Happy Birthday, Grandma

Grandma and me

When I was about nine I called my grandma to tell her there was an apartment available right behind our house.  Somehow she convinced Grandpa to sell their house and soon moved into the tiny space close by.  My dad cut a gate into the fence in our backyard so I could easily pass between our homes.  I spent a lot of time at Grandma's playing cards and hanging out.  Grandma kept up on all the latest fashions, singers, and culture.  She stayed up late, slept in every morning, and was always ready for fun.  Today my grandma would have been 92, if she were still with us.  I'm thankful every day for the time I spent with her.  I've thought of her often today on her birthday and smiled to myself.  

Love and miss you, Grandma.

The Quilt

Climbing into the soft chair

I sit beside Grandma and watch.

The round wooden frame

rests on her lap,

carefully selected fabric

beginning to take shape.

Piece by piece she sews,

working carefully 

under the bright light.

She pauses now and then

to talk about this or that,

takes a slow sip of her coffee,

then looks carefully at her work.

Occasionally she passes her needle my way.

I place the thin white thread 

carefully through the tiny eye 

then hand it back to her.

Over and under

her needle gently pulls each piece

beside the next 

until they fit perfectly.

For years I watched

as my grandma carefully 

stitched pieces of fabric

from our world

into beautiful blankets.

Wrapping us in her love 

for many years to come.  

© Cathy L. Mere

Grandma & Grandpa with John, Cortney and Cassie