the great grandmother I never knew

It’s been an exhausting couple of weeks for us on the farm with all the changes and emotions that come when someone passes away. I don’t know about you but I could use a little levity, so I’d like to tell you one of our family’s favorite stories.

I never met my great grandma, but several years ago my uncle was in an antique shop and found her photograph. He called my dad and told him. Excitedly, my dad called each of his kids - my two brothers and me. He told us that Uncle Marlin had found his grandma’s photo and even sent us a picture of it among the shelves at Old Sled Works in Duncannon, Pennsylvania.

Immediately, I knew what I wanted to get Dad for Christmas. With $50, our family went the next morning to get it. The frame was tattered but the picture itself was in remarkable shape. It was big though - almost 2 feet high. And boy was she a homely woman, but how could I resist, she was family and it would bring my father great joy.

We didn’t even get home before I got a call from my brother, Steve. Apparently my brother and his wife had the same thought but we got there first. They were searching for the photo but it was already gone. We made a deal. Since I bought the photo, Steve would get a new frame and Dad would get this treasured gift. Feeling triumphant, I delivered our great grandma to Steve and looked forward to Christmas several months away.

With a phone call weeks later. Disaster struck. My brother was on the other end of the call.

Somebody Else’s Grandma

“Jody, you got somebody else’s grandma.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You got SOMEBODY ELSE’S GRANDMA!”

My brother was with our extended family for breakfast. As Uncle Marlin bragged about finding his grandma’s photo. He was quickly rebuked by our great aunt who had the right grandma in her living room!

Obviously the Christmas plan changed and Steve, who hadn’t gotten the new frame yet, asked what I wanted him to so with Somebody Else’s Grandma. My reply, “I want her back. I paid 50 bucks for her!”

I had no idea what I was going to do with this large photo of a homely woman who I had exactly no connection to except for a crazy story. Still, it was 50 bucks so I was keeping her.

Over the course of the next several weeks, my brother would remind me that he still had Somebody Else’s Grandma in his garage and every time I left his house, I would forget her.

Then, I went to my cousin’s baby shower. My sister-in-law, Lori leaned over my mother, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Somebody Else’s Grandma is in the car for you.” My mother looked horrified and confused. Lori and I burst out laughing as I responded, “I’ll get her when we leave.” I got Somebody Else’s Grandma back that day.

At Christmas, we gave our entire family copies of her replicated photo and shared the story. We picked the perfect place in our home for her - she was Somebody Else’s Grandma - but we loved her for the fun she gave us and still gives us. Now, when friends join us for dinner and ask, “Who is that lady in the bathroom? Is she a relative?” Bryce and I look at each other, laugh and say in unison, “She is Somebody Else’s Grandma!”

They say laughter lengthens your life. Love life and laugh with your family even during painful times. And maybe if you’re as eccentric as we are, you’ll find your own Somebody Else’s Grandma to confuse your friends and bring you hysterical tears of joy.

Searching for wisdom and asking for grace,

Jody