I love this picture. It speaks volumes to me. Grandma grew up in Tauranga, New Zealand. She was raised on a farm and was the second youngest child of my Greatgrandfather Oliver (who looked like Tom Selleck) and Katherine Jane Borrell. She had wild older brothers who worked the land with her father and who also saved her from a herd of running cows. She had great stories about farm life. Sitting in the orchard eating fruit right off the branch. She could paint a beautiful story about all the little flowers growing around her house as a child. How violets got their golden hearts, why dew rests gently on plant tips, and how to keep little critters off of your tomato (toe-mah-toe) plants, to name a few of her lovely stories. As a teenager, just before she went into Nurses training, she and a friend went backpacking on South Island, New Zealand. She told me of how she and her friend went to South Island with little money, but determined to make an exciting trip. They went from farm to farm, exploring mostly on foot the beautiful country side there.
She met Grandpa when she was 22, shortly after her Nurses training was completed. He was serving his mission in New Zealand. Her family was prominent in the church and knew the missionaries quite well. Grandpa came back to New Zealand specifically with her in mind. They courted and Grandpa purposed on One Tree Hill.
I don't know where they were married but I know they had to be married in a civil ceremony, then make the boat trip to Hawaii to be sealed in the temple. They lived the first 14 years of marriage in Hamilton, New Zealand. Grandpa was on a "Temple construction mission". During my Mother's formative years she recalls times as being financially tight, as construction workers relied on church paid housing, church paid food, and clothes donations to make ends meet. However as people of that generation did, they were content and made things work. Out of the clothing donations Grandmother wouldn't choose children's clothes for her kids, as she felt they were too worn. Instead she'd find clothes that had good material, take them home, pull them apart and make her children's clothes with the fabric. The day came when she needed new Sunday clothes for her two girls (my Mom and Aunty Uku (Louisa). She pulled apart her lovely wedding dress (which she made herself) and made beautiful church dresses.
But that was Grandma's "style" she didn't hold on to things that were not "useful". My uncles can attest to that. Uncle Henry lost his vintage Marvel comic book collection during one of Grandma's spring cleaning sprees. To her it was a box of useless kiddie books. Henry was upset at her and I'm sure that collection would be worth a pretty penny today. She also tossed Uncle Oliver's hand made model car collection while he was on his mission and Uncle Joseph's Handmade Star Wars Model collection while he was on his mission as well (his Millenium Falcon--was among the items tossed).
She didn't see the sense in such knick knacks. If you couldn't use it every day then what was the point. She grew up on a farm for heaven's sake, use it until it can't be used any longer and make due with what you've got. I'm glad I inherited something from her (perhaps this is why I have a hard time with "fashion", I haven't "worn out" all my clothes yet).
Granpa was a different breed all together. He grew up in Apia, Samoa. His mother Louisa or affectionately "Nanny" as I call her, was also a part of my life growing up. She seemed to always be bed ridden and had a thick Samoan accent. She would tell me story after story when I was a child. Among the stories were many about how she raised her children. She valued education and sent her children to a school run by the Catholics. She would tell her sons to never cross themselves or partake of their sacrament, but be good boys and do as teacher says. She was probably the primary reason my Grandfather had impeccable English. Since he was taught by a New Zealander he had a very British sounding accent. He was a perfectionist and never mispelled words, or used bad grammar. As a child I found it hard doing homework at his house, as he would sometimes come over to see how I was doing and he would correct me, the way any good Son of Samoa would, with sterness. Drips of sweat would fall from my brow and it was hard to think under that kind of pressure. Yet I still to this day hold my pencil "the correct way" and know how to spell many words, because of Grandpa's tutoring. He was a man you listened to and obeyed--yet there was always a twinkle in his eye and I was never in doubt that he loved me beyond words.
Grandpa was a Second generation mechanic and worked on cars during his years on Temple Construction. His father Oliver was a well known "church" mechanic and many old-timer-island folks often speak affectionately of Great Grandpa and Grandpa fixing their cars.
Grandpa could make anything out of a block of wood. He made rifle and gun handles, he made the most beautiful sculpture of a Samoan chief down on one knee praying to God.
He also had dead aim. He has been known to shoot squirrels out of his tomato garden, and kill a mouse with a soda can thrown in the dark. Yes, Granpa was a man, a force you would not or should not reckon with.
The perfect memories are the ones filled with my Grandparents playing ukulele together. They would sing songs like "Sea breeze, sea breeze, send a message to the one I love.....", "Haere Mai", and lots of others I can't even recall the words to. Their voices were beautiful together.
My Grandparents were a mix of the old, the odd, and the faithful. I have often in the corners of my mind remembered spending nights at their house. Helping prepare meals ar cleaning dishes or folding laundry. Their laughter and love are greatly missed. They were special, with more stories than I can ever write. But they live on in my heart.
5 comments:
I am going to go back and read this post, I have fond memories of your grandparents, and some "odd" memories, that make me laugh.
I totally forgot to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I think it's the 18. . . but I could be WAY off. I know Flint had a birthday too. Wish him one for me. . . a little late :)
I am with your Grandma on throwing everything out. Minimalism makes life easier. Less crap to take care of. I love reading personal histories. Thanks for sharing.
I am sorry I missed your birthday also. It has been so crazy lately. I hope you had a great one!
What a great memoir of your grandparents.
BEAUTIFUL! I loved reading this post about your family! Thanks for letting me peek into a part of your past!
i loved this post. i love the generation of our grandparents! what strong, inspiring and resourceful people! and it made me miss the independence stake.
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