be done around the house.

 

[dh66]

^ great pic!