Aleksandra - a grandmother.
“I was once young, I was once unbelievably young.” – Charles Bukowski. Today I`m the voice of my grandmother.
It was a warm summer day of 1944, when she saw the world for the first time. She took a deep breath and fell safe in her mother arms. But that time wasn`t that easy as it is now. She was born in the postwar years. She grew up in ‘Adomaičių ‘ village, surrounded by beautiful Lithuania nature. After 3 years her brother Vytautas were born. As she says it was a miracle. Vytautas served in the army for two years. For those two years letters and pictures were the only way to communicate and my grandmother kept it till this day.
One thing I can remember clearly: seeing tears in my her eyes, hearing her voice crack when she talks how her mother ran through the forest, holding her daughters head close to her chest, - to keep both of them safe, or in worst case – to die together.
First thing I asked her – “What`s your most beautiful memory?” She was thinking for a moment, but finally she responded – youth. Young people gathered to dance, the men sang traditional Lithuanian songs, for her it was a fun and beautiful time. She are until now really pretty woman, but in her youth boys couldn’t handle her charm. Her first love was in fifth grade until she was nineteen. His attention was really silly, he would unbraided her hair, took away her hat or books.
She got married in her twenty’s, but not of her first love. They got two children’s – Rima and after two years her son was born – Kęstutis. Her man died in accident. I will never ask her how he died, because I don’t want to make her upset. But I now it was horrific.
But things went on, after three years she married again of my grandfather – Jonas. He died when I was one year old. I never had a chance to talk to him, but he always used to say: “When she grows up, she will live whit us.” I suppose we would get along.
My mother was born. As my grandmother says she were a little trouble maker, young girl whit really strong personality. My mother is unbelievably gorgeous and I never in my life know someone so calm and strong. My grandmother sometimes says that we are so alike.
The last thing I asked her – “what do you wish for my?’ – Luck, education and good time. “Never give up and go through life whit your head high.”
All my generation woman’s are independent and always protected no matter the time and age.
- I was once young, I was once unbelievably young.