When I was a little girl, we went up to Hastings, Nebraska,
to visit my grandmother twice a year. What I remember more than anything about
those trips was reading the same book every night I spent in Grandma Ruth’s
house: Pippi Longstocking.
I was the type of child who followed the rules and made sure
others followed the rules, too, so I always was so fascinated by Pippi, a girl
who had no rules to follow. I mean, she was sort of this sad, ramshackle
character who didn’t know she was sad or ramshackle at all. She lived her life
in the realm of magic (and superhuman strength) and was ornery and brave when
she should’ve been lonely and scared.
There were other books at Grandma’s house, of course. But I
was always drawn to the girl who lived in Villa Villekula. So much so, I’m
pretty sure I read that book on every single trip to Hastings, even into
college.
Last week, Grandma Ruth passed away at the age of 94. She’d
moved to Kansas a few years ago and I was lucky enough not to have to drive six
hours to see her over the past few years. And though her copy of Pippi Longstocking seems to have
disappeared when she sold her house years ago, I decided right away that I’d
buy my own version to enjoy with my kids in her memory.
Do you have certain books you associate with loved ones?
My grandparents had wonderful old books which I read many of. My grandfather was fond of westerns and I associate several authors with my memories of him.
ReplyDeleteThink about the subversive nature of your grandmother, filling you with Pipi Lonstocking! I love it and am sorry for your recent loss of her company.
ReplyDeleteWe had a stuffed rabbit that lived at my grandparents, plus a very simple game that involved marbles rolling down a series of chutes until they hit a bell. It had been my father's and we called it down, down, down, down, ding. My daughter now owns it.
When I came down with the mumps at my grandparents I was quarantined there because my father had not had the disease. My grandmother read the entirety of James Fenimore Cooper's The Spy to me. I still have that physical book (printed in 1884) in my library.
~ Jim
Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses. My mother read it as a child, and I read it, too. I wish my daughter had taken to it, but she didn't.
ReplyDeleteI've looked for replacements, but my version has artwork depicting the Victorian era. The newer version's illustrations aren't the same or as good. I keep my ragged copy on my bookcase. It possesses my four-year-old signature on the front cover.
The first poem, "To Any Reader," I had printed in the bulletin for my mother's memorial service after she died. It was fitting.
ReplyDeleteOn my grandmother's shelf of books was one called Beautiful Joe, a tearjerker book about a dog by Marshall Saunders, publishing date 1903. I read and loved that book and when in later years I found a copy of it in a used book store I bought my own copy of it. I have many horse books that I got for Christmas from my parents; The Red Pony, My Friend Flicka and Thunderhead that I still have.
Those of us who were lucky enough to have parents and/or grandparents who loved books are lucky. I'm sorry for your loss, but the memories she gave you will keep her close to you.
I have Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins books that have been passed down from mother's side of the family. I think the oldest book that I own was published in 1922. They remind me of my mother who loved to read mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI just gave my husband a copy of Alexander and the Magical Mouse, which one of my daughters asked him to read almost every night he was home.
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable book was Snow Treasure. Reading that book, for a school assignment, was the first time I realized reading could be fun!
My mother saved some books her aunt had given her, The Five Little Peppers, and was very disappointed when none of us took to them. However, my older daughter loved them, so my mother felt vindicated.
As a child, this daughter had eclectic reading tastes. One summer in junior high (that dates me, doesn't it?) she set out to read the Iliad and the Odyssey, and the entire works of Louis L'Amour. She got tired to the L'Amour books fairly quickly--said it was the same character, over and over, with different names--and switched to Nancy Drew.
So sorry for your loss, Sarah. It will be wonderful when you share Pippi with your little ones - your grandmother will be reading over your shoulder.
ReplyDeleteMy older daughter loved Pippi! Did you watch the movies? The infernal theme song will stay with you forever. She, too, was a rule follower - funny how you both were so attracted to this story of the wild child.
I have my dad's dictionary (a gift from his mom), but my mom donated my beloved Nancy Drews to a school library when I was away at college (I'm still in therapy ;) A dear friend gave me her Nancy Drews for my girls since she had three boys. This dear heart has passed away, so I'm holding on to them for her grandchildren - hopefully a grand girl.
I was in awe of Pippi, too, Sarah. (Actually, I still am!) What a wonderful way to honor your grandmother. I enjoyed reading others' touching comments, too. It's a gift to be reminded of the books and magazines my grandmother gave me over the years. I loved them as a child, but I can appreciate them in new ways now.
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