Dear Grandma by Rachel Medina, blackberry iced tea lemonade

 

From: Rachel
To:Grandma
Subject: Chaucer Update
Dear Grandma,
How are you? I've seen some Chaucer updates on your Facebook that look exciting. How was the radio show? I haven't listened to it yet, but it's on my list for this weekend. How was the Chaucer celebration? Did you have a mass this year? I thought I saw something about it.

~Rachel

From: Grandma
Subject: Chaucer Update
To: Rachel
I’M GOING TO USE CAPITALS IN MY RESPONSES TO BE CLEAR.

WELL, THE CLOCK TELLS ME I HAVE AN EXTRA HOUR TONIGHT, BUT I DON’T THINK MY BODY BELIEVES IT. :) ONE MORE THING TO DO TOMORROW TO FINISH A BIRTHDAY QUILT, BUT I THINK I WILL FINISH. I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE STUFF I PUT OFF TO GET READY FOR CHAUCER.

 

THE SHOW WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE. THE MAN WHO MADE VIDEOS OF THE CHAUCER EVENT 2 YEARS AGO CALLED AND ASKED IF I'D LIKE TO DO AN INTERVIEW. WELL, YOU DON'T SAY NO! I HAVEN'T HEARD IT BECAUSE MY BROWSER IS OUT OF DATE, BUT IT'S GONNA GET FIXED.

WE HAD A MASS WITH THE LOVELY MUSIC. I GAVE AWAY ANOTHER BOOK, LIKE YOU AND YOUR KIDS HELPED WITH LAST YEAR. THIS TIME MY NEIGHBOR AND HIS FAMILY SET OUT THE BOOKS. ALL THEIR KIDS HELPED, EVEN THE LITTLEST ONE. PEOPLE REALLY GOT A KICK OUT OF WATCHING THEM.

LOVE,

GRANDMA

From: Rachel
To:Grandma
Subject: Dixie

Hi, Grandma!

Just a quick note to say hi. Is Dixie behaving herself like a good dog should? :)

~Rachel

From: Grandma
Subject: Dixie
To: Rachel

DIXIE IS OK ALMOST ALL THE TIME. IT WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE LAST WEEK WHEN SHE SUDDENLY WENT WEIRD JUST AFTER HER WALK. SHE STAYED WEIRD ALL DAY. NEVER  ATE. DIDN'T COME IN THE HOUSE UNTIL AFTER 10. (SIGH)
TODAY SHE STAYED OUT ALL DAY AND WOULDN'T COME NEAR ME, BUT SHE FINALLY SAT DOWN BY ME WHILE I WAS ON THE BENCH. THAT WAS ABOUT 8 O'CLOCK. BUT UP UNTIL THIS WEEK SHE'S BEEN FINE. I'M HOPING IT'S JUST A FLUKE.

TAKE CARE AND LOVE,

GRANDMA

From: Rachel
To:Grandma
Subject: Work Life

Dear Grandma,

We are finally settling in to our full-time work schedule. It's been a big adjustment for us all. It's the first time we are living in separate worlds during the day and having such limited time together in the evening. Hubby gets home from work around 7:15pm. By then, I'm in homework mode, usually with our oldest redhead, and we've already eaten. I miss our family dinner time.

I'm enjoying my job. My coworkers are nice, if a little foul-mouthed at times. I still get shocked by profanity. I think that's good! My prayer is that I would be a light in a dark place. There is only one other Christian and she's a little weird. Two of our doctors are leaving the clinic in December and we have not yet heard who will be coming in. Please pray for my job to continue, even if the clinic is closed. I'm a little nervous.

~Rachel

 

From: Grandma
Subject: Work Life
To: Rachel

YES, IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE A DIFFERENT LIFE. I DON'T LOOK AT FB VERY MUCH BUT I SAW THAT YOU DESCRIBED COOKING YOUR DINNER IN YOUR CROCK POT TO BE READY WHEN YOU GOT HOME. IT MADE ME WONDER IF YOU ARE STILL LIVING AT YOUR SISTER’S? IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

I WONDER WHY SOME PEOPLE PEPPER THEIR CONVERSATION WITH 4 LETTER WORDS. DON'T THEY HAVE A BIG ENOUGH VOCABULARY? DO THEY THINK IT'S EXPECTED OF ADULTS? (I'M AMAZED AT THE VULGAR THINGS I SEE ON FB!) I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY. JOBS ARE NEVER 100%. BUT YOU KNOW THAT. THINGS CHANGE SOMETIMES WITHOUT WARNING.

HUG FOR YOU,

GRANDMA

From: Rachel
To:Grandma
Subject: Kid Stuff

Dear, Grandma,

I've had to deal with the kids’ school for a few things, serious issues. My redhead daughter was accused of something she didn't do and was extremely upset. We had to deal with the situation of a teacher assuming she knew what happened when she didn't see what happened at all. Then my sweet youngest son scored extremely low on a math assessment in September. The school sent a letter home last week stating that he needed to be placed in an intervention class. I was shocked! I had to request that he would be retested, which they agreed to do, thankfully. He scored on a 4th grade level, a grade above his own right now. Whoo hoo! I was so relieved! But, I think of other parents who may not know their child's abilities so well and I wonder how many students are stuck in remedial classes they don't need? That assessment test in September was given during the second week of school when all the kids are new and rusty from summer. Who would do well?

~Rachel

From: Grandma
Subject: Kid Stuff
To: Rachel

I HOPE YOUR YOUNG SWEET SON IS SETTLING IN AND ISN'T SHAKEN UP BY THE SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE. THE SITUATION WITH MY REDHEAD GRANDDAUGHTER, I THINK, IS A PROBLEM OF THE TEACHER. (I THINK YOU KNOW I TAUGHT 3RD GRADE BRIEFLY.) A FATHER CAME TO COMPLAIN THAT SOMEONE HAD "STOLEN" (!) HIS DAUGHTER'S 5c PENCIL.
THE PRINCIPAL HEARD  HIM TALKING TO ME. SHE WALKED IN AND TOOK CHARGE. SHE SAID TO THE BOY WHO SAT BEHIND THE THE GIRL--STAND UP. GIVE BACK THAT PENCIL TO VERONICA!  (???) STEPHEN WAS SUCH A NICE BOY. I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. HIS MOTHER WITHDREW HIM FROM THE SCHOOL THAT DAY.  WHAT A LOSS. AND IT WAS THE PRINCIPAL'S FAULT.

HUGS TO YOU ALL,

GRANDMA

From: Rachel
To:Grandma
Subject: Thinking of You!

Dear, Grandma,

I think about you and pray for you daily. :) Sometimes a quick-witted, elegant older lady will come in and remind me of you. But not often. You are one-of-a-kind. Take care and I love you.

~Rachel

From: Grandma
Subject: Thinking of You!

To: Rachel

YOU MAKE ME SMILE. I WAS DEALING WITH A MAN WHO IS GOING TO DO SOME WORK FOR ME. HE'S AUSTRALIAN. HIS MOTHER IS 80 SO HE'S GOING TO TAKE A TRIP TO SEE HERE SOON. HE ASKED ME HOW OLD I AM--AND SAID I'M THE SHARPEST 86 YEAR OLD HE'S SEEN.   LOL  LOL

LOVE TO YOU, MY DEAR, AND TO YOUR WHOLE FAMILY.

I TREASURE REMEMBERING THAT YOU AND THE CHILDREN WERE HERE.

HOW WONDERFUL TO HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU UP CLOSE.

WELL, THAT’S IT. TIME TO SLEEP NO MATTER WHAT TIME THE CLOCK SAYS.

LOVE,

GRANDMA

About the author 

Rachel Medina lives in the Pacific Northwest where she works as a substitute teacher. She writes poetry and prose with pieces previously published with Down in the Dirt, The Magnolia Review, Literary Yard, and Scarlet Leaf. 

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