Lilac-scented grandmother memories,
How her face lit up when we arrived, tired from hours of driving.
White hair tightly curled and steel cat-eye glasses above her beaming smile.
We walked in Mill Creek Park, enjoying the sun and flowers at Fellows Garden.
My photographs have turned yellow and orange, faded like my memories.
Pink and purple lilac stars shine now as they did then,
Sitting on her warm lap, wrapped in soft arms, hearing flower names.
From her, I learned the names of roses, lilacs, impatiens and daisies.
She taught me to tell time on the face of her nurse’s watch.
I remember when she seemed so tall, and then I grew taller still.
She loved powdering her face, sharing conversation and keeping her home tidy.
She peppered her conversations with the word, “evidently,”
A word gone from fashion, like her name, Dorothy.
I remember how she loved spring flowers and touring gardens.
I still do that every year, and I miss her. Some aches are precious.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
I love the line “some aches are precious.” Beauty.
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Thank you for letting me know.
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what grand nostalgia and sentiment
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Thanks! 🙂
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Beautifully written–your words conjure images and your photos are lovely. I was strongly reminded of my mother as I read this. Thanks for sharing this moving piece.
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Thanks for dropping by! I’m glad you’ve liked my website so comprehensively. I love your site, too. I’ve just stopped by. Such joy and romance in your photos, and an appreciation of the past. Lovely, you soul shines through. Warmly, Brenda
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It’s nice yours pictures, dear Brenda !
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Thanks, I appreciate your words! Have a great week!
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This is a lovely and touching tribute. Your choice of unique, personal details brings life to the piece.
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Thank you. Your words are deeply appreciated! Warmly, Brenda
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My pleasure!
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Gorgeous photos! 🙂
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Thanks!!
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It is wonderful how you have let your fond memories flow like a fairytale, illustrated by your lovely photos. I like ‘photos faded like my memories’. Beautiful Brenda. Blessingsx
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Thanks! All this photographic beauty is accessing deep memories. Perhaps that is the journey I’m on this year. I’ve missed you, I’ll come for a visit. Hugs, Brenda
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simply gorgeous – like mine: 🙂
http://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/la-vie-est-lumineuse-detre-incomprehensible/
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Oh, what sweet adorable memories!!! *just reaching for my tissues!!* That’s such a lovely tribute Brenda! 🙂 It re-emerged some memories for me too, my grandmother on my mothers side of the family also loved lilac blossom – they are so petty, and hang like frilly grapes! 🙂 And strange her name was Doris, which I believe is related to Dorothy (nickname I think), and she loved touring gardens, especially botanic gardens. I also remember a friend of mine about the same age as my grandmother who loved to use that word evidently – it used to make me smile how often she used it, you really don’t hear it much now. I read a few books of Christopher Isherwood recently and I noticed he used that word quite a lot in his writing. Phrases like that are well worth noting, they are useful for character’s in stories! 🙂
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Yes, her verbal habits were very different than we speak now. That one word really strikes me as particular to her. That’s amazing you knew someone of the same age range who used it, too. And that was in England, right? My grandmother lived in Ohio in the US. I wonder if they got it from Isherwood’s writing… or if all three picked it up somewhere else… Interesting memories. Thanks for sharing them with me. 🙂
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They may have picked up various words or phrases from films, because people in England even in the 1930’s would have had access to American movies, so that may be the connecting factor.! 😉 My grandmother had a whole load of amusing sayings, and as I grew up and realised by watching some of those old crackly black and white movies that they were most probably where she got them all from. It’s interesting that Christopher Isherwood was an English gentleman, his family having roots in the English aristocracy, and yet he spent so many of his later years in California, so who knows where his ‘evidently’ really came from!! 😀
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Interesting. No doubt linguists would be driven to find out, but I am not that driven! I expect some of my saying come from movies, too. 🙂
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Wonderful post touching souls…Lilac and violets and so many memories…EVIDENTLY:), we both were lucky! The name of my beloved grandmother was Maria. Thank you for bringing me back in time!
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🙂 Funny how people’s verbal habits stay with you. Your grandmother Maria must have loved you lots. My grandma’s name was Dorothy. Hugs, Brenda
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This is totally delightful, Brenda !
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Thanks! I like to see your smiling gravatar on my blog. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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The lilacs are blooming here too!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!
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Yeah! Love the scent!
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Reblogged this on THE MARVELOUS MUMFORD and commented:
OH LILACS….!!!!! AND MEMORIES…!
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I saw the title and instantly thought of my Grandmother… 🙂
she had beautiful Lilacs and I still can draw in the memory of the fragrance from them when I think of her
Yes, some aches are precious
Thank you Brenda, for the memory your post brought and for the BEAUTIFUL photos of the Lilacs…
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
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Maryrose, Yes, I am so happy you understood and agree. Not everyone gets poetry as well as you. It’s so good to be got. 🙂 Hugs, Brenda
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I have to smile again…
I realized as I was working in my greenhouse this afternoon, my Grandmother would have
been 105 yrs young today, no wonder I kept seeing Lilacs all day…
I love poetry, it to me holds mysteries in between the lines…I don’t always get it but I
enjoy the quest of discovery what it feels like to me as I read…yours seems to bring to Earth,
grounded yet wings waiting to unfurl…and now my Grandmother’s Lilac’s 🙂
Thank you gain Brenda…I am now finished weeding, cleaning the GH and now am going to work on this quilt…
and finish deciding on the way to do this carousel horse for my granddaughter
I have truly enjoyed your photos, it brought back many beautiful memories for me..
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
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What a busy grandmother you are, creating the same kinds of memories we cherish about our own. Connections, love of crafts and nature, it’s all part of being human. Hugs, Brenda
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Wonderful tribute to your grandmother …. Let the memories keep you smiling. One question … are they lie-lacks or lie-locks?
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Lie-locks. 🙂 Thanks! Still smiling here. Have a great week! Warmly, Brenda
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Just one of those geographic pronunciation differences … lie-lacks for me.
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Hmm, where are you?
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Cincinnati
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Ah, a beautiful city. I have walked its riverbanks and marveled at the size of its stadium! 🙂
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More improvements have been made on the riverfront … and the area north of city center is undergoing a major rehab.
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My hubby’s grandpa is 100, and we travel through Cincinnati every year on our visits to see him in Louisville. The fossil beds on the Ohio are amazing.
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… and where are you?
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New England. We drive all the way to Louisville most years. That’s probably what wrecked my back. Still, family matters.
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That’s a long drive … ouch on the back. … Don’t forget to get your Graeter’s!
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I’ve heard about Graeter’s, but I’ve never managed to eat any. The kids do like ice cream…
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http://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/on-graeter-the-greatest/
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Yes, my hubby’s aunt lives in your city, and has mentioned it… 🙂
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You may be able to find a limited selection in a store new you! Search on their website.
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Hmm, possible… My kids would hug you for how encouraging you are being. LOL
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The chip flavors are awesome!
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I’ll have to work it into our trip. 🙂
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I love lilacs, this was so sweet!
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Thanks! I love lilacs, too.
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Such a sweet tribute to your grandmother! Loved the photos too. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Thanks, I miss her. I think she would have appreciated a poem about her. Her father wrote poetry, and she treasured them.
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Oh I’m sure she would have loved it! I know I would have! It’s lovely that the lilacs remind you of her. It keeps her with you every spring! Hugs, Natalie 🙂
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Natalie, Thanks! I hope you are having a great week! Hugs to you, too, Brenda
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I Love It! 🙂
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Thanks, bob!! Always happy when you stop by with your smiles. Hugs, Brenda
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“Some aches are precious” – so true…
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I wouldn’t trade my aches for youth, as tempting as it sounds. 🙂 Blessings, Brenda
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Beautiful and I love the smell of lilac. I think it is the scent of angels.
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So true! It is the loveliest scent. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Warmly, Brenda
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I read this when you posted it and thought I commented but maybe I did in my head. Made me think of the post you wrote about her china! She sure brings out all the wonderfulness in your writing and memories. This is precious sweet Brenda. Hope your Monday is going well. PINK hugs! ❤
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I find myself thinking about her a lot in the spring. I miss her buckets when I smell the lilacs. Pinktastic hug-alicious blessings for you and your baby, Brenda
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Brenda, I can say I don’t ever remember seeing Lilac’s like that, WOW what beautiful pictures, and the words so fitting. Take care, Bill
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Thanks! I do love lilacs, so many are in bloom now. I think I forgot to put up the white ones. I had lots more pictures! 🙂 You take care, too! Brenda
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Never got to meet my grandmothers.. Your words gave me a bit of that visit…lucky you were:)
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You got your pictures right side up! Woo-hoo! She was the only grandparent I remember, and I am lucky I had one to remember. 🙂 My kids have all four, and they have no idea how blessed they are by modern medicine. 🙂
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Gorgeous gorgeous gardens.
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Thanks! I love lilacs, of all shades. 🙂
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Sweet memories. The scent of freesias reminds me of my grandmother.
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Aw, that is sweet. Maybe you should write about her. 🙂
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I haven’t written much about her but here’s a snippet https://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/tag/michelia/
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Oh, yes, I see what you mean. Delightful!!
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🙂
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Beautiful. 🙂
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Thanks!
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