COPYRIGHT NOTICE


All Images are Copyrighted.
Please feel free to pin to Pinterest - but kindly ask if you wish to otherwise copy or reproduce the images from this blog.

Thank you for visiting my site.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

black and white wednesday | stupid and silly ...



a desk shot from my grandmother's secretary, 
currently on my laptop in color, 
but for today's post, in black and white. 

~

For as long as I could remember I had a fascination with the old secretary desk in my grandparent's family room.  Nearly every piece of furniture in their house was utilitarian and as far as my grandmother was concerned this item was no different.  Still, with it's closed hinged worktop encasing potentially mysterious and scandalous secrets, it not only caught my attention but provoked my curiosity.  Grand dad was a quiet man, or at least he was around us kids; so seldom did he express any thoughts or concerns about much other than perhaps mom's Christmas Day Punch.  (he was a big fan)  But grandma, well now she was quite the opposite.  If she had an opinion on something you can rest assured she didn't keep you guessing.  She was no nonsense.  Matter of fact.  Direct with a capital D.  My husband's favorite memory of her was when she stormed through mom and dad's house at the tail end of a birthday / family get-together and announced firmly she couldn't be bothered to stick around, "she had places to go, people to see!"  Even at around 5'2" and 98 pounds, she could be a force to be reckoned with.  


So when her time came she looked at the doctor and told him to cut the bull, she knew she was dying and didn't want it sugar coated.  The bottom line was she was too old to be considered for surgery.  The reality plainly clear that the odds were not in her favor to survive long enough to even  make it on a donor list.  Once he left the room she looked over at me and said she wanted some french fries from McDonald's.  I suspect there was a "damn it" and "what the hell" in the request; I'd expect no less.  As she tried hard to enjoy those fries, she looked at me as I massaged her legs to help relieve the pain from her systems shutting down, and said"
"that stupid desk in the living room ... before you go home, take it!"
"and take that silly old flour jar you love so much too."
"promise me you'll do that."

Of all things to think about in that moment, but I suspect it was her way of letting me know that she loved me.  Which I already knew despite her best efforts to keep it on on the down-low.

Both the stupid and the silly are treasured items in my home.



 ***
linking up:

My Memory Art


17 comments:

  1. We have an old roll-top desk from my husband's ancestry, and I really love it. Thanks so much for sharing these photos.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my word. What an experience. Love the details on the desk.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I had to remind myself to breathe on this one Nicki. Wow-what an amazing story. I'm sure your ️grandma lived a colorful life and grandad was along for a great ride!

    ReplyDelete
  4. A wonderful B&W contribution!
    My post: https://hanshb.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your post had me tearing up today! She sounds like a wonderful lady! Love the photo as well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful story.
    I read and re-read it ... I can't tell you how many times.
    <3 **hugs** diane @ thoughts and shots

    ReplyDelete
  7. She sounds like an amazing women!
    Love the sound of this desk too - I love old pieces like that!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful story and what a treasure you have there both in memory and in the desk.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just love that birthday party story.

    ReplyDelete

  10. Beautiful photo and even better stories.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful post and loving photos ~ all very creative and nothing 'stupid or silly' about it!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

    ReplyDelete
  12. awwww, she knew how much you loved those things. that they needed to be with you, so you would think of her always!!! what a sweet story!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh gosh what a great story and what a treasure that woman was and is still in your heart!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Priceless! Thanks for sharing, what a fabulous personality :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. A memory (and grandmother) worth cherishing, and you have the desk to remind you. I think I have a similar angel - purchased as a gift for me from MOMA in NYC. Your photos are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. not often you see pen and paper nowadays. Love it!

    ReplyDelete