Susan Grout

I have such fond memories of my Grandmother. Grandma Florence was a funny, controversial and rather well-padded figure who seriously attempted to instruct me in some of the home arts. 

One time Grandma was trying to show me how to put a zipper in a dress while she was continually talking.  With enthusiasm, she grabbed my rather shabby attempt at making an A line dress. All the while, she was trying to convince me that it was easy to install a zipper. Zippp! with the sewing machine as I watched with a degree of intimidation.

She stopped, cut the thread, whipped out the final product with a voila! Then she held her nose and started laughing uproariously. Grandma put the zipper in the dress not only upside down, but also backwards. We both laughed. That was the best lesson I ever had on not taking your mistakes so seriously.

Grandma Florence would send letters when I was away at college. I looked forward to her touching, almost apologetic letters and her efforts to encourage and connect with me. In many letters she’d include the contents of her coin purse and say, "Get yourself a chocolate soda!"  This was her idea of the biggest treat. My roommates and I would laugh, getting a big charge out of Grandma. 

I think of her often with laughter and miss her to this day. Now I know this is how I'd like to be remembered: with a wistful chuckle and a smile.