October has always been a very special time of year for me. Aside from its beauty, it was my Bubbie's favourite time of year. It also happened to be her birthday month and as of 3 years ago, the month of her death. For those that know me personally, you know who Bubbie was and who she was to me. For those of you who don't, she was my Grandmother, my hero and my friend.
Bubbie and I. She was taking "selfies" with her disposable camera long before Facebook.
This October I seem to be finding myself reflecting on her life and the impact she had on mine, a little bit more than usual. I thought that I would mark what would have been her 91st birthday with this post. Without her, I am sure, that I would not be the person I am today. I am afraid that my words will not capture her the way she truly deserves. But this is a start.
I don't have a first memory of Bubbie. She was just always there. Her house was directly behind ours. My parents had taken fence boards out in between both yards so that we could easily get back and forth. It was incredible to just skip through the back yard to visit. I did more than visit though. I pretty much lived there. I spent most weekends sleeping over and most evenings I was there from after school to bedtime.
I was not the type of child that enjoyed participating in any sort of physical activity like sports. I was more of the silent type that liked to stay inside and create. Bubbie always encouraged me to create and imagine. She made it easy for me. The story goes that she put a crayon in my hand at 18 months old and I never stopped creating. Ever.
When my sole life purpose was to be a waitress, she bought me a waitress order pad and ate countless imaginary hotdogs with only imaginary mustard. She provided blankets and pillows so that I could turn half of her living room into the inside Jeannie's bottle from "I dream of Jeannie". A state of which I am certain, it stayed for days at a time.
I don't have a first memory of Bubbie. She was just always there. Her house was directly behind ours. My parents had taken fence boards out in between both yards so that we could easily get back and forth. It was incredible to just skip through the back yard to visit. I did more than visit though. I pretty much lived there. I spent most weekends sleeping over and most evenings I was there from after school to bedtime.
I was not the type of child that enjoyed participating in any sort of physical activity like sports. I was more of the silent type that liked to stay inside and create. Bubbie always encouraged me to create and imagine. She made it easy for me. The story goes that she put a crayon in my hand at 18 months old and I never stopped creating. Ever.
When my sole life purpose was to be a waitress, she bought me a waitress order pad and ate countless imaginary hotdogs with only imaginary mustard. She provided blankets and pillows so that I could turn half of her living room into the inside Jeannie's bottle from "I dream of Jeannie". A state of which I am certain, it stayed for days at a time.
My dream life as a child.
While watching the 1988 Olympics with her, I designed and hand sewed pajamas for my Cabbage Patch doll with a flannel remnant bought at Zellers. When I got a little older and decided I was going to be an architect, she clipped all of the new home floor patterns from the newspaper for me to study. As a teenager, when I wanted to be an Interior designer, she let me loose on recreating her bathroom. The sky was the limit. Bubbie's home was a place where I could go and let my imagination run wild without anyone stopping me. It was always encouraged. She always reacted as though everything I did was gold (even though I am sure that it wasn't always). She was my biggest fan.
I think people sometimes assume that I learned to knit, sew etc. from her, since these things are traditionally "old lady" things to do. She did none of it and had absolutely no interest in learning. (I know because I tried to teach her.) I was always the one who would do these things and give them to her as gifts. In return, she simply gave me the confidence to know that if I set my mind to it, I could do anything in life. THAT is the true gift.
I think people sometimes assume that I learned to knit, sew etc. from her, since these things are traditionally "old lady" things to do. She did none of it and had absolutely no interest in learning. (I know because I tried to teach her.) I was always the one who would do these things and give them to her as gifts. In return, she simply gave me the confidence to know that if I set my mind to it, I could do anything in life. THAT is the true gift.
Bubbie holding the Chirstmas Rag quilt I made her. This was our last Christmas together.
In addition to being so incredibly encouraging, Bubbie was a very confident, strong-willed, independent woman. She did everything in life HER way. She was not influenced by other peoples opinions, she was true to herself. She gave to her family, and even strangers, very selflessly. She loved everyone unconditionally. She never asked for anything in return. She never complained. Those are all things that don't come easy. To be honest I am not sure how she did it, but that is definitely the type of person I aspire to be.
Reflecting on her life now and knowing what I know as an adult, I feel that EVERY child deserves someone like her. Every person deserves to know that someone is cheering them on. I am so grateful beyond words that I had Bubbie.
Who is the "Bubbie" in your life?
Reflecting on her life now and knowing what I know as an adult, I feel that EVERY child deserves someone like her. Every person deserves to know that someone is cheering them on. I am so grateful beyond words that I had Bubbie.
Who is the "Bubbie" in your life?
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
