Grandma

A tribute to my beloved maternal grandmother who passed away 10 years ago, this day.

Lenny P.
Nurse, Feminist, beloved Mother & Grandmother
Feb 9, 1924 - June 21, 1998

A woman with gumption, who could see right through anyone and was not afraid to tell you like it was. Word is that this is where Ms Cute Pants gets her sassiness from.

Loved hard boiled eggs and was often heard saying that she'd come back from the dead just to eat one.

An ambitious woman, she was the first woman in her family to go out and work.

Caught my Grandfather's eye one morning as she was on her way to work. They were married shortly after in 1945.

A nurse who moved to Dubai in the mid 70's to work as an expat and was often sent into interior areas due to her Nursing skills. (Pictured here with a Lebanese baby she helped deliver back in the day).

Had the best bargaining/haggling skills you'd have ever seen. Ms Cute Pants has seen and learned.

Loved her grandchildren dearly and was not afraid to show it.

Was an occasional smoker and so in an effort to mimic her, as kids, my brother & I would buy candied cigarettes, pop 'em in our mouths and pretend to smoke, saying: "Grandma, look we're smoking too." It is perhaps for this reason that she eventually stopped smoking (at least I'd like to think it was).

An absolute no nonsense woman and a firm believer in the adage: Spare the rod, spoil the child.

Would watch many Hindi movies (each a standard 3 hours long), only to proclaim at the end of each one: ah bundle, no? Which basically translated into: 'What a load of crap!' This never varied, even if it was a movie she liked.

Had the funniest phrases ready to use at a moment's notice which I'd not dare repeat here. My mother would disown me. (But if you're really interested, email me).

The best mother-in-law there ever was (and we all know how rare that is).

Was always fun to hang around with.

Suffered a stroke while in her 60's but came back with a bang and better than ever, not surprising given the kind of woman she was.

I dedicate this song to her. She'd blast it on the boom box and sing it to me when I was a wee toddler, complete with hand motions always telling me: 'This is our song'.
It sure is Grandma, which is why I have it on my playlist & think of you every time I hear it.

UPDATE:
A note from my Godmother:
That was a very beautiful tribute indeed to your grandmother. for your list i would like to add one more string of roses by telling you what a generous heart your grandma had. your mom who was (and is) my friend would tell her mom that I never liked the breakfast served in the convent, and I would go to school on an empty stomach. so your grandma would send additional toast cookies with butter for your mom to share it with me. your mom has inherited this noble quality. i do not know if your mom remembers it, BUT I DO. i never forget the kindness of people. we may not write often but your mom is always in my prayers.