Less strange, more grilled

/

The Internet has opened up an amazing world of opportunities for meeting strangers with whom I'd have never in a million years come into contact otherwise. This week's Grilled Grandma is one such stranger.

I met Melinda through HARO (Help A Reporter Out). She needed an interviewee for an article, I offered up myself, we became less strange to one another.

After a few e-mails back and forth, Melinda offered up herself as a Grilled Grandma. I grilled her, and we became even less strange to one another.

No big deal, right? Such interactions happen all the time. Strangers meet online and make a difference, small or large, in one another's lives.

What made my interaction with Melinda extraordinary — at least for me — was that Melinda has written the book on such interactions and exchanges between strangers. Okay, she's written a book on such exchanges, and I found that an interesting coincidence. As the author of Consequential Strangers, co-authored with Karen L. Fingerman, PhD, Melinda waxes eloquently and informatively on folks on the outer skirts of our social circle, the virtual strangers, the "people who don't seem to matter ... but really do." It's a fascinating concept from a fascinating woman.

Read Grilled Grandma: Melinda. Then read her blog, buy her book, become less strange. We all matter to one another to a degree we never previously imagined. We all are consequential strangers.

A Grilled Grandma and a Bubby update

/

As many of you know, I'm still on assistant nurse duty with Bubby, so although I'm short on words for this week's Grilled Grandma because of time, I'm long on adoration for this interesting grandma. She's a lovely woman with two equally lovely granchildren. Her name is Olga and you can learn a bit about her in her grilling, and even more about her on her very own blog.

Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Grilled Grandma: Olga!

In other news, Bubby is recuperating nicely. He's not yet at 100 percent, but he'll get there soon, surely due in part to the kindness of virtual strangers — you awesome readers of Grandma's Briefs — keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you all!

Today's question:

Bubby's been eating a lot of popsicles and ice cream the last few days. What's your favorite frozen treat?

Better late than never: Thanking a Grilled Grandma

/

When I was first laid off from my newspaper job in December of 2008, this week's Grilled Grandma, Anne, helped me out immensely. She helped me see that there were indeed writing jobs I could do from home, and even helped me secure a couple that added to my coffers.

Anne doesn't know she helped me. In fact, she didn't know me, and I didn't know her. I knew only her website, AboutFreelanceWriting.com, and the market and job listings she posted daily. I visited daily, took her advice daily, searched for work daily. Despite the help she gave, I never met her. And I never thanked her.

Which is why I was so pleased Anne recently wrote me nominating herself to be a Grilled Grandma. I was thrilled. Of course I jumped at the chance to feature this woman who selflessly helps writers all across the country, heck, maybe even all across the globe.

So today I offer up Grilled Grandma: Anne. Please read her grilling and visit her blogs. She's a smart lady with lots to offer — not only to her grandchildren, but to her readers, too.

And for that, I offer my official thanks: Thank you, Anne! Unbeknownst to you until this very moment, you made a difference in my life. Thank you!

Today's question:

Who in your life deserves a big "Thank you!" today?

A daring and sharing Grilled GrandPA

/

I've featured many a lovely lady here for the Grilled Grandma feature, but today I bend the rules just a tad and grill up a grandpa. As the grilled grandpa, John, said in his request to be grilled — yes, he asked me — "some of us testosterated reparenters make good bonne-mamans, too." (That's "grandma" for those who don't know ... and might need to Google it, like I did.)

How could I refuse? To be honest, I didn't even consider refusing, as John's a good bloggy buddy to Grandma's Briefs.

Yes indeed, John makes a marvy bonne-maman. An even better one once grilled. One quote from his grilling that proved most resonant for me was this:

Good talk with kids is underrated. It's not something you can do without practice. If you want to learn something about children, you can't ask them outright unless you already have a working conversation going with them. They need to know you've been listening all along.

As the primary caregiver for three grandsons, John knows of what he speaks, and he offers much more wisdom and wisecracks about his experience as a grandfather, a "reparenter," and a most interesting man in Grilled Grandpa: John. While there, be sure to show him some comment love. It's the least we can do for the only male — so far! — brave enough to willingly join the Grilled Grandma gang.

Today's question:

What stands out most in your memories of your grandfather?

Wherein I (again) admit my jealousy of a Grilled Grandma

/

We're all friends here, so I feel safe in admitting that I can be a jealous grandma, have admitted before I'm a jealous grandma. Of other grandmas, in particular. Especially those grandmas who get to see their grandchildren on a regular basis.

This week's Grilled Grandma, Jules, is one of those grandmas of whom I'm jealous, but for more reasons than just her proximity to her grandkids. Although that tops the list.

Here are the top three reasons I'm jealous of the incredibly sweet and lovely Jules:

1. Her answer to my question of how often she gets to see her grandchildren: "Since we all have homes on the same 100 acres, I am fortunate to see them every day. I am so blessed to have them so close." I would love to be blessed in such a way!

2. She's an awesome photographer with incredible Photoshop skills! Take a look at her blog — and the grilling photos — and you'll see what I mean. (The link to her blog is included at the bottom of her grilling.)

3. Her smile. Jules has got to have the most winning smile of any grandma I've met. Or not met. Or grilled. Or not grilled. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Read Grilled Grandma: Jules to see that Jules is just as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. And, like I said, be sure to click over to her blog to get an expanded view of her awesome photos and learn more about her and her just as awesome family.

Today's question:

What do you consider your best feature? And YES, you have at least one, so don't be modest.

A Poppins among us: The next Grilled Grandma

/

Three reasons I adore this week's Grilled Grandma:

ONE: Tickle fests are regularly scheduled activities when she visits her grandchildren. And when they visit her.

TWO: That happy little boy to the right. Absolutely adorable!

THREE: Her blog is called "Nana Poppins." How could anyone resist a blog with a name like that?

Click on over to read Grilled Grandma: Patty to get the full scoop on this modern-day nana. Be sure to leave her some comment love ... then prove me right in that her blog is irresistable by popping on over to visit her there.

Happy Wednesday to one and all!

Today's question:

Who is your favorite character from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins"?

Truth be told: Grilled Grandma Kc

/

When asked what flavor of baby they're hoping for, most expectant moms and grandmas say something along the lines of, "Oh, it doesn't really matter to me if it's a girl or a boy, as long as it's healthy." Yes, we all want our babies and grandbabies born healthy, but c'mon, most of us have a preference in terms of gender.

Which is why it's refreshing to read the honest response of this week's Grilled Grandma, Kc, when she states her concerns upon first learning she's going to be a grandma. She says:

My other fear was – what if it’s a boy? I would have loved one but been completely clueless on what to do with him or even how to change him!

I totally relate. I had only girls, wanted only girls as my children. Mostly because I just knew I'd screw up a little boy as I had no healthy models for parenting boys. At least if I had girls, I reasoned, I'd know what they want and need, physically and emotionally. Boys were foreign little beings. Until I had my grandson. Now I'm thoroughly thrilled to have learned a thing or two about little males and look forward to the arrival of our second grandson come the end of spring.

Much to her delight, a little girl was bestowed upon Kc as her first grandchild, and she was dubbed Amara. Kc's love for Amara knows no bounds but I reckon it would have been exactly the same way even if her grandchild had been a boy — except she'd have quickly learned a thing or two about changing the diapers of the little guys, which as we all know (at least those of us who have done it), it's a wee bit different.

Read all about Kc's adventures as lovely Amara's grandma in Grilled Grandma: Kc. Further adventures of Kc and her special little gal can be found on Kc's blog, the link to which is included at the bottom of her grilling.

Today's question:

Do you get along better with males or females, of any age?

Grilled Grandma No. 73

/

I find it hard to believe I've had the opportunity to grill up seventy-three special ladies, but this week is sure enough Grilled Grandma No. 73.

You'd think that with that many grandmas answering the very same questions, their sentiments would have grown stale. That's clearly not the case as GG No. 73, a.k.a. Barbara, said something so original, so sweet and so unlike anything I've yet heard from a Grilled Grandma in response to my question of "What is the best thing about being a grandma?":

I was surprised at the initial reaction to being a grandparent helping in those first few days with the newborn baby. It was almost a primal, tribal kind of feeling. I loved that baby more than you could ever know but I found the greatest joy in putting the baby in my children's arms and watching them become a complete bonded family. The grandmother's place in the family became very clear right at the outset. It was perfect.

It is indeed joyous to see one's child create a strong, happy, bonded family of his or her own. What an amazing and heartwarming honor to have a front-row seat to witness the cycle of life in motion!

Please visit Grilled Grandma: Barbara to read Barbara's complete grilling. And be sure not to miss her "iPod-in-the-nostrils" story — proof that grandkids are indeed a goofy lot!

Today's (unrelated) question:

What material possession are you most proud of?

A rockin' grandma on the grill

/

As I formatted the week's Grilled Grandma feature, I realized I've grilled many a grandma with very similar names. Specifically, I've featured a Janet, a Jeanie, a Jeanne, and a Jeannie, and now I'd like to introduce you all to Grilled Grandma: Janie!

Janie, like the grandmas before her -- those with similar names plus all the others -- provides insight on the grandparenting experience. But one thing Janie said resonates especially deep with me. In response to my question of how often she sees her grandchildren, Janie said this:

Three of my grandkids live in Tennessee (I am in Oklahoma). That is a distance of approximately 700 miles yet despite that distance last year I was able to see them a total of 9 times. Before they moved (2 years ago) I was only a mere 20 minutes from them. I was blessed with watching them often while their momma worked. It has been an adjustment not being as close to the new grandson. My step-daughter lives much closer so we anticipate seeing them often.

Her response made me consider the fact that although Bubby lives 815 miles away (and Birdy will soon be joining him there), it's all I've known as a grandma — I've always been a long-distance grandma. It seems to me that living close to grandkids then having them move away would be even more heartbreaking than having them far away to begin with. So, in an odd sense, I feel relatively blessed that I've been a long-distance grandma from day one and never had to endure the pain of waving goodbye to my babies as they headed out for a home far away.

But Janie, like most long-distance grandmas, works hard at making the best of it. She's been fortunate in the number of visits with her grandchildren and the relationship she maintains with them. We are fortunate in hearing her stories and advice in Grilled Grandma: Janie. So go ahead, read it. After reading her grilling, I urge you to check out Janie's blog. I love her taste in music and the fact she recently featured an Incubus video on her site. This grandma's rockin'!

Today's question:

What song is playing in your head today?

For this I may be killed

/

Jim may very well kill me for this. If there are no more posts going forward, you'll know what happened. If you know where I live, you'll know where to find my killer.

Despite the risk, I'm doing this anyway. I'm sending out birthday wishes to Jim right here, right now, wishing him a lovely FIFTIETH birthday!

I believe reaching the half-century mark warrants notice. Jim disagrees, has been hoping to keep it quiet.

Not happening, honey. At least not here on my blog. Because here I get to do what I want, and what I want to do is say Happy 50th Birthday to my handsome husband.

So here goes:

Happy 50th Birthday, Jim. I love you!

There ... that wasn't so painful. Right?

In other news, I've grilled up another grandma!

Marlene is a mucho magnifique grandma, so please read Grilled Grandma: Marlene and leave her a little love in the form of comments. You all are always so thoughtful and kind in the words you lay down for the Grilled Grandmas, and I so appreciate that. I'm sure the featured grandmas do, too.

Happy Wednesday to one and all!

Today's question:

What age has been your most memorable, for better or for worse?