61 and miss my grandparents

[Elvanseshortage]

I am tearful this evening because I have been listening to some music which reminds me of my grandparents. It has brought back so many memories of them. The smell of their houses, the food they cooked, the flowers in their garden, their dignity and wisdom (they lived through both wars).

As I get older I realise how much my birth and childhood must have meant to them. We go through parenthood and grandparenthood feeling that we are just putting one foot in front of another. In fact we are laying down vivid and intense memories for future generations. No point or questions. Just that.

❤️

Aww love, I totally get this. I miss my gran all the time. If I smell her perfume walking past someone, the tears are in my eyes before I know what's happened. Cherish your lovely memories.

Found this profound. Thanks for posting.

What a beautiful post.

❤️
I miss mine too, every single day. My parents now live in their house and I find that such a comfort, that even though it's decorated differently, it was theirs and it's like a part of them is still around.
Memories are the most beautiful and precious things

Smells are so evocative. My English grandmother smelled of Johnson’s baby powder and baking white loaves. My German grandmother’s house smelled of red cabbage and fried mushrooms.

My dad moved into my grandparents’ house after my parents divorced so I was connected to all those memories for years after they died. I miss that house so much

My maternal grandparents were mine, taught me to walk, grew roses and all the vegetables. My mum often comments how alike i an to my grandmother, and i can see in my husband that I've chosen my grandfather. I miss mine too.

Beautiful post. I didn't really know either set of my grandparents, but we have a beautiful little granddaughter who means the world to us, so I can understand a little where you are coming from.
You have previous memories to treasure.

I miss my grandma so much. I remember her kissing me last time, wish i would've known that was her last kiss. Writing thus made me tearful. I just want one more hug, that's it

@dudsville that’s lovely. My grandfather is still a role model for men. I have never met a man with his quiet dignity. You are fortunate to have found that

My grandma has been dead for 40 years but I think of her most days, and wear her ring. My grandparents taught me so many things; knitting, growing plants, what birds are which, what clouds mean for the weather, how to make toffee. 💜

I totally get you. Lots of fond memories of my nan and grandad. When I buy vine tomatoes,the smell of the stalks reminds me of my granddad's greenhouse with his tomato plants. The smell of pipe or cigar smoke. Don't tend to smell those anymore but I did a few months ago and wow. Took me right back 😞

@AceofPentacles those are precious memories

@YeahBrackie tomato stems and pipe smoke are very evocative!

I totally get you! I miss my grandmother desperately. It's been 11 years since she died, maysherestinpeace, and I think about her daily. Such wonderful memories. Or us reading excerpts out of the latest Sir Terry Pratchett book, putting the world to rights, her filthy laugh. Oh gosh - I just miss her so much x

that's lovely not that you are upset but you remember them so fondly,

i still think of my Gran she was the best such an amazing woman.i didn't really know my other Gp but my memory of my Gran is always strong and I still miss her.

@hotmailgmailoutlook @Mrsjayy @wobblyweasel I think your loving memories are part of what the afterlife means.

I too miss my 2 Nan’s. I never knew my Grandad’s. I used to visit one of my Nan’s every Sunday and just when I reached 13 and my parents felt I was old enough to stay with her, I had a wonderful weekend with her, just us 2 and I slept in her bed with her and we talked a lot. I remember it so clearly. Unfortunately she died soon after. My other Nan was lovely too, but she remarried after my Grandad died in the war and when we visited we had to stay quiet, as her DH was a bully. I can still see and hear her laughter, my own Son laughs the same.

Relationships with grandparents are so precious. Tears flowing reading this thread thinking of my lovely nana who passed 7 weeks ago. You are never ready to lose them. Everything reminds me of her.

You are so lucky to have known them. I was 7 when my last grandparent died - my only memory is a very ill old man lying in a bed.

My English grandmother smelled of Johnson’s baby powder and baking white loaves. My German grandmother’s house smelled of red cabbage and fried mushrooms.
M
On balance, I'd have preferred to hang out in the English granny's house 😂

But seriously, lovely posts. My Grandma was a few months short of 100 when she died. Fully compos mentis and broadly well, just old! So I had a long time of knowing her as a child, young adult & beyond, and my DC, her DGC, knew her very well too which is wonderful.

I miss mine too. She was such a character, flying abroad on her own at 86 and married to my GD for 66 years.
I was 44 when she died. I have lots of memories of all my GP.

Ah I understand. Mine died within 2 years of each other well into 90s, so I was 39 and 41. They outlived my mother who sadly died when I was in my 20s. They lived close and were so close to their daughter (too close!), they literally saw us every day as children and they were my connection to Mum. Their passing was particularly hard for that reason. One of the saddest things in my life is that my kids never met my Mum and she died knowing she wouldn't meet her grandchildren. I was married a few weeks when she died and she knew I wanted to start a family so she was very aware of this loss. There are 7 GC now altogether. She would have been a loving and involved gran and we leave nearby. It all feels so wrong.

I miss mine, stayed with them a lot as a child and teen and have v fond memories of their house and the area around where they lived. My grandma told me lots of stories. My grandad was very calm and patient and totally honest.