Today is the day I honor Onie Kelley, my grandmother. It is the anniversary of her birth, 109 years
ago. Unfortunately, she died in 1985…and
I miss her to this day. Gram Kelley was
loved and respected by everyone who knew her.
She was kind and honest and caring and giving. But, on top of that, she was the best Grandma
that anyone could hope to have.
Living in the apartment upstairs of where we grew up, she
was always available to meet our needs. Whatever we needed, she gave. Pieces of candy, slices of cheese, strawberry soda in little glass
bottles, windmill cookies, but most of all, her time. She taught us how to crochet. She played cards with us. We ironed her handkerchiefs. We gossiped with her. She listened to us. We watered her plants. We loved her.
She never took lessons, couldn’t read music, but she played the
organ.
She gave me something that I cherish more than everything
else I have. A 33x42 inch filet crochet of the Lord’s Prayer. Gram started it around the year 1950 when she sat at my aunt's
bedside (my aunt was bedridden with nephritis). I'm not sure if it was
framed immediately upon completion, but has been as long as I can
remember. When I
was about 11 years old, I started making comments to Gram about
it..."Gram, when you die, may I have that?" Needless to say, my family
was appalled by my behavior. However, it wasn't long before Gram wrote
my name on a piece of paper and taped it to the back of the frame...her
way of saying that it WAS to be mine. I found that out when I was about
18 years of age, but I didn't quit pestering her about it. My aunts
thought I was a very rude young person...but, HEY!...you see whose wall
it's hanging on! I didn't have to wait until Gram died to have
this beautiful piece in my home, either. She gave it to me several years
before she left us. Thank you, Gram.
Holidays were a huge event at Gram’s house. She did most of the cooking herself. The tables were covered with linen
tablecloths, and we had matching linen napkins to use. (I have those linen tablecloths and
napkins.) The tables were set with
Gram’s best china and crystal. The food
was delicious and always plentiful.
She had a huge salt and pepper shaker collection that was
contained in a curved glass china cupboard.
She had a chicken collection that took up all of the available space in
her kitchen. Plants thrived under her
green thumb. I especially remember her
violets lining the window sills…always beautiful.
I will never know another woman like her. She was unique. She was loved. She was my Gram.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11
