Saturday, February 16, 2008

Grandmaman

Up at Les Pleiades, in August 2005.

Grandmaman was 94 at the time and for the first time in my life, she didn't outrun me. Even at her 90th birthday, she managed to outpace the entire family on a seemingly endless downhill hike.

Sadly those days are over now. Grandmaman died February 12, 2008, at about 11:00 a.m. (GMT +1)

She taught me how to cook, how to make bread and how to knit, even if I never really caught on to that one.

Here are a few things I will miss about Grandmaman.

I will miss her cooking. Cherry soup in winter with cherries from the trees in the front garden and homemade fried croutons. Tarte au fromage that would stink up the house with the smell from the cheese. Deep fried potato puffs eaten on the terrasse. Fresh out of the oven peach pie after a l-o-n-g hot walk up the road from town, after travelling all night. And above all - Curly Bread.

Then there was always her sheer joy on seeing me after long absences.

Her little giggle when she laughed, with her hand over her mouth.

And so many other fond memories now.

Here's a link to some pictures that have been taken over the years.

5 comments:

raluca said...

stef,
i'm sorry to hear about your family's loss. i hope your grandmother passed away peacefuly.
thank you for sharing your memories of her so openly and so sweetly. i'd be happy to know that someone remembers me as you remember her, after i die....

Unknown said...

Thank you, Luka.

Sue Matthews said...

I only got to meet Grandmaman a couple of times but she's the kind of lady who left quite an impression.

My favourite memory of her is from our trip in 2001. We were taking a hike in the mountains towards a glacier. We came across a path that was closed because of avalanche rubble. I was ready to turn around and go back, but Grandmaman just waved it off and kept right on walking. As we got to the area with the debris she asked Nick for a bit of help over the rubble but said it was only because she was losing her eyesight. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was 90! Amazing.

I love the photos. What a great collection.

Bill said...

Thanks Stef, I love those pictures. Did you remember to water the flowers while you where in the house?

Unknown said...

Yes, Dad, of course I watered the plants. Puh-leez ...