Monday, May 13, 2013

MAGPIE...Prompt #168


                                                                 PHOTO/ Togan Gokhakar


THANK YOU,Tess at Magpie Tales...


GRANDPARENTS

My Grandpa Jake fancied he looked like Bela Lugosi.  My Grandma Rebecca, who favored hats under all circumstances, learned a long time ago not to tell him to smile for a photograph.  Because he would likely have slipped some Times Square souvenir fangs into his mouth.  He enjoyed being inappropriate.

Rebecca, the gorgeous redhead in the family, wore a flower in her hair while giving birth to my mother.  It is said.

This particular day we went by ferry to the newly opened Wall of Names at Ellis Island.  Then a quick photo before they searched for their names.  Which I had submitted to be placed on the wall as a tribute to their discovering America.

A guard came by and told Grandpa to please put his cigarette out.  Grandma never had any success with this.  Truth be told, sometimes she puffed away on a Camel's.  And in the Russian way, while enjoying a glass of tea, some raspberry jam stirred into it.

Grandpa always rolled his own.  He had a small leather pouch for the tobacco.  And papers.  I thought he was a cowboy.  At 72nd Street and Broadway.  Years later his style of rolling remained with me.

I brought some note paper and lead pencils with me so that they could make a copy of their names from the wall.  On the trip back from Ellis Island they compared rubbings.  Grandma's hat was swept off her head by an extreme gust of wind.  Grandpa dropped his cigarette.  By then he was buying packs.  He grabbed at the brim, slightly crushing it.  He put it on Rebecca's head, backwards.  On purpose, of course.

He was a tailor, an entrepreneur, and a poet.  She baked bread and told scary fortunes.


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21 comments:

Trellissimo said...

Nothing to say because I can't see what anyone else has said. I never revisit blogs that apply moderation. TaTa.

Lyn said...

Hi Trellissimo-
There must be an error, because my blog is open and visible to all. As you can see, your comment is posted..but thanks!!!

Berowne said...

Vive la nostalgie!

Jinksy said...

Your grandparents were obviously a larger than life pair, just like these two...

Brian Miller said...

what wonderful textured characters you have created in this...love the rolling his own...that is def a tangible memory i have of my grandpa...i like his playfulness...the vampire teeth...ha...the rubbings give depth to their story...cool piece....

Jinksy said...

Hi - me again - I think you misunderstand what effect the 'Comment moderation' that Trellisssimo objects to actually has. People who want to leave a comment can't tell what's been said already until AFTER you OK the comments.
If you want to keep an eye out for inappropriate ones, all you need do is ask Blogger to send you an email each time a comment is posted - which is what I do. This allows you to eliminate any distasteful ones, but also saves you from going back you your blogpage to see who is saying what. I think Trell has a good point! It's good to see what others have already commented, to save repetition.

Lyn said...

Hi Jinksy-
So kind of you to take the time for this. Tech stuff doesn't always work out for me..for instance, I always get an email with the comment from Blogger..that's the only way I get to publish your comment. I have no other method that I use. When I click on comments on Blog page I can see all the comments. Don't know why you can't...arghhhhh....most of the time I even have trouble getting my Blog to publish...boo-hoo!!

Lyn said...

Hi Berowne-
Thank you..it's good to look back!!

Lyn said...

Hi Brian-
It's great how much we all have in common...Grandpa's who rolled cigarettes! Thank you!

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

What a treasure...your wonderful grandparents! Memories! I miss knowing people who are walking in their own unique path. My mother-in-law from the Ukraine...my father-in-law a dark, manicured gambler in beautiful suits...conversations, so lively!

Lyn said...

Hi Blue Sky-
Love what you say about their walking their own unique path..so true! We are Russian/Ukrainian...
small world..thank you, Mary Ann!

21 Wits said...

Bravo, excellent work, and you are a girl after my own heart, as I also was just about ready to give them the gift of togetherness, pretty much the same way, only a different place- Ha! Ha! But their expressions were begging for more! You expressed them to total perfection, headed for bliss, and I on the other side gave them new direction! Oh I just adore Magpie Tales.

Lyn said...

Hi Karen S-
Absolutely agree...Magpie Tales is definitely a gift..how lucky to have this..thank you for all!

Silent Otto said...

So unique, this dream . They are so aliive. Good on you, Lyn !

Lyn said...

Hi Kutamun-
So glad you liked this one...they became real to me! Thanks...

~T~ said...

What wonderful characters! Thanks for telling us about them.

Lyn said...

Hi ~T~
Thanks so much for your comment..real characters, huh??

Anonymous said...

This is so charming, I really loved the characters you created, the personal touch and attention to detail

Lyn said...

Hi mindlovemisery-
Thank you..it was fun to do!!

Linda Rogers said...

What a creative way to use this prompt. Your grandparents sound so intriguing and wonderful. Thanks for the introduction.

Kathe W. said...

my oh my- may I adopt yor grandparents! What memories!

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