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| WITH "GRAMMA" NELSON, 1949. |
I never met Gramma Nelson. She died just before I met her grandson, around the same time my sister, Dale, died. But over the years I've heard many loving and funny stories about her.
No matter how hard she tried to become solidly American, Gramma Nelson never lost her Norwegian accent. Of especial difficulty for her was the "J" sound. Her grandson Jerry was always called "Yerry."
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| ANOTHER OF OUR CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS, YERRY'S BABY RATTLE. |
Wednesday afternoon, while we waited for Judyshannonstreetwhat (click here if you haven't met her) to arrive at Málaga Airport, we had overpriced Starbuck's cafe mochas and overpriced stale Starbuck's pastries. At least the staff was nice. When he ordered our drinks, San Geraldo gave the name "Jerry." When we received our drinks, we knew Gramma Nelson was right there with us.
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Awwww, love seeing the photo of little Yerry with Gudrun :) Is that her first name, or is that how you say grandmother in Norwegian?
ReplyDeleteThat rattle is disturbing, and that's all I'll say ;)
Gudrun was her first name. Bestemor and Mormor are Norwegian words for grandma/grandmother. I never thought about the rattle until reading the comments of how disturbing it is. Jerry and I laughed and agreed, it IS disturbing.
DeleteWhat a sweet story all tied into the present so vividly, Mitch.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering what Yerry's grandfather from the Arctic Circle would feel about living along the Meditteranean?
Funny, the pastries at our Starbucks here are stale as well!!
Jim:
DeleteIn the States, we used to ask if the pastries were fresh and were told they're always fresh. Finally someone told us most days they come fresh from the freezer and are then freshly thawed! Definitely not worth the price.
Gramma Nelson is watching over your every move ~ winks ~ !!
ReplyDeleteAren't Grammas so good at cuddling ~ love the picture!!
Ron:
DeleteJerry's mother, Alice, adored her mother and was always sorry I didn't get to know her. If Alice adored her, I adore her.
Love it! Wow, so cool he still has his baby rattle, never seen one like it.
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteJerry's mother kept that rattle forever and Jerry never knew (or, of course, even remembered it). She gave it to us some time in '90s I think and Jerry decided to put a ribbon on it and put it on the Christmas tree.
Yerry sounds festive for this time of year, but I bet he prefers Jerry or San Geraldo.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteHe is very easy going about his name and I think Yerry reminds him so much of his grandmother that he really enjoys hearing (or seeing) it.
awwww, wee yerry! and I agree with judith - that rattle is nightmare fuel.
ReplyDeleteanne marie:
DeleteUntil the comments from you and Judith (and Willym, below), Jerry and I never appreciated how completely weird that rattle actually is!
Look at that smiling baby with his Gramma! Sweet! That rattle though--not so sweet.
ReplyDeleteJennifer:
DeleteJerry has every letter his grandmother ever wrote him when he was at university. If there was a tiny piece of blank folded paper in the envelope, it meantt she had enclosed $5 to pay for a phone call. Those letters consistently opened with "Thank you so much for your phone call today." We laughed every time we opened one. Yeah, we seem to be in agreement now about the rattle.
I have to agree on that rattle - a bit unsettling. Love the baby picture of Yerry.
ReplyDeleteWillym:
DeleteOr maybe I should say Villum, which is how Gramma Nelson would have said it. I, too, love that baby picture and Yerry and I are now in agreement with many of you: The rattle is unsettling.
That is too cool. I'm sure that was her way from the beyond to wish her grandson a Merry Christmas. Very touching post
ReplyDeletemistress maddie:
DeleteI'm not a believer. I'm not spiritual. But I know for certain that was Gramma Nelson's doing!
Norwegian heritage! I am mad-jealous. I want some (actually I have some probably back to 800)
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteJerry can trace his ancestry back in so many directions. The Norwegian lines are really fascinating. He even discovered a great-great grandfather was Sami.
Yerry is no longer Jung. Discuss.
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteI was trying to decide if we should discuss Carl or Erica but then I remembered she spells her name wrong... well, Jong (not Wrong). Discussed enough?
And then some. ;)
DeleteJay's mother tends to channel into our lives from time to time, letting us know she is still watching over us.
ReplyDeleteTravel:
DeleteOh, I don't know if I want MY mother doing that!
I think Grandma's are always around.
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteI know some grandchildren who would seriously hope you're wrong about that!