Tuesday, 09/13/2005 Entry: "Ketchup 6/20/2004 - More about Saturday 12th"

Granma was something else. She ran her own hat shop in the 1920's in Strasbourg France. The bulk of Mom's side is from that area: Alsace Lorraine. She and Mom have referred to it as either "The Side of France," which makes sense as Strasbourg borders the Rhine, or "The South of France," for reasons I can't figure. I just couldn't tell which they were saying. I was surprised to see that Granma's birth certificate had her born in Strasbourg, Germany.

Anyway, many years later, as one would expect from such a potentially disputed region, the Nazis came. Granma by then was a widow with two kids. Traversing the Alsatian countryside with the kids and a sick mother, a widow steered them clear of German Shepherds and soldiers and kept them fed.

Most of the family went back to Strasbourg once the war ended. But Granma's brother was already in the U.S. (he came during the 1920's) and sponsored them to come on over. I've always known her to be a rather pompous woman, but she was more than entitled.

When she died about six years ago, it affected me more than I expected. I had been more the magick practitioner at the time and for one year - until her unveiling - I could not visualize colors during my relaxation exercises.

So on Sunday the 13th, Dad indulged me by taking us to Granma's favorite jernt, the Flagship restaurant in Jamaica. Its my belief to be in a place the departed one enjoyed and reminisce. Between Mom's predictably childish complaints, Dad told me the story of how he met them in the Catskills back in the 50's. It was a nice time considering.