Wistful Wednesday: Almeada

What good is a first name if no one ever calls you by that name?  Far Guys Maternal Grandmother’s real name was Almeada Clara.   She was mostly known as Meade..or Meady, but I have heard a few people refer to her as Clara.

I found an old polaroid of Meade and an unknown bride.  Near as we can figure one of the Nurses was getting married and stopped by to see some of the residents.  Far Guy’s Dad took this Polaroid Photo.  It is not marked, I sent a copy to a few relatives and no one knows who the bride is.

The only thing I can figure out for sure is that it was taken in the Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes Minnesota and it was taken before 1990…because Meade died that year.

However this photo reminded me of two things.  Notice all the glasses and cups on Grandma Meades tray.  She liked to line up her coffee, milk and juice just so…and her water was nearby.  By the time this photo was taken her eyesight was not very good…and if the drinks were lined up she could find them.  At this point in her life she had been deaf  for 40 plus years (Tuberculosis).   Her Magic Writing Pad/Magic Slate and a magnifying glass are on the bed.  She never learned sign language so everything had to be written on the Magic Slate, she would read it and them answer verbally.  She talked quite loud and had a very distinctive voice.

Back in the 1970’s and 1980’s we would stop to visit her every few weeks…she loved seeing the girls.  They were mostly scared of her, the loud voice and when she would reach out to touch or hug them they would become frightened.

Far Guy’s Mom came to visit her Mother regularly… she visited at least once a week if not twice.  Far Guy’s Dad patiently drove her the 45 miles over and back again from the visits.  One time Meade asked her “Who is that man you are with?  He sure has been hanging around a long time.”

That story when related to us made us all smile.

Wistful Wednesday : Christmas 1969

This is a photo of Far Guys Maternal Grandparents.  This was taken in December of 1969.  The year that Far Guy and I got married.  

I am not quite sure why these two got married?  Opposites must attract. 

Curt was kind and gentle, small things delighted him..just visiting brought out the best in him..he loved to read..mainly westerns.  He always sat in an old oak rocker.  He was tall, he walked bent over..his hips and knees had seen better days and he walked with a cane. He died in 1973 four years after this photo was taken.

Meade was ornery.  Of course we have to cut her a little slack, she almost died from Tuberculosis.  She was in the sanitarium for many years. The TB destroyed her hearing, she was deaf and refused to learn to read lips or sign.   Everyone used the “Magic Slate” to communicate with her.   She would talk to herself..of course she could not hear herself..she often cussed under her breath, or so she thought.   She did beautiful handiwork, embroidery and crocheting with fine thread and a very small hook..until she lost her eyesight.  I have many of her works of art.  She lived a good long time. She spent 17 years as a widow.

Curt liked a “nip” occasionally and kept a bottle hidden in the barn.  All the Grand boys knew where it was hidden.  If he went to town with Walt the next door neighbor, Meade would be sure to send Alaska Guy along..thinking that they wouldn’t stop at the liquor store for a drink if they had a child with them…she was wrong.  Alaska Guy enjoyed a soda at the bar almost every trip to town…and he was sworn to secrecy.

For a wedding gift we got a full set of embroidered tea towels.  I still have them in the same box with the same tissue paper covering them.  The box was decorated in an odd way.  I wish I had kept it.  Tied to the bow was a large plastic spoon, tied to small holes on the outer edge of the spoon were many blue and pink bows that held about a dozen tiny babies..Meade wrote on the spoon..a little poem..about “spooning” and the result which would be lots of babies!

Our  girls called her “the scary grandma”..because she couldn’t hear she spoke loudly and made lots of extra noises that she didn’t know she was making. Her voice was high pitched and squeaky.  We took them to visit late on Sunday afternoons for years…when she became blind..often she would grab at people..searching for a friendly hand.

One day before Meade went totally blind.  She looked at Far Guys Mom and then at Far Guys Dad and said “ You sure have been bringing that man with you for a long time.” :)