I can just hear my Grandma Cassidy bursting forth with that staccato laugh of hers, and then chiding me for using the word “gospel” in the title of this post.

But Grandma, it’s okay. I didn’t capitalize “gospel,” so I don’t need to go to confession over this. We’re good.

My younger brother was crazy about Grandma, too. Six years younger than me, Bill had a few extra years living close to her once Mom and Dad moved back to Connecticut from Indiana in 1978.

During his sophomore year at New York’s Skidmore College, Bill wrote this paper; it was the spring of 1985. (Trigger warning: Please remember, Grandma was born in 1903 and grew up more than a century ago. An immensely strong woman, Grandma nonetheless was not what you’d call a modern-day feminist.)

An Interview with my Grandmother

The individual I chose to interview happens to be a particularly special person in my life, someone whose wisdom and wit I have called on many times for guidance.

This individual is my grandmother. Grandma Cassidy has always been a strong force in my life, and it is just now that I am beginning to realize how important her influence has been.

As a child, my grandmother remembers contracting measles and mumps. She also recalls playing childhood games such as “barter,” where you trade goods with a friends in exchange for other goods.

A strong love for both parents was expressed by her, saying they never had an argument in 60 years of marriage. Her admiration for her father borders on worship. He was a kind man who was soft-spoken and would never “say boo” to her.

Growing up in a family with nine children is something most never hear of today.

My grandmother was brought up in a very close-knit family, with a high regard for religion and hard, honest work. Her father owned several businesses and was well respected as a businessman. The most special time for my grandmother growing up were times spent with the family, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. These were times that the family would be together and share in love.

When it was time for my grandmother to enter grammar school, she did not cry. In the eighth grade, she was ranked fourth in her class. High school, she found, did not interest her, but she feels that it was very important to her education. After high school, my grandmother took her first job in an office. She enjoyed it well enough, only to be laid off because of reasons not up to her.

Throughout her adolescence, my grandmother dated.

She was never boy-crazy, but saw herself as very independent. It was the job of the boy to do the calling. When she met my grandfather, she was most impressed with his gentle manner and his politeness. However, she did not expect to marry a redhead. She loved him very much and gave him three children. As a mother, she never had any difficulties or unsure moments bringing up the children and she never became upset with them.

My grandmother sites that sex is too free today. She feels that sex among the young is a sad thing and that too many girls are forward. Marriages, according to my grandmother, are falling apart today because people are expecting too much and are not willing to work. Her marriage worked because there was love and understanding under roof. Marriages are better off without cursing and drinking, although if one can handle their liquor they should not be discredited for drinking.

On the subject of motherhood, my grandmother feels that women should not work if they have children. No one else should bring up the children but the mother; women can go back to work when the children have grown up and gone. A woman’s place is in the home, because children need their mother at home. One point that my grandmother feels very strongly about is that children should not be given keys to the house to let themselves in because no one is at home. She feels that this would endanger their well being, physically as well as morally.

Women have distinct roles from men, according to Grandma.

A woman should not go to work if it is only to obtain material goods and a woman should not be given a job over to a man if he has a family and is as well qualified as she. Women are in general too pushy and are losing the qualities that make them the fairer sex. Men should be allowed to have an exclusive club where women are not allowed, because men need time to be with men alone.

School is only one way of acquiring an education. Traveling is a great way to broaden your horizons, my grandmother feels. Getting out and experiencing life is the best education one could hope for. It is also important to keep up with the news to be well educated. Reading newspapers is an important part of keeping on top of things.

My grandmother feels that there is too much afoot in this country

… and that things need to be watched more closely. She cannot understand why people are so concerned with getting ahead even though it means stepping on others along the way. To solve world hunger, my grandmother wishes she had millions of dollars so she could hop on a boat and give the money to the presidents of the countries personally.

When asked if she had one thing in her life to do over, she replied she wished she had been more affectionate with her husband. But I already know that no two people in this world loved each other more.

My grandmother had a typical childhood for the period she grew up in. She was a happy child, largely because of the close family structure she was exposed to. Normal traumatic childhood experiences (i.e., going to school) were minimized because she gained strength from her family. Her adolescence consisted of regular activities: high school, her first job, dating, etc.

She was very much in control of her life at this time, acting very independently. My grandmother married the man she loved and made a wonderful home for them, full of love and caring. They brought three children into the world (two girls, one boy), all of whom are well educated and successful. She has ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

This to my grandmother, is the meaning of life. To have a loving family that is always there to love and support is the most important element in life to her.

And I would say I have to agree.

To receive an email alert for each new blog post, subscribe here: