Anne – Part 15 – Grammy Dies 1993
About a year into my adventure in technical writing, my maternal grandmother died. She was 98. She had fallen and broken a hip. She had a hip replacement. I was told that she came out of the surgery fine. but after a few days in recovery, quit eating. I’m told she said that she was just tired and wanted to be done with it. Within a few days, she died.
Mom, Dad, and I drove to Boston for the funeral. Anne didn’t want to go, and it would have been hard for us to take the whole family since the twins were only four years old at the time, and Sean was seven. Plus, Anne was just starting her new job with SWE Magazine, a publication for the Society of Women Engineers. One of her engineering friends, who had worked with her at Penton Publishing, had recommended her for the job. She was to be the assistant editor of the publication. She was in the process of setting up her home office at the time. So, I represented the grandchildren from my side of the family at the funeral.
Dad and I took turns driving. We stayed with Mom’s sister, my Aunt Milly, at her house on Cape Cod for the three days we were there. I got acquainted with my mother’s side of the family, most of whom I hadn’t seen in at least a decade. It was nice that they arranged to have Grammy buried next to her husband (my maternal grandfather), who had died back in the 60s.
It was during this visit that I discovered that a good portion of the family on Mom’s side are either alcoholic or borderline. The whole time we were there, it seemed that everyone drank continuously. I certainly couldn’t hold that much alcohol, even when I was drinking a lot during my years playing in the bars and clubs in and around Cleveland. Plus, it was evident that this part of the family was a strong matriarchy. My aunts controlled everything… an interesting perspective and difference from my paternal side of the family.
To be Contiued
–LE
CynOp 
9 responses to “Anne – Part 15 – Grammy Dies – 1993”
On my maternal side, my grandfather and all my uncles were alcoholics. Strangely, none of the women were drinkers. When my mom and dad married, she didn’t allow alcohol in the house, which was fine with my dad. I can well understand why.
Kate/Kat
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As can I… but that was never an issue in our home growing up. My dad seldom drank and was never affected by it when he did, which was only at home when his sister and her husband would drop by to play cards and socialize with him and my mom. Mom liked rum and coke but never had more than two during any of their ‘card-parties’ or family gatherings… And it was never a problem for me or any of my sibs… all six of them…; -)
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Both my brothers, one now deceased, are/were highly functional alcoholics. My four sisters, nor I, were ever more than social drinkers. I may still have a mixed drink or two on rare occasions, but that’s all. Strange how that worked out. We’re both lucky we grew up in homes where our parents didn’t have issues with alcohol. That can cause a host of problems.
Hey, we both have six siblings! I’m the baby…where do you fall in birth order?
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I’m first-born, William Albert, fallowed by Guy Eric, Theodore Roger, Christopher Mark, Jacqueline Dawn, Eliziabeth Maryanne, and finally Bryan Edward… So, had all the attention for the first 18 months or so…; -)~
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My siblings in order: Thomas Lee, Mary Evelyn, Donna Ann, Patricia Ruth, Curtis Mike, Linda Jean, then W. Kathleen. I hate my first name so much I never use it unless absolutely necessary. And yes, being the baby, I was somewhat spoiled. 😁
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First born, last born; linear (exponential) extremes?…; -)
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According to the “experts” on birth order and relationships, we should get along well…???
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Well, they appear to be right… so far… Then again, whatever will be will be… que sera, sera…; -)
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‘“The future’s not ours to see, que sera, sera…” 😉
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