The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Your Easter Dresses, Love Grandma.
Grandma is buying the girls a pair of Easter dresses–the fluffier the better. Her two granddaughters stand close and grin. They love the dresses; Grandma adores the dresses. One is pink with a ruffled petticoat for skirt volume. The other dress is white with flowers and more like a bedazzled tutu. The taller of the two girls can’t stop brushing her fingers against the smooth fabric while the clerk scans the tag.
Grandma delights in making the purchase, but she does slump a bit on the counter as she wrestles from her purse a shiny-covered checkbook. As she fills it out, the girls watch Grandma writing a check, like the Declaration of Independence, like she’s paying in a currency as old as Grandma herself. She hands it over and there is a register of surprise from the girls when the clerk accepts this paper in exchange for their fantastic Sunday gowns. Grandma beams as the girls say in spontaneous unison, “Thank you, thank you!” And the little one hugs her legs while the older collects the pink dress that is covered with plastic for transport into the rain. She squeezes Grandma’s hand with her free hand, holding the dress aloft, gazing at the ruffles as they depart.
–Colorado.
My mother and Aunt Karen with their parents (my grandparents, of course). Grandma was just wonderful, and my Mom and Aunt are wonderful Grandmas as well.
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
Lovely post, Paige – but even lovelier photo …
I loved shopping with my granddaughters too. What a perfect story. The picture is fabulous!
Oh this brought tears to my eyes. I love my little grandchildren so much it actually hurts. Ben and Rosie are in Australia for a family frind’s wedding this Easter so they got lots of spending money to take with them and there’s a surprise gift for when they get back. Little Stanley is too young for chocolate so he’s got more Chuggington trains and his first bit of track.
It makes my heart burst with joy to buy things for them and your post just said everything about their special bond!
Loved the photo.
We had two sons, so when they each had two daughters my wife went a bit crazy — just like your grandmother! Thanks for the fun Easter blog.
Very cute post 🙂
I miss my Grandma, she was an important part of my life. When I divorced I also moved away from my Granddaughters. I miss them but with todays technology, I got a video from my ex showing the girls in their Easter dresses.
Oh, I miss my Grandmothers so much as well. I think of both every single day.
I’m glad the technology can give you a chance to check in and see how they are growing up! It is a great thing about our time. Even when I’m abroad, I can ring the house and see how my fam is faring. 🙂
Paige
Lovely photo of the old time!
What a sweet story. the children will have lovely memories to cherish.
Yes, I think so as well! How fun to see other people’s memories unfolding before our eyes. 🙂
Thanks for your comment,
Paige
Reblogged this on The Nice Thing About Strangers.
Such a sweet story. The special dresses and time with Grandma. Thank you for sharing.
Lori,
Thank you! As I see my Mother with her two Granddaughters, I remember all my lovely days with my Grandmothers. It’s such a blessing to have that time.
Paige
I read this post on the day of your Aunt Karen’s funeral. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this lovely gift. It means a lot to me.
Marcia, Isn’t Aunt Karen adorable in this photo? She was a really remarkable woman, and someone who I admire. Uncle Gene said Karen never had an unkind word for anyone, and I would love to follow in her footsteps. (Some days, that seems impossible!) 🙂
All my best, Marcia–
Paige
Love the image of writing a grandma writing a check like she’s signing the Declaration of Independence – brings back strong visuals of my grandma doing the same. Beautiful as always.
Thank you, Kim! Some purchases require such a flourish!
Paige