Sometimes, the timing means everything.
☆ August 24, 2015
Ten days ago, I was in California with my grandmother. If you’ve read this blog long enough, you know Svensto. And if you know Svensto, you love her. She left earth this weekend. She was 95. She said Sam, my grandfather, had been waiting long enough and she was ready. It’s still hard.
One little glimmer: she died in the early morning of August 22nd. My grandfather died in the early morning of August 22, seventeen years ago.
Her life was full of adventure and weirdness and art. She traveled through the Panama Canal three times. She boiled fish eyes for me to play with when I was little (they turn opaque, and bounce). She once knit everyone in the family (nearly 20 individuals) slippers that looked like converse high tops.
I’m reposting one of my favorite stories from her blog here. It takes place in NYC 1943 or 1944. My grandfather had just gone off to war.
He said: Send cigarettes.
Next morning I went to the drugstore I used when I lived in NYC before. I asked the druggist for a carton of Chesterfields. He said “where have you been? Don’t you know there is a shortage of cigarettes?” In Texas I guess we never worried about the shortage for S could get all he wanted at the Post PX. He said “I can’t sell you even a package of Chesterfields. But I have some…” and he mentioned a brand I had never heard of. I said thank you, but no thank you.
And so I laid plans on how to get them. There was a radio program called Thanks to the Yanks. I had heard it in Texas. The emcee asked “Do you want an easy, medium or difficult question?” And if you wanted a difficult one you could win 3000 Camels. So I went to the National Broadcasting Studios where some of my old chums worked and asked if they could get me a ticket for that American Broadcasting program and they said, Sure, no problem. Come back Monday afternoon and we will have it for you. I was there, got my ticket, walked over to Madison Ave and took the seat that was available. It was fairly far back in the audience. And I was not selected to try my hand at competing. But I learned something. All the people who were selected from the audience had something outstanding about their person, either the lady with the red hair, or the gentleman with the mustache. So I knew what to do.
I had a navy blue hat as big as an average garbage can lid. And I knew I had to sit in either the second or third row. I went back to NBC and they said Yes they would get a ticket again. I said I would like to pick it up on Sunday so I could get a front row seat. Monday came around again and I was early and I sat in the third row. I was the first person selected. When I got backstage I had a minor problem. “Was my husband in the Army, Navy or the Marines?” I told them Army. “You know you can’t send anything to an army person unless it is requested?” Yes, I knew that. So I will send the cigarettes to W who was still in Texas. And then I will ask him to keep half of them and mail the other half to me and then I will fake a request.
And so the program started. “Do you want an easy, a medium or a difficult question?” I said “Difficult.” Now everyone, remember I looked like a dumb blonde. People applauded when I dared say that. So the question was “There are three plays on Broadway. One is A Touch of Venus, which comes from Greek Mythology, the second is ??????? which comes from Shakespeare and the third is The Voice of the Turtle. Were does that phrase come from?” My answer: The Bible. Thunderous applause. The Emcee was obviously surprised. “How did you know that?”
“My husband read the Gideon Bible to me on our Honeymoon.”
The applause and laughter increased beyond thunderous.
. . .
Click here to visit SVENSTO. I’m so glad so many of her stories, in her own words, are here forever. {I highly suggest reading her blog in chronological order, from first post forward, which you can do via the archive section in her sidebar. Click “2008”, then each month: July, August, etc. and continue moving forward in that manner.}
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79 Responses to “Sometimes, the timing means everything.”
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August 24th, 2015 @ 8:06 am
Dearest Shreve, Sending my sincere sympathy for your loss in the physical of you grandmother, but so very happy that you have such wonderful memories of your times with her.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:07 am
I left off ~ With heart hugs and lots of love!!
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:14 am
I loved her blog….I loved her mind…you will miss her uniqueness I am sure! I’m sorry . .Sherve …… she had a wonderful full life! What else can a person ask fir while here ! to live a full life!! Marlene in Cambria
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:17 am
Such a life.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:22 am
I’m so sorry you lost someone so wonderful, but how lovely to have her own words as remembrance. And 17 years is indeed a long time to wait. *hugs*
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:23 am
I’m so sorry for your loss. My grandmothers influenced my life more than I knew, until they were gone and we shared stories at their celebrations of life. I’m glad you were able to spend time with her.
Coincidentally, my husband’s paternal grandparents were married August 22, as were we, 34 years ago. There’s some magic in 8/22.
Keeping good thoughts for you at this time.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:25 am
Aw Shreve, I’m so sorry. It’s lovely that you were able to see her but I know it still hurts. Thinking of you with love and light as you remember the incredible life she lived.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:31 am
I’m less than half her age, but she is my favorite blogger. Thank you for sharing her with us. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:43 am
trying not to cry at my desk over a woman i never had the pleasure of meeting. failing.
my deepest sympathies to you and your family, to all who had the pleasure of spending time with such a wonderful woman. sending love to you.
i enjoyed getting to know svensto through her blog posts. thank you for encouraging her to share some of her remarkable life with the internet.
rest in peace, gentle and strong lady.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:45 am
Wonderful life story. As long as you have that she will remain alive for you and now in the minds of others who, like myself, will read her blog. Sorry for your loss Shreve.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:46 am
Oh Shreve, I am so very sorry to read this. I know she was ready, but alas, we are never ready are we? I love that her stories are preserved on the blog. I did read all of her posts one week when I was sick and at home. She was so witty and enchanting.
Hugs and sympathies to you and your family.
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:48 am
I think you got your strengh from her, she was a no nonsense Lady, but at the same time a great poet,her stories were very real and hard to read as they were at time painful.She questioned at time why we were not commenting, and it was because we were all busy crying and digesting her pain…. It reminded me of the stories my Grandma would tell, about life back then, harsh and at time bleek, but they all got trough it. I am happy she lived to see you doing cool things with your life. I will miss her writings .
We will all see her again in the great primordial soup !
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:49 am
I lost my Granny last year, 2 weeks before she turned 90. So hard, but so thankful for the long, beautiful life. My heart goes out to you & your family.
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:06 am
What an amazing woman! I will be going back and reading her words from the beginning as that little glimpse you provided has me intrigued. I’m so sorry for your loss but now she is with her love and you have the best guardian angel ever.
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:40 am
I am so sorry you have lost your gramma, she was amazing! and i loved reading her blog and will miss her wonderful writings. Her stories of growing up and living in America are truly memorable and i am so glad she wrote about them! My mother is 97 so i always hope i can get her to do the same, (she tediously jots them by hand) but what a blessing your gramma used a blog!
My favorites are her stories of when she was little, the kitten that lost its tail and the trek to bring home lingonberries and the recent story about drawing the lady whose eyes were familiar…my favorite.
You look like her! That’s special too!!
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:42 am
I loved Svensto and her blog! So sorry for your loss, Shreve. What a wonderful woman she was!
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:49 am
I am so sorry for your loss, what an amazing woman! I am so happy you have her stories to treasure.
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:52 am
Oh Shreve, I am so sorry. I have read your grandmother’s blog occasionally and always marveled at her fascinating life and demeanor. How lucky you have been to have such a wonderful strong woman and role model in your life! May her words comfort you and fill your heart and spirit for many years to come.
August 24th, 2015 @ 10:54 am
Oh, Shreve, I’m so sorry you’ve lost this wonderful woman! May your memories of her sustain you as you grieve and bring you joy as you recover. And thank you so much for sharing her with us.
Hugs and all blessings,
Theresa
August 24th, 2015 @ 11:14 am
I am very sorry to read this. I visited her blog often, often just to “check on her”, and commented often (under different name) and so very enjoyed reading her recollections! What a woman! You can be proud to be her granddaughter and to have – apparently – gotten quite a bit of “pluck” from her. :) :)
Many condolences and may you always remember!
August 24th, 2015 @ 11:16 am
my condolences for your loss. i’ve been a fan of your grandmother’s since her first post.
August 24th, 2015 @ 11:36 am
I’m so sorry for your loss. I loved reading your Grandma’s blog…she seemed like quite a lady.
August 24th, 2015 @ 11:44 am
Condoléances. =(
August 24th, 2015 @ 12:38 pm
Oh Shreve, you’re right. I did love Svensto. She was the grandmother/aunt/mentor I wished I’d had. We are so fortunate that she gave us her stories through her blog and through you. Namasté
August 24th, 2015 @ 1:33 pm
What a special gift that you had time with your grandmother so recently. While it doesn’t make her passing any easier on your heart, it at least gives you those memories, and whatever closure you and she were able to forge.
As someone else noted above – you now have another guardian angel.
My sympathies for your loss.
August 24th, 2015 @ 2:28 pm
Shreve I am so sorry to hear of your grandmother’s passing. It sounds like she was a remarkable women. I am very glad you got to spend time with her so recently. I am definitely going to read her blog from the beginning — I am very excited to do so. Bless. <3
August 24th, 2015 @ 2:34 pm
Sorry for your loss, grateful for what she leaves behind. You, not least of all.
August 24th, 2015 @ 3:42 pm
My condolences and how fortunate you have her stories to cherish along with your memories!
August 24th, 2015 @ 3:58 pm
Shreve I am so sorry for your loss. As others have said she had a long beautiful and interesting life. And now she gets to reunite with her love! What more could one ask for. My sympathies to you. Hugs Penny
August 24th, 2015 @ 4:35 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss. I just started reading Svensto’s blog and I love it. You should publish these in a book.
August 24th, 2015 @ 5:40 pm
Oh Shreve, I am sorry that she had to go, but yet glad that you were there. Thank you so much for posting her story – my gosh, now we all know where your feisty personality comes from ! It’s wonderful that you have such a connection to her.
August 24th, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss, yet so thankful you encouraged your grandmother to blog, which she evidently did so beautifully. I’ve only just begun, but I certainly look forward to continuing to consume her blog in its entirety! Eternity is written in our hearts, so this earthly separation, even though we know it will inevitably happen, is akin to an amputation—so unreal and unnatural and painful and jarring—yet the memories live on in our hearts and our minds and our dreams. Dream on, Shreve; perhaps you’ll dream up a book!
August 24th, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
My deepest condolences, Shreve, on the loss of your beloved grandmother. What a wonderful long life she had. Hugs.
August 24th, 2015 @ 7:37 pm
Shreve, now we know where you got your adventurous nature. My condolences to you and your family – may time ease your sorrow. I know you made her proud.
August 24th, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
i am so sorry to hear about your grandmother, shreve. i always enjoyed reading her stories. please know you are in my thoughts. xo
August 24th, 2015 @ 8:06 pm
Shreve, I loved reading Svento’s blog. I began reading after you mentioned she’s started writing it. Her stories and her sense of humor and her love for her family were wonderful to witness. My deepest condolences to you and your family on her passing. A life well lived.
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:11 pm
oh, i’m so sorry. she sounds like a wonderful woman – i look forward to reading her blog. my thoughts are with you
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:12 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.
I loved her stories.
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:17 pm
She’s beautiful. So sorry for your loss. And her words and love will be with you forever.
August 24th, 2015 @ 9:32 pm
So sorry for your loss. What an amazing woman.
August 24th, 2015 @ 10:15 pm
She started her blog when she was 87?
She must have been quite a lady and I understand how you miss her so terribly. My condolences on your loss. How lucky you are to have such a person in your life.
So, how high did those fish eyeballs bounce?
August 24th, 2015 @ 11:58 pm
I am sorry to hear of your loss. My Grandmother raised me and her loss was great. I remember her stories and cherish them. I love that your Grandmother was able to record her own stories. Thank you for sharing.
August 25th, 2015 @ 12:02 am
I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved grandmother, Shreve. And I’m so grateful that you introduced her to us via her blog. I’m glad that I had a chance to read her stories.
August 25th, 2015 @ 12:30 am
My deep felt condolences, Shreve. I read Svensto’s stories and truly loved them! What treasures, and what a treasure she was as your grandmother.
August 25th, 2015 @ 7:01 am
Peace and love to you dear Shreve. I loved her blog and as you put it, the weirdness of some of her stories. She seemed like a truly fascinating individual. I am glad you spent time with her before she left the earth. My heart goes out to you.
August 25th, 2015 @ 7:33 am
I’m so sorry, Shreve.
I will miss Svensto.
What an amazing life she had. Thank you for sharing her with us.
August 25th, 2015 @ 8:53 am
It’s been such a joy reading her stories and thoughts through the years…I hope you find great comfort in all your amazing memories with her!
August 25th, 2015 @ 9:28 am
I am so very sorry about this great loss in your life.
August 25th, 2015 @ 10:50 am
Shreve, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your grandmother. So glad you got to see her recently. Thank you for sharing her with the world. She will be remembered. Take care of yourself!
August 25th, 2015 @ 12:10 pm
Shreve, I’m so sorry for your loss. She seems like such a wonderful woman. I’m glad that you have pointed us toward her blog so we can read her story and share in some of her memories.
August 25th, 2015 @ 1:31 pm
So sorry for your loss. I found her blog through yours and so enjoyed reading it. It was like sitting down for a chat with a much-loved friend. Thank you for getting her started and sharing her blog with us!
August 25th, 2015 @ 2:17 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss. And I’m glad that you were able to visit with her on your trip. It’s hard losing someone, but she had a good life and was ready to go. That helps.
August 25th, 2015 @ 3:04 pm
Shreve ~ I’m so glad that you got to spend some time with your grandmother before she passed. I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s wonderful that you have her written words to re-read forever. Hold her always in your heart. Sending love from California ~ Melissa
August 25th, 2015 @ 3:44 pm
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. She sounds like a truly amazing woman, and she lived such an interesting life.
August 25th, 2015 @ 4:33 pm
I followed Svensto since her first post. What an amazing woman – it’s clear where you get your drive and your originality from. So sorry for your loss.
August 25th, 2015 @ 6:39 pm
Weird! I was on a tour bus in Hawaii a couple of hours ago and dont know why but thought of your grandmother and hoped she might have posted something on her blog. Now, back at the hotel I read yours and find she is no longer with us. I am so sorry.
xx
August 25th, 2015 @ 7:56 pm
I am so sorry for your loss of your grandmother. She is a beautiful and brilliant woman.
August 25th, 2015 @ 9:49 pm
Sending you love and light — may your grandmother’s journey be swift and end with all her beloveds. What a treasure she left you (and all of us) with her blog!
August 26th, 2015 @ 1:50 am
Dear Shreve ! As a Swede I feel proud of Your grandmother and her lifehistory. Brave, intelligent and a creative artist. Love and consolation to You and all related.
/ Bo
August 26th, 2015 @ 3:33 am
I read both your blogs every day,im in England a very long way from you love them both,im 66 and my mother who is 96 is still alive lost my father a few years back my mother like your grandmother got married in the war there was only five days age differnce between them they were always together till the day he died we wont see there like again,very sorry for your loss i know how it hurts.
August 26th, 2015 @ 9:22 am
I am so sorry for your loss Shreve, but she was certainly blessed with a wonderful long life. And what an interesting coincidence that both she and your grandfather left on the same day, albeit many years apart.
My thoughts are with you.
August 26th, 2015 @ 11:37 am
Adding my condolences. Your grandmother’s stories were wonderful, and you both deserve our gratitude for sharing them with us. So sorry for your loss.
August 27th, 2015 @ 12:02 am
All her stories show an amazing lady who lived her life with vim, vigor and joy. So glad you were able to visit her and hear of her readiness to be back with Sam. Yes, I am sorry for your loss, but happier for all you gained in being loved by her. Adventure, weirdness and art, check, check, and check. May you remember her in artful joy during your next weird adventure.
August 27th, 2015 @ 2:53 pm
So sorry to hear of this. I’ve followed her blog even when it was silent for months and I know the Redwoods well where her final home was. She really had a joy for live and I bet she was a great lady.
August 27th, 2015 @ 8:24 pm
She was wonderful. I see where you get “it.” Very sorry, Shreve. XO
August 27th, 2015 @ 10:32 pm
My heart hurts for you, but not for her. She LIVED every day of her life. Isn’t that the most that any of us could wish for?
I send you a virtual hug because she has taken a piece of your heart with her.
May you continue to feel her presence in your life, even if her physical presence is absent.
You are truly blessed to have had her in your life all these years.
August 29th, 2015 @ 8:10 am
A couple months ago I was searching for her blog but couldn’t find it. I think I had it bookmarked on the laptop that went south this year. Now I have it again. Loving her stories again. Her stories and others from Redwoods help me deal with the inevitability of aging, scary to me.
August 29th, 2015 @ 8:42 am
Thanks for sharing!
August 29th, 2015 @ 12:34 pm
I’m so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. My grandmothers were extremely important in my life. One of them lived to 101… and it was still too soon to lose her. It’s wonderful that your grandmother left the exquisite legacy of her poignant and fascinating stories. xo
August 29th, 2015 @ 3:22 pm
Lovely, amazing person. Thanks so much for letting us in on her blog!
August 30th, 2015 @ 4:25 pm
Your grandmother’s blog posts brought me to tears. What a sweet woman – so funny, so warm – her last posts are so poignant. I am deeply moved by her and by your deep love and affection for her. Thank you both for sharing. Sincere condolences, Shreve – I hope you’re going to build a nice shrine to her somewhere in your beautiful place.
September 1st, 2015 @ 1:54 pm
Shreve, I’m so sorry for your loss…grandmothers are magical creatures. Your blog was the very first one that I ever read (after I read the USA Today piece about you and Charlie) and from your blog, I clicked over to Svensto. I was a latecomer to the idea of ‘online diaries’ and your grandmother’s blog was an inspiration to me. Your story and life, on your own terms…you inherited your grandmother’s moxie and she’ll be with you forever. ::hugs::
September 1st, 2015 @ 11:27 pm
I’m so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. She did seem to be a unique and amazing woman. Like you! My condolences to you and your family.
September 3rd, 2015 @ 5:49 am
I can’t wait to get started on her blog. You were very lucky to have her it seems. I really love listening to “mature” people tell of earlier days. So cool that you got her to do the blog. I had always wanted to do a video interview of my Grandma but procrastinated until it was too late. :(
September 4th, 2015 @ 9:11 pm
Oh, how I loved reading her stories! She seemed like a very special lady. Wishing you and your family peace and healing.
September 8th, 2015 @ 11:28 pm
My brother died a week ago, and we are bereft of his care and comfort.
His third wife is suing me for the entire farm, although I am disabled.
Maybe I can be a city girl, but I love the baby deer so much.
I hate to be a sell-out, but it might be financially necessary. I don’t know if I’ll survive. Tough times.
September 12th, 2015 @ 12:13 pm
Just visited your grandmother’s blog and her writing is mesmerizing. Thanks for sharing this.
September 14th, 2015 @ 10:21 pm
Condolences for the loss of someone so special. My grandma left me in 2001 and she’s still with me every day.
October 3rd, 2015 @ 12:36 pm
So sorry to hear of the loss of your dear Grandma.
I lost my beloved mother in the early morning of August 22, 2014. I can’t believe its been a year already, and yet sometimes it feels like a lifetime since I’ve heard her voice.
I feel your pain. :(