Wednesday Word—Gramma

I’d like to pay tribute to my Gramma as today would have been her 100th birthday if she was still with us. Don’t ax me how TW is older than Gramma but I guess it happens. MOL! Sadly, Gramma left us early in 2000, during an ice storm.

Gramma grew up on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and East New York in Brooklyn, two of NYC’s toughest and poorest neighborhoods, to Italian immigrant parents. Her father committed suicide when she was quite young and the family struggled to make ends meet.

While she never had a woofie or cat as a pet, her parents at one point brought home a rabbit. Gramma and her five brothers and sisters loved the rabbit and subsequently refused to eat the rabbit stew that was set on the dinner table.

Gramma with Faith.

You’d never know Gramma never had a pet cos she loved Faith so much when Faith came into her life and home. TW's family knew nothing at that time about caring for a kitten but adopted Faith when she was barely weaned from a neighbor. They listened to all their friends about kitten care which led to the amputation of Faith’s paws and claws. Gramma was livid when Faith got home from the vet jail, vowing to never have another cat declawed.

I’m gonna skip over Chizzy cos he was a lot like me. Gramma had to carry around a roll of wrapping paper to pry him off her legs as he’d attack for no reason.

After Chizzy’s long sickness, Gramma said "no more cats" but the peeps had other ideas. They knew she needed companionship and she’d never turn a cat away so they brought home Autumn from the shelter. Gramma was in her 70s and still in good health but CAP refused to adopt Autumn out to a senior until they met Gramma.

Gramma with Autumn.

Autumn and Gramma became inseparable. They both truly loved each other till death do them part. About seven years after adopting Autumn, Gramma became ill with the evil C. Autumn never left her side. Those last days, Autumn slept on the pillow near Gramma’s head. One night TW assured Gramma that she could let go cos they were going to take Autumn and give her a good home and lots of love. Shortly after TW left for the night, she received a call from Gramma’s nurse. She was finally at peace, knowing that Autumn would be taken care of. As for Autumn, the nurse says she cried out loudly twice when Gramma passed. She was still laying on the pillow by Gramma’s head when they came for the body. Pop had to gently lift her up.

We all miss you, Gramma but we’re glad you’re together with Gramps, Faith and Autumn. Happy 100th birthday.

Let me apologize for the quality of the photos. Our scanner isn’t the best and neither are the original photos. Their family never took a lot of photos and these are the only ones we have of Gramma with her cats, hence the Easter napkin and Christmas decorations.