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My Grandparents were married in 1931 and are probably still
married in heaven. Growing up I learn to listen to my
Grandma tell me stories of how they met and married.
Always, she was the one to tell me the stories. I often
wondered growing up if I would ever meet someone like my
Grandma had met my Grandfather and marry him the same way.
Or some close facsimile.
The story never changed when my Grandmother told it to me
but she always had something new to add every time I asked
her to tell me. It only took my Grandmother a few moments
or maybe longer to tell her version of this match made in
heaven. One year, she recommended that I ask my Grandpa to
tell me his version. Being stubborn and not believing that
a grandchild would be interested in his version, told me
that I didn't want to hear it. I begged and told him that
it was interesting to me and that I always asked Grandma to
tell me and now I wanted his side.
Well, his version was the longest version ever. Heavenly
days. His version took all day. It was over a six hour
story. It was the best I had heard in my days of asking,
but let me tell you, my Grandfather must have stored all
those memories in both of his legs and mind cause I was in
shock by the time he finished. I think we both needed a nap
at that point. I think he started it the day he was born,
but then no one ever asked his side of the story before.
If you were to know my Grandparents, you would know that it
was a match made in heaven. Both my Grandparents loved one
another with great passion and understanding. Both stubborn
as mules too. There were times I would question the love my
Grandfather would have for my Grandmother and she promised
me that it was love.
The questioning would happen when my Grandmother would fall
or almost fall, or slip and catch herself, or something in
the lines of hurting herself by accident and Grandpa would
hear it, see it or find out later what had happened. Along
those lines of hearing, seeing or later, you would hear the
inevitable yelling of words "What the hell are you doing?"
Being young and impressionable, my young ears and mind would
be in shock. Grandma would answer in a subtle voice, "I am
fine, never you mind about me." Again, shock would set in.
I started asking why, why did Grandpa yell at her that way
when she almost fell or slipped or hurt herself? It was
amazing to me that someone would yell at someone they
supposedly cared about in a manner that seemed to be mad.
Grandma would reassure me that he loved her and go about her
business. One year I asked again after the words came
flying out from down the yard when Grandma slipped on the
porch on some ice, let out a scream, caught herself and we
both heard Grandpa yell, "What the hell are you doing?"
Grandma turned to him and said, "just dancing dear." I
laughed so hard and then asked her once again, "Why does
Grandpa yell at you that way, when you fall?" She responded
with true meaning and heart felt love, "He loves me and
knows there is nothing he can do to help me when he is so
far away from me, so he gets aggravated at himself for not
being closer or able to stop my falling or slipping, so he
yells to let me know, he does love me."
After that I stopped asking and was usually near my
Grandmother when she would slip or fall and I would be the
one to pick her up or catch her and we both told Grandpa,
"We are dancing." To me this was true love and I wanted to
marry someone just like my Grandpa, and Grandma told me that
I should be careful what I wish for, it just may happen.
But as someone else says, that story is for another time.
Cindy Warner
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To read archived stories, click on this link:
http://archives.zinester.com/9516/2004
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Blessings to you today
Bob Johnston
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