An Independent Lady

My Grandma Light, my mom’s mother was a very independent lady.

My Dad always said she didn’t especially like men. But she delighted in me when I was little. She showed me off like a prized pig to all her card playing buddies. I made the rounds with her to all the Canasta parties and ate sugar cookies till I was sick. I remember sitting on a chair next to her and watching her play cards, all the while she was bragging on me as if I was an Einstein.

Grandma Light laughing

Grandma laughing about something

When I was little my Grandma Light lived by herself in a little house in Gildford, that my Great Grandpa Crites had originally built. She rarely smiled let alone laughed and I’m amazed we have a picture of her really laughing. She’d had a pretty tough life, but I never heard her complain.

Grandma Light by her house

My Grandma by her house in Gildford

In her later years she moved to Havre and lived with my Aunt Francis Welte. On her 89th birthday I went to take my Grandma for a ride in the car. We drove to the Bear Paw Mountains out south of Havre. After the drive I went to her side to help her out of the car and I offered my hand after I’d opened the door. She looked at me and stated flatly “I’ll Do It Myself!” 89 years young and still independent. Bless her heart. These are the people I learned from.

Independent Grandma Light

“I’ll do it myself!”

I still like sugar cookies, but I haven’t been to a Canasta party for a long time. Miss you bragging on me Grandma…

468 ad

8 Comments

  1. Robyn Nelson says:

    One of my early memories is going to the Great Falls airport when Grandma Light flew in. I remember her walking down the stairs off the plane.

    • Slim says:

      Wow Robyn you must have been really little. Amazing what we do remember sometimes.

  2. Billy Collins says:

    Grandmothers are great!! I have memories of both my Grandmothers. They were both tuff as nails. Thanks Russ

    • Slim says:

      Thanks for taking the time to read and comment Billy. Yep Grandmas are special and they leave some great memories.

  3. Susan Bliss says:

    GREAT memories Russ — love the refreshers on Gildford history! We were just talking about Canasta the other day – never did learn how to play it but remember all the adults playing it!

    • Slim says:

      I watched enough games, but I think I was more interested in the Sugar Cookies.. I never learned to play either..

  4. Michelle Coyle says:

    My Grandmother was tough, too. I know now that she had to be. .Thankyou for sharing!

  5. Slim says:

    Yep that generation of people had to be. There was no choice, you either got tough or you didn’t survive. Thanks for comin by Michelle.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *