Throwback Thursday - Friends

This is a picture of my grandmother, Lucy (center), and some of her best friends.  She had two other good friends that I can think of that are not in this picture.  It was taken at a wedding and maybe those two didn't attend.

In her later years Nan would often ask, "Why am I still here; all of my friends are gone."  I used to say to her, "But you still have your family."  I never understood her feelings at the time, but I am starting to.  When you are young, you take your friends for granted.  You assume that they will always be there.

This is a picture of most our friends that we get together with regularly.

(This picture was taken on Valentine's Day 1993)

So far, we have lost two in our group.  

I'm starting to realize how my grandmother felt. Your family is the most important, of course.  But there is something about friends that are your age, have known you forever, and have lived through the times that you have lived through.  

In the picture of my grandmother and her friends, they were all widows.  I can only imagine how important your friends become when you have lost either your husband or wife.  It's amazing to me how many things that I remember my Aunt Dot and my grandmother saying that, at the time, I thought were ridiculous.  They make total sense to me now.

Throwback Thursday - Nan's sister Sadie

In keeping with Nan's family that I talked about last Thursday, this story is about going to visit Nan's sister Sadie.  The year was 1991 and Sadie was in a nursing home in Ulster County, Kingston, NY. She had had a 99th birthday party.  We were not able to make it to the party, but we went to visit her shortly after.

My two aunts - Dot and Esther, me, and my grandmother went to see her.  Sadie's daughter was there with her.  I believe that the last time they saw each other was in 1979.  Sadie was blind at this time and when we got there, my grandmother when up to her, took her hand, and said, "Sadie, it's Lu.  I've come to visit."

It was kind of tense and I thought my grandmother might start to cry.  Sadie hesitated for a moment, and then she said, "Where the hell have you been all these years?"  At that point we all burst out laughing, the tension was broken, and we had a wonderful visit!

Sadie was the oldest of the four girls, and my grandmother was the youngest.  At this point, Sadie was 99 and my grandmother was 90.

I blogged the picture below before, here.  Sadie is the one in the  dark dress, and my grandmother is the baby.  The other two girls were Eldora (left) and Marion (right).  There were also four brothers, and two baby girls who died before their first birthday.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to visit with Sadie that one last time.  I just don't know why we didn't do it more often!

Throwback Thursday - Nan

January 12th, this week, my grandmother would have been 114 years old!  She wrote the date on this picture, 1963.  She was 62 years old, younger than I am now.  I can't believe she has been gone for 14 years.  I still miss her.  Happy birthday Nan.

Throwback Thursday - Nan's family

My grandmother came from a large family.  There were four girls and four boys and two baby girls who died in infancy.

The family was from Chateagay, NY, almost to the Canadian border.  She didn't see her family much after she got married and moved away.

This picture was taken in October of 1958.  Three of her sisters and one brother came to visit.

L to R - Sadie, Aldora, Marion, Bert, and Lucy.  She looks very happy in this picture.  I never thought much about it as a kid, but it must have been hard for her not to see her family very much.

Nan

I've been thinking a lot about my grandmother today. Today is her birthday; she would have been 111 years old. I can't believe she has been gone for almost eleven years although sometimes it seems longer.

There was no date on this picture but I think it was some time in the 1940's. She looks so young and happy.

Happy Birthday Nan.

326/365 - Thanksgiving Day 2000

This is Nan (my grandmother) and Dot (my aunt) on Thanksgiving Day 2000. It was the last time that Nan was at my house. She was 99, and would turn 100 on January 12, 2001. She passed away a little over four months later. I miss her all the time, but especially on the holidays.

277/365 - Nan and her mother

This is a picture of my paternal grandmother, Lucy Bessette when she was about 10 (circa 1911) and her mother in front of their home in Chateaugay, NY.  Her mother, Linda, died when my grandmother was about 20, which lead to her eventually leaving the farm and moving in with her sister Marion who was married and living in White River Junction, VT. This is where she met and married my grandfather who was working for the Western Union there.

Also pictured is her dog, Bruce!

272/365 - Jennie and Nan

This is a picture of my friend Linda's mother and my grandmother. They were the best of friends. Jennie always used to call my grandmother "Ma". I love this picture of the two of them.

222/365 - Young Lucy (Throwback Thursday early)

I have so many pictures. I am thinking that on some days, when nothing much interesting is happening, that I will start with the oldest photo albums and blog a picture. Just every once in awhile.

This picture is of my grandmother Lucy, my Dad's mother. She is the one on your right. I have no idea who the other girl is, where this was taken, whose car that was, or what year it is. It is probably in the 1920's because my grandmother was born in 1901 and she looks to be in her 20's, maybe. I wish I had taken the time to look at these pictures with her and written down the who, what, where, when and why. At least I have the pictures.