Dear Grandma,
Dear Grandma:
By Allan Olson
Dear Grandma,
How are you? I am fine.
As a child, many letters were started out just like this, addressed to you and delivered by mail to you, a whole 60 miles away.
As a child, I looked forward to letters from you written to our family, where we learned to translate your “Swedish” handwriting. Sometimes we would each have our own personally addressed letter – what a thrill that was!
Things didn’t change much over the years, and I still enjoyed seeing your occasional “scribbles,” as you called them.
Many hours were spent at your home, playing games, eating ice cream or taking trips to town to one of the local diners. The time spent was never boring; it was always filled with laughter and fun.
As a parent, watching my children interact with you still holds dear to me.
The last year has flown by, and I miss my weekly phone calls and those occasional “Swedish” handwritten letters. Those letters, with the address so jumbled; it was a miracle we ever got them.
So much has happened in the past year, since you’ve been gone.
Two of the most noted items I would have loved to have shared with you would’ve been the purchase of our house and the work we’ve put into it, and the twins graduation from pre-school. Our conversations would have been lengthy discussing the house, and you would’ve laughed at the story of the graduation.
With the purchase of the house, the first thing I could hear you say is, “Now you have to get those kids a dog.” Knowing you, I wouldn’t have been surprised if you would’ve shown up at our house with one just for them.
The kids are growing up fast, and virtually every day they find ways to outsmart me, but of course, being the parent, I always get the final say.
I could hear your laughter as I shared the latest antics of Abigail and how carefree and full of life and love she is.
There are so many things that I could share with you, it would be hard to know where to begin.
I could tell you about how Alivia is often my most stubborn child, and you would blame it on the Norwegian in her. I would contradict that statement, blaming that trait on her equally stubborn Swedish great-grandma, and we would both have a good laugh.
I would be able to tell you about my boys and how they are much more studious and often more serious than their sisters.
Nikolai is fast becoming a young man; I’m sure that you would enjoy his company as he clued you in to all things non-fiction. He often spouts things which I don't dare argue with before checking to make sure which one of us is correct.
When we talked about Marcus, we would discuss his love of books and learning in general; how he is often the funny man of the group. The four of them would lead to many discussions in our weekly conversations.
While our personal visits weren’t as often as we would’ve liked, as the miles and busy lives separated us, the time spent with you both as a child and with my children will always be a part of me.
Never a week goes by without thinking of you, and time heals the hurt from your loss, but it will never dull your love or memory.
By Allan Olson
Dear Grandma,
How are you? I am fine.
As a child, many letters were started out just like this, addressed to you and delivered by mail to you, a whole 60 miles away.
As a child, I looked forward to letters from you written to our family, where we learned to translate your “Swedish” handwriting. Sometimes we would each have our own personally addressed letter – what a thrill that was!
Things didn’t change much over the years, and I still enjoyed seeing your occasional “scribbles,” as you called them.
Many hours were spent at your home, playing games, eating ice cream or taking trips to town to one of the local diners. The time spent was never boring; it was always filled with laughter and fun.
As a parent, watching my children interact with you still holds dear to me.
The last year has flown by, and I miss my weekly phone calls and those occasional “Swedish” handwritten letters. Those letters, with the address so jumbled; it was a miracle we ever got them.
So much has happened in the past year, since you’ve been gone.
Two of the most noted items I would have loved to have shared with you would’ve been the purchase of our house and the work we’ve put into it, and the twins graduation from pre-school. Our conversations would have been lengthy discussing the house, and you would’ve laughed at the story of the graduation.
With the purchase of the house, the first thing I could hear you say is, “Now you have to get those kids a dog.” Knowing you, I wouldn’t have been surprised if you would’ve shown up at our house with one just for them.
The kids are growing up fast, and virtually every day they find ways to outsmart me, but of course, being the parent, I always get the final say.
I could hear your laughter as I shared the latest antics of Abigail and how carefree and full of life and love she is.
There are so many things that I could share with you, it would be hard to know where to begin.
I could tell you about how Alivia is often my most stubborn child, and you would blame it on the Norwegian in her. I would contradict that statement, blaming that trait on her equally stubborn Swedish great-grandma, and we would both have a good laugh.
I would be able to tell you about my boys and how they are much more studious and often more serious than their sisters.
Nikolai is fast becoming a young man; I’m sure that you would enjoy his company as he clued you in to all things non-fiction. He often spouts things which I don't dare argue with before checking to make sure which one of us is correct.
When we talked about Marcus, we would discuss his love of books and learning in general; how he is often the funny man of the group. The four of them would lead to many discussions in our weekly conversations.
While our personal visits weren’t as often as we would’ve liked, as the miles and busy lives separated us, the time spent with you both as a child and with my children will always be a part of me.
Never a week goes by without thinking of you, and time heals the hurt from your loss, but it will never dull your love or memory.
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