The Blog of d10

The love knot in my family was the three strong women.  Suzie, Toots and me. 

Suzie was the great grandmother that arrived from Hungary with Clara, her sister.  How brave to leave everything you know and are comfortable with to come here.  She spoke of hair ribbons and climbing trees in the old country while emptying the refrigerator and making coffee. Homemade noodles draping the rack in the kitchen while they dried, those worn old hands would busy clearing the dining room table for the peasant feast.

Toots was the first grandchild of Suzie's.  She held special ground with the old woman having been born to Janush, the king child.  Toots would take us every Tuesday to see the old woman.  Like a proud peahen, she would have us minding our Sunday manners. 

Suzie had a childish devil in her and would always manage at least once to tell Toots, with a thick Hungarian accent "you shud up, this is my house and they can do as they please".  Her powder blue eyes would twinkle as she scolded Toots.  Toots too would have a similar twinkle loving being put in her place by the old woman. 

Years later, I would bring Stinky every Saturday to see Toots and hear her stories of Suzies hair ribbons and trees.  Toots was known to climb a tree or two well into old age.  Just to prove she still could.  The twinkle was in her green eyes as she would weekly say "you shud up, this is my house and he can do as he please".  My blue eyes would twinkle with the memory of Suzie.

I have a way with children, they always seem to know that they have a friend here.  Over the years, I have spoiled many and when they visit I smirk with blue eyes twinkling as I say to their parents "you shud up, this is my house and they can do as they please".

The memory of these substantial women that have influenced me has left an indelible mark for which I carry great pride.