Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The secret life of Grandma


“The secret life” has been a rejoinder between Laura and me for the last six months. Emptying the trash one evening, she spied an empty Panera coffee cup. “What’s this!? When did you go there!? I didn’t know about it!”

“The secret life of grandma,” I replied.

Since then, if she knows, she smugly remarks she knows about the secret life of grandma. But, if she doesn’t know, she sets about finding out. Toward that end, I try to leave a clue about new secrets. 

Today I met a new acquaintance for lunch, and told myself to bring back a napkin or some such thing for a trash clue.

Lynn is not so much a new acquaintance. We’ve sat beside each other for months, waiting for our respective one p.m. counselor appointments. We get on so well for ten minutes every other Wednesday, we decided to go to lunch. And so we did, today.

We discovered in short order, we grew up on North Hill in Akron. My sister and I often remarked how often children who grew up on the hill moved back as adults, as Lynn had done. North Hill is big enough to have three elementary schools, a junior and a senior high, so being from the hill doesn’t equate to being from the neighborhood.

Lynn, though, grew up on the third street behind me. She’s six years younger, and I didn’t remember her, so I asked if she knew my sister, Janice Lytle. “L-y-t-l-e,?”, she asked. “Was Melvin Lytle your brother? I still have the love letter he wrote me in fifth grade!”


The restaurant closes at two, and they sort of boosted us out, so we’ll pick this up another time. And, I forgot to bring home a clue. So, let's not mention this until next time.


Easter, about 1955
My brother Walt, me, mom, Mel,
and Janice, the baby who can't lift Mom's purse.

I've used this picture before, and sub-titled Jan as the one who never was spanked.

33 comments:

  1. "the secret life of grandma"... I like that! And isn't it interesting when you find someone that has a connection to your own life that you never knew? (That might be what attracts me about genealogy - untold stories and all that?)

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  2. I love this "secret life" you have. And what fun to share it with your granddaughter this way. Sounds like maybe you have found a friend for life. Isn't it amazing the things we find in common with perfect strangers?

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  3. The secret life of grandma sounds like a fun way to strengthen the bond between you and your granddaughter. But I hope you have a few secrets to keep to yourself.

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  4. Such a cute picture of your growing up days! I love this little game you are playing with Laura in your secret life. Sounds like a fun luncheon too with a new friend who I think is going to be a lifelong friend!

    betty

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  5. I like the idea of Grandmas having a secret life even if I'll never be a grandma, I can still live vicariously through others.

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  6. Hari om
    Who needs school reunions when you've got counsellors and secret living??! What a delicious post ,Joanne... and looking foeward to an update! YAM xx

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  7. So glad you had a happy experience. 'Bout time!!!

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  8. We all need a secret life,
    Merle.........

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  9. I like your young sleuth, so surprised that grandmas might have secret lives...

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  10. What fun to have a detective in the family. And how wonderful to find a new friend with memories you can both share.

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  11. Me too Joanne. Unfortunately, I can't let my kids know my secrets. ;) I did tell my granddaughter a few and she began saying,"tell me more things when you were young, Nonna". I was asked not to tell her any more things by her parents.

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  12. Leaving clues for Laura is a great idea. It's nice that the two of you have this special connection.

    Love,
    Janie

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  13. small world. and what fun for Laura to investigate the secret life of grandma.

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  14. it is good to have a secret life. Great Easter picture.

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  15. Ok, just between us geezers, what were you doing, say, between '67 and '72........

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  16. I had a war to protest back then! Oh, yea, and working.

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  17. Secret life is a good thing, sometimes!

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  18. It's fun to have a shared game, and Laura sounds quick with the clues! I wonder what she would think if you started playing "the secret life of granddaughter" though? ...

    On meeting someone new, my father usually asked "now who was your father/mother?" within the first five minutes. As I get older, I understand why. I've discovered more connections that way.

    I love the story about your brother's love letter! Is she going to bring it next time?

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  19. A lovely meeting..and good to find more connections.

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  20. Secret life of Grandma! That would make a great title for compilations from grandmas all around.

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  21. I agree with Susan Kane, The Secret Life of Grandma should be a book of short stories from Grandmas all over.

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  22. Love this❣️I thought I was pretty good with secrets, but eventually they seem to be revealed. Your secret life of Grandma is worth copying. Linda@Wetcreek Blog

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  23. What a cute post.

    The secret life of grandma, indeed! It's good to be mysterious ;-)

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  24. What a great photo. Were you dressed for Church or a wedding ?
    I love the secret life of grandma with little clues.

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  25. We find out often that there really is such a thing as six degrees of separation, only in your case, there is only two.

    I love your secret games with Laura.

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  26. What a coincidence. Small world.

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  27. I love this post, too, Joanne. I think though that most of my secrets are not for telling!

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  28. Nothing stirs memories like an old photograph does it?

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  29. Love it and I think your granddaughter does too. Nice that you've got a new friend...that's often harder to do as one gets older.

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  30. I love the "secret life" game! I kind of want to know about the secret life of Melvin. I wonder what it will take to get a look at that love letter.

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