I'd like to share my grandma's story with everyone, just because I'm thinking about her now reading everyone's threads and thinking 'bout things.

My grandpa was very sick for about two years before he died, and him and grandma had nine kids, the youngest being twins and just a year old. This was during the depression and times were very hard. When he died the bill collectors were waiting at grandma's door along with social workers to take her nine kids and place them in homes. They assumed that she could not care for them, with no job and all the bills that had piled up during grandpa's illness. Well she wasn't about to let anyone take her kids so she begged a ride to the nearest town, went to the bank and convinced the banker to give her a loan for a house. This was in the days when ladies were never given loans, let alone a lady with no husband and no job. But she got the loan and worked several jobs to pay it back AND raised nine kids who all became educated adults!

When I was in my twenties, I was sitting with my grandma, crying over some guy who didn't want me anymore and after staring at me for a long time, she said "you need to toughen up". That was all she said to me about my broken heart but it stuck with me all these years, and I think it is a good reminder that love requires being tough.

Don't you agree?

I agree. God Bless your grandma! Thanks for sharing that lovely story.

Dear weaver,

What a beautiful story. What an amazing grandma.

I totally respect and admire her strength and courage.

Thinking of how it can apply to 'us'(I always look atthings like that!)

I know it says to me that same thing as it said to you "You need to toughen up".

That is what I need to do. Sometimes I think my character has a weakness in that area.

I will think of your grandmother and her advice.

Thanks for sharing that,

Love

Kas <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

That is great story, weaver! It sounds alot like my dearly departed Grandma Mamie. She once said to my crying aunt [who cried at everything!] "you need to grow some backbone!"

<small>[ July 01, 2004, 06:55 AM: Message edited by: MelodyLane ]</small>

Hi Weav,

Nice story about grandma. Thanks for sharing.

KY

OKay - I didn't really want to bump grandma up again, but wanted to thank all of you who read her story and responded. Orchid reminded me of my manners. So thank you!

P.S. Mostly I put her story in here because I think loving someone means we have to be tough, that is what love is all about. Sometimes this is hard for us woman who get mixed signals growing up about being tough and being feminine. It easier to be tough for our children as mothers, but being tough for the man we love gets a little boggy, in my mind anyway.

I like it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> sounds like a story from my favorite Author Robert Fulghum <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Huradah,

It's so funny you should say that, as I bought a whole bunch of used books off of ebay to read this summer and "It Was on Fire When I Lay Down On It" by Robert Fulghum was one of them, but I haven't read it yet. I can't put down the David Sedaris and Michael Thomas Ford books. They are gay humorist authors and their short essays are sooo funny. Well they are funny to me anyway.

Weaver

I like that story. I think it is a good reminder of how wise these people really are, those who are often just seen as a burden in their old age and sent to a home.

Despite what some people think, I believe life was a lot harder and more stressful during the depression and the wars compared to modern life, and the people who have come through these hardships deserve more respect.

I think that too Ks...

It's like they had a kind of strength and wisdom that a lot of us don't have today. It's like doing the right thing was a given back then, and now it is often a struggle to even know what the right thing is.

weaver, you will LOVE Mr. Fulghum, he is so funny and its so heartwarming... I own almost everything ! I am looking foward to his new book on his website! "Maybe, Maybe not" is one of his best! "All I know I learned in Kindergarden" is also very wise.. but he doesn't give advice.. he just tell you a story and you just chuckled through it.. Those books you read when its raining outside and bit warm inside the house... and just bring sunshine through your heart and make you think.

As you can tell, I'm a big fan for Mr. Fulghum.