Great writing as always Lauren. I love how deep you went into your memory archives and how it's always so heartwarming to look back on life and find the shiny good bits....Your nan hasn't aged a day...tell her to keep doing what she's doing! ;) Lovely collection of words and a great way to keep all these good times safe and sacred for years to come.... Love you driving the buggy with your poppy...too funny haha :) Brilliant newsletter as always x #whatsforyouwontpassyou
Lovely memories, I am so glad they are still with you, and your friend was right, it does suit you being there, you look so peaceful. Good luck with the exam, I will have all my fingers and toes crossed for you. I will be walking funny and knitting will be tricky, but you are worth it xxx
Thank you so much for sharing these memories. I'm thinking now of my granny and grandad on my mum's side.
I adored them both so much. Growing up, going to visit them in school holidays was the second best thing. Being left to stay with them was the first best thing.
Even just being in their house, I could relax - something I could never entirely do at home. Evem if all I was doing was holing up in my room and reading, or dancing to music (something I never dared do at home), I felt safe and loved.
Granny & grandad were the only people I can recall that young me never felt unsure of. I always knew they loved me. Not because they were demonstrative - other than greeting and going away hugs (but that was no different than my wider family; my need for hugs was never really fulfilled until Cuddles and I got together, which was 7yrs ago, when I was 32). But they cared. They listened to what was important to me, even when they didn't understand what I was talking about. Granny cooked my favourite foods (and my mum was an awful cook, so that was a mega bonus 😆). They bought my favourite treats and desserts. They would begin days by asking me where I wanted to go/what I wanted to do, and we'd go do it. Or they'd take me to a place/thing they knew I'd enjoy - often just a hiking trail nearby, but Jodrell Bank was always a fave too. Just all those things that mean "I love you" without needing to say it.
My siblings got older and stopped wanting to stay there so much which was awesome for me cos I no longer had to wait my turn 🤣 I kept going until I moved away from home, and was just too far. But even when I was in another country, I'd call them every week.
They never said the word "girlfriend", always "friend", yet they were always supportive of me and me being (as I thought at the time) a lesbian didn't matter. Unlike some, they only ever asked if I was happy, and if I needed anything, and they'd make me promise to let them know if I ever did need anything. They had no idea how much actually I just needed that.
My mum has made some attempts to poison my love of them over the years. And I get it. They weren't actually great parents. But then neither were mine, but in both cases they're way better grandparents, so 🤷♂️
I wish they'd been able to see this me. Grandad died years before I realised I was trans. Granny died while I was in the first couple of years of it all, but she barely remembered me by then. Once, when I went to visit with a male friend who kindly drove me, she introduced me to staff as her niece and my friend as my boyfriend. On the one hand that was upsetting. On the other, she was still aware she knew me as someone important.
I've definitely overstayedy welcome here, sorry. Now I'm just full of thoughts about my grandparents. Bittersweet, y'know?
I cannot thank you enough for sharing all of these memories. They sound like such wonderful people who were so important in you being able to shine your light into the world.
I am really grateful for this comment, it is filled with so much love 🧡🧡
Awww. 'A good man.' How much nicer than just writing the name over the actual faces of the people in the photo like my grandmother did...lovely post LD. xoxo
Thank you, it really hit me hard the first time I saw that. I realised he wasn't just going to forget who we were, but he was going to forget who we were to him.
Sending you love, friend. Thank you for reading and sharing.
Great writing as always Lauren. I love how deep you went into your memory archives and how it's always so heartwarming to look back on life and find the shiny good bits....Your nan hasn't aged a day...tell her to keep doing what she's doing! ;) Lovely collection of words and a great way to keep all these good times safe and sacred for years to come.... Love you driving the buggy with your poppy...too funny haha :) Brilliant newsletter as always x #whatsforyouwontpassyou
🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 love you!
Lovely memories, I am so glad they are still with you, and your friend was right, it does suit you being there, you look so peaceful. Good luck with the exam, I will have all my fingers and toes crossed for you. I will be walking funny and knitting will be tricky, but you are worth it xxx
Oh my goodness I adore you, thank you! It worked! Your luck brought me luck. Thank you, friend! xx
“A good man.” What a beautiful thing to write. I wish the man in the photo could see what Poppy wrote.
Wonderful post. ♥️
Thank you lovely one xoxo
Thank you so much for sharing these memories. I'm thinking now of my granny and grandad on my mum's side.
I adored them both so much. Growing up, going to visit them in school holidays was the second best thing. Being left to stay with them was the first best thing.
Even just being in their house, I could relax - something I could never entirely do at home. Evem if all I was doing was holing up in my room and reading, or dancing to music (something I never dared do at home), I felt safe and loved.
Granny & grandad were the only people I can recall that young me never felt unsure of. I always knew they loved me. Not because they were demonstrative - other than greeting and going away hugs (but that was no different than my wider family; my need for hugs was never really fulfilled until Cuddles and I got together, which was 7yrs ago, when I was 32). But they cared. They listened to what was important to me, even when they didn't understand what I was talking about. Granny cooked my favourite foods (and my mum was an awful cook, so that was a mega bonus 😆). They bought my favourite treats and desserts. They would begin days by asking me where I wanted to go/what I wanted to do, and we'd go do it. Or they'd take me to a place/thing they knew I'd enjoy - often just a hiking trail nearby, but Jodrell Bank was always a fave too. Just all those things that mean "I love you" without needing to say it.
My siblings got older and stopped wanting to stay there so much which was awesome for me cos I no longer had to wait my turn 🤣 I kept going until I moved away from home, and was just too far. But even when I was in another country, I'd call them every week.
They never said the word "girlfriend", always "friend", yet they were always supportive of me and me being (as I thought at the time) a lesbian didn't matter. Unlike some, they only ever asked if I was happy, and if I needed anything, and they'd make me promise to let them know if I ever did need anything. They had no idea how much actually I just needed that.
My mum has made some attempts to poison my love of them over the years. And I get it. They weren't actually great parents. But then neither were mine, but in both cases they're way better grandparents, so 🤷♂️
I wish they'd been able to see this me. Grandad died years before I realised I was trans. Granny died while I was in the first couple of years of it all, but she barely remembered me by then. Once, when I went to visit with a male friend who kindly drove me, she introduced me to staff as her niece and my friend as my boyfriend. On the one hand that was upsetting. On the other, she was still aware she knew me as someone important.
I've definitely overstayedy welcome here, sorry. Now I'm just full of thoughts about my grandparents. Bittersweet, y'know?
I cannot thank you enough for sharing all of these memories. They sound like such wonderful people who were so important in you being able to shine your light into the world.
I am really grateful for this comment, it is filled with so much love 🧡🧡
I love this, thanks so much for sharing! x
Thank you so much for reading xo
Awww. 'A good man.' How much nicer than just writing the name over the actual faces of the people in the photo like my grandmother did...lovely post LD. xoxo
Thank you, it really hit me hard the first time I saw that. I realised he wasn't just going to forget who we were, but he was going to forget who we were to him.
Sending you love, friend. Thank you for reading and sharing.
xx