Sometimes, we may think that we had a bad life, but whenever a good memory comes to mind, we would realize our lives have not been so bad after all!...
Grandma was not a chain smoker, yet she did smoke a lot. I remember she had this cigarettes-making machine which she allowed me to play with when I was a little girl.
Every day after school, I would rush to Grandma's room, eat cookies, and do my homework. When finished, I would play with her cigarettes-making machine. It was not a big machine so I could easily handle it, even with my tiny hands.
The shells of the cigarettes were already made, some with a filter on top, and some without. All I needed to do was to take a bunch of tobacco, place it in the slot where it was meant to be in the machine and close the top. Then, I would put the cigarette shell on the slot and slide the top over, and a cigarette would be made. It was so much fun making cigarettes for Grandma, and for that, Grandma loved me so much!
Grandma was my protector and rescuer. I can recall an incident from my childhood when Grandma came to my aid when I was being scolded by my mother for a bad report card I had taken home. Afraid that I would get a beating, I acted as though I was about to faint, which was the truth. I felt that I was about to pass out and I fell to the floor. Grandma came to my rescue and told my mother not to scold me so harshly to the point of me fainting. Mommy left me alone after that incident.
I must have been a weak girl, and I was as skinny as a toothpick. My nickname was "Chicken Legs." Everyone thought I was not a clever girl because of the lack of nutrition. So, whenever my Grandpa made some good stuff for Grandma, like brewing Ginseng, and sometimes, some healthy food with herbs, Grandma would always share the good food with me. She said I was weak and in need of nutrition too.
I loved my Grandma very much, and I often reminisce about our times spent together, having fun - like today, when I suddenly remembered our old cigarettes-making machine - the one that brought us so much joy.
Copyright (c) Sandie May Joyce
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Oh, this is such a wonderful story. I loved it. My husband had a cigarette making device many years ago and I loved using it just for fun, even though I didn't smoke. This is such a funny story, but the kind of humor that warms the heart and is filled with so much love. Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us.
Such a great memory. Seems the best things in life are free... hugs, smiles, friends, kisses, family, sleep, love, laughter, and good memories. Enjoyed this Sandie. Thanks... rlc
Beautiful memory of your grandmother! I'm glad she was your protector when you were a young child. You always write and capture your memories so well! Thank you for tagging me with your beautiful work!
Thank you so much, everyone, for the beautiful reviews you have given to this memoir!!! It means so much to me and I'm sure my Grandma is happy that I would remember this cigarette-making machine. I had one other toy which I carried with me all the time - a stuffed pink bunny rabbit. These two were my toys in my childhood. I did not really care too much for toys though in those days. The streets were much safer in those days, and my siblings and I were pretty much playing outdoors most of the time. Hah!!! I remember our bullying neighbour too. He is a bigger boy, older than most of us anyway. He and his younger brother would always walk around as though they owned that street. Whatever we had to play with they had to have their hands on it to try it. We often played tricks on them and they hated us. We outnumbered him always. There were many of us, and he, only with his younger brother. I will write about this big bully later.
Unfortunately, I only had this dear Grandma (my Dad's mom) for about 8 years. She passed away when I was 12, and I only came back to live with her and Grandpa after my other Grandpa (my Mom's dad)had died. I lived with my Mom's parents from 1 'til about I was 6-1/2 years old.
I seem to have seen a cigarette making machine, but I can't remember what it looked like. And it was quite common, back in those days, for women to, not only smoke, but be quite comfortable with it. A lot of us were skinny. I think that was more common. And I do recall that grandmothers were famous for trying to, "fatten us up." ;-)
Hopefully your childhood was all good like you have shown us, here.
Wow....the part of being beaten made me weep..no child should be physically touched other then hugs. I especially thank-you for bravely sharing that part of your story as art is passion and your passion with quiet your reserve came through! Share more of your deep passion please!!
Good morning, Sandi: A "cigarette making machine", amazing what entertained us as young children.
How wonderful to have such loving memories of grandparents.
Though we did seem my mother's parents often as they lived but four or five blocks from us, I do not remember any great times other than lovely family gatherings. I do know that of all of my grandparents I loved my mother's father best, yet the only ting I remember him doing with me was moving his false teeth back and forth within his mouth causing me to laugh each time he did it.
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