Page 16 - 2016 December Voices

AS I SEE IT. . .

MEMORIES OF THE SEASON

by Leanna Lindquist, DTM—District Director

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, is an old to see her eyes light up like those of a child.
Andy Williams holiday song from my childhood. Grandma was born before the Wright
It’s part of the radio playlist this month. brothers flew at Kitty Hawke. She taught grades
This time of the year has different meanings 1-12 in a one-room school house, arriving early
for all of us. It evokes memories of family for me. to start the fire in the wood stove. My Grandpa
When my Grandma was 98 my parents brought was a forest ranger. They once lived in a tent for a
her to our home in West Linn for Christmas. year while a ranger station and house were being
She had spent her 98 built. My uncle was a soldier in WWII. Grandma
years in a handful of walked every day
small towns in Western I couldn’t give you a list of gifts I got to the post office in
Montana, the last 65 when I was a child, but certain memories hopes of finding a
years in a town with letter from him. If
a population of 1000. do stand out. Most often, they are there wasn’t one she
Coming to Portland was togetherness moments, walked all the way
a real adventure for her. memories of fun home in tears. Many
Arthritis had taken shared, and children came to
its toll. Grandma was things done live with them, some
100% dependent on her together. for a few months
walker. She could no and others for years.
longer crochet, some- These are a few of the
thing she enjoyed and stories I had heard all
helped her pass the long my life. Her favorite
days. Grandpa had passed 6 years earlier after 71 line was, “I don’t know what people do without
years of marriage. To get her upstairs we sat her family.” Grandma lived to be 101. During her
in her wheel chair and my husband and son took lifetime we went from the first flight to the space
her up backwards. It allowed her to view all the shuttle; from one-room school houses to charter
old black and white family photos hanging on schools. She lived through the depression and
the stairway wall. They brought her great plea- two world wars. As I look back I wish I had asked
sure. While her joints had deteriorated greatly, her more questions, written down the answers,
her mind was sharp. and recorded her oral history of world events
Our son volunteered at OMSI. He gave and our family as she remembered them.
demonstrations at an exhibit. We took Grandma As families gather this time of year we all
to see him. He was talking to the small group that need to take advantage of the opportunity to
gathered. She looked up at the person standing learn about our family history. Use our good
next to her. “That’s my great grandson.” I can still listening skills. Ask those great questions. Share
see the pride on her face. We drove her through those family stories. The skills we have learned
downtown Portland. She couldn’t imagine she in Toastmasters have prepared us well.
would ever see anything so wonderful. The It is my wish for you that it’s your most
tall buildings and bright lights that we take for wonderful time of the year.
granted were a feast for her eyes. She found
pleasure in all that she saw. It was heartwarming Leanna

16 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 6 DECEMBER, 2016