the thread about ''...wasted life?'' got me thinking about previous generations of women in my family.
as i considereed my granny i was not for the first time awed by her resilience in the face of her experiences
so as a teenie tribute ,id like to mention my astounding granny...who now aged 87 has lived one hell of a life.
snippets include:
being mixed race in a very intolerant society
getting pregnant and having a child aged 19 then being forced to have him adopted
WW2..sometime around now..so split from sisters and mum cas they were in france
going to college and qualifying as a physiortherapist
getting married...[she couldnt marry the man she really loved cos of the shame of the illegitamate child ]....
going to france and claiming her son ,now aged seven
remaining married to a nasty/absent bastard and having three more children [one is my mum]
bringing up those children,working part time...in hard times..no money coming in from maverick political layabout [alkie?] tightfisted hubby...also no father figure.domestic abuse
furthering her career..specialising in obstetric physio [did some telly progs in the seventies..woooohhh]
standing as labour councillor in her city for many years.did loads for womens groups,eating disorder clinics, minority groups and charities
being lord mayor of that city for a couple of years [reeeeaaaly hard work,really!]
travelling round india [where she was born and lived as a young child] three years ago with my aunt and mum
also australia the year before last for two months!!
and of course being a loving ,generous and wise granny
i have recently spent some time with her in france where she was staying at my mums house.
she is still amazing company with her finger on the pulse and alot to say about the state of the nhs -lol!!
im having a proud yet very humble little weep now.
i cant believe im related to such a compassionate ,intelligent and vivacious woman.
thanks for reading xxx