Gramism's

Todds StoryI remember going to the beach house in Scarborough, when one day Gram had asked if We would like to go buy some spray paint. I remember thinking that was extremly cool. Then she took us down to the beach, and we walked along the rocks to this great big rock. That I still go to till this day. And everytime I went to the beach I would bring my friends to this rock. It was a cool place to hang out and had a pool of water that was always super warm. At the time we would jump into and swim there. She brough us to the rock, and we spray painted all over it, what Im sure was illegal to do, being encourage by gramm! I remember I wrote Todd loves jen. Ha, kinda lame. Gram didnt make me feel lame though. also I remember sleeping on a hammock and she poured water on my face to wake me up. Grrrrrrrrr.

Jared has a story...

Jared remembers going to a mountain somewhere in New England with Gram and Jessica. Gram mission was going to teach him to ski. He recalled he was around 6 or 7 years old at the time. Jessica being a year older physically (10 yearns emotionally) was already a novice kid skier from Gram's teaching. Jared recalls wobbling on the top of the slope with Gram and Jess, and being unable to get the hang of skiing. No matter what Gram did, he could not get the hang of skiing. So instead of Gram becoming angry or humiliating him into skiing, she simply just told him to sit as she and Jess went down the slope for their run. BUT as Jared sat he noticed Jessica and Gram hovering over head on the T-Bar going up the slope. Gram giving him a friendly wave and Jess giving him a "teasing" point and laughing. The funny part was this happened again, then it happened again, all Jared could remember is that this went on the whole day as he simply sat in the spot where Gram had left him, watching them hovering over head and then skiing past him down the slope. Jared to this day shows no interest in skiing. He learned a valuable lesson on tough love from Gram, and the battle of stubbornness. As Jess and Gram enjoyed a cocoa by the fire, Jared got to enjoy his cocoa as he sat in a luke warm tub of water, thawing his bum.

Adam has a story...

Adam recalls the beach at Scarborough when he was about 12 or 13 years old. Gram and Papa would rent a beach house and take the kids on various summer weeks and weekends. One of Grams favorite things to do with the kids was to venture to the beach. One day Adam watched as Gram caught a wave and float towards the beach. He was pretty impressed with this technique, not requiring a board, and asked Gram for a quick lesson. Gram was pleased as punch to show him her unique skill of "Body Surfing" ; she even STEPPED it up. The funny part was that she really stuck out in the crowd. Not only was she the only adult body surfing, she did it without inhibitions She would stand out awaiting the next wave, and as it approached Gram would dive under, not once lifting her head or arms out of her surf. The funny part about this was that while she held her head under water, she was blind to where she was surfing, so anyone or child in her way would get a piece of a "Gram Body Surf". She would glide not only to the edge of the water, but up onto the beach, leaving the infamous Gram body print. Adam remembers her laughing sandy face as she jumped up to go back and do it again. Before long the "pied piper" of body surfing had her grandchildren all trying it out, along with other straggler children from along the beach. She was Adam's body surfing hero, he was taught well. Due to his size, God help anyone that gets caught up in an "Adam's Body Surf" today. Thanks Gram, we have yet to see another adult body surfer enjoying themselves as much on a hot summer day.

Casey has a story...

He was at the beach with Gram, probably Scarborough, when he was around 13. Gram had asked him if he would like to go for a run down the beach. Casey being quite the athlete in training at the time said "sure", now was his time to show Gram how athletic he was. As they began to run down the beach, Casey, noticed Gram striding a bit ahead of him, so his pride made him kick it up a notch. Every time he picked up the pace, Gram would step up her stride as well, exponentially. Soon she was way out in front and Casey could not catch up to "the Gram" in her full stride. In typical Gram manner, she taunted him like the "Gingerbread Man" with one eye brow up, and giggly like a school girl, vanishing down the beach. (She's probably still running today...)

Phil has a story...

Not really a story, more of an observation. I remember going out to eat with both Joe and Mildred on many occasions as they visited on their many trips to New England. Eileen and I would meet Joe and Mildred at a restaurant, leaving the kids at home to fend for themselves. Without fail, Mildred was always attracted by others around us, particularly children at neighboring tables. It would seem she would have a secret connection and body language with these children as she completely ignored the table talk and simply made faces and gestures at these new friends. (Much to Papa's chagrin). I swear if she could, she would have dragged her chair over to these other tables and start playing patty cake with her new found friends. But Papa would keep her in check and pull her back in to the conversations at hand. I know this to be a good trait of Mildred, its what made her so accepting of my children as her grandchildren. NOT once did I ever doubt her acceptance of my children as her own. For this I will always remember Gram, as a special grandmother and woman. "May Mildred be blessed with a seat at the smaller kid's table in heaven at dinner time."