Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Inspiring Witches Blog Party!


As soon as I saw this blog party I knew I had to join. Then I got right to typing about the Witches that inspired me to be the witch I am today. 
My Nana was a very small Irish woman with salt and pepper hair that was down to ankles. She was an extraordinary woman. She was born in 1888. She was a devote Catholic. She raised 4 children after her husband my great grandfather died of black lung in the mines. She could whip up a loaf of bread just as fast as she could treat a chest cold with a mustard plaster. She was very old and frail by the time I was born. She would go through her prayer cards and do her rosary's every morning before we could start our day. She loved roller derby and playing cards. She died when I was 14. She was an amazing woman who lived an amazing life and raised an amazing child, my gram!

My gram is the one woman in my life that had the greatest impact on me. She too was a little Irish woman. Who gave birth to 7 children. All of whom towered over her. And grands who looked like giants compared to her. She had an adventures spirit. It was nothing for her to pack up the house and leave for months at a time. This is how we got so close. She took me with her. The adventures we had. I learned how to stretch a penny till it screamed and then stretch it some more. I learned how to barter and how to put in a hard days work for a hard earned pay. We always ate well and had a roof over our head. She told me of family that had come and gone before me. We would go and pick blueberries by the side of the road. We would go exploring to see what we would find next. She loved antiques. But she loved finding things to sell later even more. She kept her house clean and her affairs in order. See my grandpa died when I was just 6 and left her with 4 children still at home. She did everything she could to keep the lights on and the roof over there heads. It took some doing but she did it.

The reason I picked these two women, is because they taught me to be strong in the face of adversity. To know that with sound judgement and an unwavering heart I could do anything. They taught me that family comes first no matter what the cost. That nature has everything that I could need, if I'm just willing to look for it. And that a hard days work will help you sleep soundly at night.

Granted they weren't witches in the traditional sense but they were classical in their own right!

Gotta Run,
Yart

7 comments:

Faerie Sage said...

What wonderful inspiration! Those hard working women in our lives who could make anything better and seem to create something from nothing. Enjoy your memories of them they will last forever.

Anonymous said...

Wow! now that's inspiration! My gma was very much like yours in many ways. And she also wasn't a witch in the classic terms, but man, she taught me so much about life and nature! thanks for sharing this and reminding me! You had some amazing people by your side, and seemed like you have worlds to talk about! blessed be!~

Sara said...

What wonderful women you have had in your life. It was nice to read about them... thank you for sharing. xx

Sooz said...

Great post! You have lovely women in your family to floow as you walk your path...

Jane K said...

Wonderful story, I think if you have a family line of strong women you are blessed as the women are the ones that glue everything together.

Jayne said...

How blessed you are to have had such inspiring women in your life! Thank you for sharing your memories about them.

Rue said...

What a great legacy your Nana and Gram left you - and wonderful lessons! You were blessed to get to know them both so well.