“Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Hats” is the post from the blog where I found this writing prompt. I’ve been trying to get back into writing and this seemed like a good way to start.
Throughout my childhood, I spent 8 years where I lived with my grandparents more than with anyone else; this was after my parent’s divorce when I was 3 years old. During those years, my grandmother became my mom in a way and as I look back on that, I realize that every time I was upset with her wasn’t fair to her. She did the best she could to be a mother to her 3 grandkids when our mother wasn’t around for us. It may seem unusual, but this prompt immediately reminded me of her.
The reason it reminded me of her was that I have worn hats for many years; this has been true ever since I finished high school. At first, it was because we weren’t allowed to in high school, but now it’s just become something that’s a habit. In many ways she was very traditional and while it was very infuriating to me sometimes, and still can be when I think about it, one of the innocent things she always asked was for no hats or coats at the dinner table when we all came around to eat. That was true until the very end for her and a matter of manners.
While I disagree with many beliefs that my grandmother held throughout her life, I will forever be grateful for the years she spent helping me and my middle sister; she also raised my oldest sister until the day she no longer could. My grandmother passed at the end of Febuary in 2022 at 80 while my oldest sister passed away at only 38 years old back in December 2023. I don’t believe in a deity, but I do hope that if there is a heaven that my grandmother and my sister found each other and forgave each other. I know my sister has always been difficult and my grandmother nagged her, but they were some of the only people the other had for much of my sister’s life.
I’m sorry grandma that I wasn’t as kind as I should’ve been or realized what all you did for me when I was growing up. I was a young autistic child for much of it and had no idea what I was saying in many cases. I hope you’re at peace and, if somehow you can hear what I say to you sometimes at night, that you and my sister are together again up there.
RIP Grandma (and sis)…
