22. Grammie Susie

Grammie Susie was perfect. Grammie Susie was southern. Grammie Susie grew up on a plantation in Georgia. 

Grammie Susie was my dad’s mother. She was not snuggly or comforting in the usual ways you expect a grandmother to be. She was constant motion with lots of talking. When you were with her you were on her agenda.

Her house was beautifully appointed, as was her wardrobe, her hair, and anything within 20 feet of her. She was hard angles and rules and perfection.

She was also brave. She and my grandfather went off to Japan in their late 20’s to be Methodist Missionaries.  And she had scads of friends because she was generous with her time and energy.

Even though she was all about conforming, there was something comforting in her order. You knew that no matter what, she would put things right.

When I was 13 I visited my grandparents on my own. I wanted to get a gift for each member of my family to take back with me. Mom and Anna and Al were pretty easy. But I was having trouble finding something for my dad. He was not a typical dad. He didn’t like beer or sports or any normal Dad things.

Grammie and I were in a fancy little gift shop when she held up a beautiful little sign with the Thoreau quote about a different drummer, and asked “what about this?”

It was perfect. And I loved that she could love that about him. It seems that falling in line was what she cared about.

But my Dad definitely DID march to the beat of a different drummer, and I loved that she could see that, and allow that, and even admire that.