I clearly remember one of my high school English assignments as one of the first times I struggled with what to write. The teacher assigned the class to write an essay about someone you admire and explain why. My teenaged mind went directly to celebrity, and I thought I would write about the great Michael Jordan, or perhaps a previous president, or maybe a movie star.
I put my pencil to paper and tried to develop a thought. Then erased, scribbled, erased again, and eventually sat at my desk staring at a blank sheet of paper. My teacher saw my struggle and told me that I was thinking too hard and maybe too far. She encouraged me to open my mind and said that the words would come. I remember closing my eyes and thinking about the “why” part of the assignment and realized exactly what I needed to write. My first sentence was something like this, “She sits at her kitchen table placing together pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, much like she has pieced together the parts of her life.” She was my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Meighen, affectionately known as “Grandma.”
Born in 1903 in Carnegie, PA, Grandma was a first-generation American. Her parents were from France, near the border with Germany, and Grandma was fluent in three languages- English, French, and German. She married and had two sons, and she and my great-grandfather that I never met, owned and operated a “service station” on Rt. 19 north of Waynesburg prior to buying and working a farm on Rt. 19 south, near Kirby. My great-grandfather passed away in 1967, and Grandma sold their farm the following year. She lived out of the area for a brief time but eventually returned to Greene County and settled into a small trailer in Lemley’s Trailer Court, so that she could be close to family members. It was in that small trailer that I spent many weekends and summer weeks with Grandma where she taught me how to bake!
Grandma was, in my eyes, famous for her Snickerdoodles, her raisin cookies, her seafoam candy, potato candy, divinity candy, and most importantly, her peanut butter fudge. She spent hours preparing, mixing, baking, and creating these delicious treats. But one of the things that I admired was that those cookies and candies were not for her. Grandma kept tins and foam trays and packaged a variety of goodies for everyone from neighbors to nurses to family members. We would no sooner finish the baking when the assembly line took form. “We need some for Jeanne, and some for Sue and Tina, and your dad likes the raisin cookies, and don’t forget about Giles and ‘Little’ Bill.”
Grandma’s gifts were more than just tasty goodies. One of the things I admired most was her generosity. She gave freely of her time and talents to those around her, and always with a warm heart and kind spirit. She knew exactly how to bring people together and make everyone feel cared for. She taught me so much more than measurements and recipes. Waiting for your boiling mixture that will become fudge to “spin a thread” will teach patience, trust me!
Grandma had many health battles as she aged. She was very hard of hearing and had Meniere’s disease. Neighbors always knew when the Pittsburgh Pirates had a game on TV or radio or when it was time for The Guiding Light. Anyone visiting could hear those broadcasts from beyond the sidewalk.
I could fill pages with memories about Grandma, but another one I treasure is listening to Grandma pray every night. Often, I couldn’t really make out the words, but I didn’t have to. I knew she was praying for those sick or struggling, praying for peace, and counting her blessings. I didn’t need to hear the words. I knew that she was talking to God, and it was an important conversation that she NEVER missed. She prayed every night.
Grandma passed away three days before my high school graduation, after losing a courageous battle with breast cancer. At graduation, my English teacher handed me an envelope and inside was a copy of that long ago essay I wrote about Grandma sitting at her table putting together the pieces.
So, here’s a piece of my mind and some of the things I loved and admired about Grandma… try to have an open mind and open your heart. Be willing to listen and accept that not everyone has the same opinion that you do. Give freely of your time and talents and try to help others. Appreciate the little things and find the joy in them. And be kind, always.
