Grandma's Smile

No nonsense

Dare not waste

Food goes in your mouth, not the garbage.

A tap on the bum, just for fun.

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, yes everyone will go!

Those were the days, when grandma had the last say!

A true matriarch

A family held together like glue.

Seven hungry mouths to feed and a farm that provided

Up at the crack of dawn, cows to be milked, chickens to be fed, pigs that needed .... don't name the pigs ... no one listened

Seven teary eyed kids to be comforted, never an "I told you so".

Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Neighbours ... always welcomed.

A swift sense of humour, don't mess with Grandma!

They don't make them like her anymore

Hardy, kind, stern ... no time to be concerned with the trivialities of life when you are hard at work.

But nothing compared to the comfort of Grandma's smile, love beaming through aged eyes that said "I got you".

Knitted socks ... never appreciated until the knitting stopped.

Wooden spoon seldom used, only seen.

No blizzard too horrid to stop bingo night ... "I can walk!" ... and she did.

Singing down the back road in the old jalopy

Those were the good ole days, although I didn't know it then.

Never was there a dull moment at Grandma's house

Laughter, yelling, grandkids underfoot

Plenty of cheeks to pinch and helpers to boss around.

Enormously loved, yet feared just enough to keep you in line

She had a way.

Grandma's hands are no longer warm ... but I remember holding them

A gracious warmth and wisdom never to be forgotten.

I will always find comfort in the memory of Grandma's smile.