This story goes out to all of the grandparents out there. I am so lucky to have had four of the best grandparents of all time.
Everyone reading this knows the smell of their grandparents house. It was a distinct smell (not a bad smell and not mothballs) but it was a grandparent smell. As a grandchild, you got everything you ever wanted from your grandparents.
The reason why is because they loved you so much, but they could always give you back to your parents and then live their life again. Going over your grandparents house was the greatest.
You would play board games and card games and would always win. Was I really that good at Gin Rummy? Why did your grandparents house always have a garden with all of the vegetables? Mine had tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. You got to eat the best candy and all the sugar you wanted because hell, you were going back to your parents house so they didn’t care.
Why do we all name our grandparents something different than just grandma or grandpa? You name your grandma Nanny or Nan, maybe it’s Mom Mom or NaNa. I work at a country radio station so I’ve heard songs where artists call their grandparents MeMaw or PePaw.
If I called either I my grandfathers PePaw, well they probably would have smiled, but would’ve been pissed on the inside. I’m from New Jersey so PePaw ain’t it. Did you realize that grandfathers get the short end of the stick with names… it’s either Pop or Pop Pop(guilty on both names).
Not unless you are my brother who named my mom’s parents Mominee and Poppadee. Mominee stuck forever, but Poppadee didn’t last. I think I was the one to change his nickname to Pop.
My grandparents were something different. I don’t remember much about my dad’s father who we called Pop Pop. He passed away when I was 6 but I do remember him being the ultimate family man. He was my dad’s best man in my parents wedding, so that should tell you everything you need to know.
I wish I got to know you better Pop Pop. This scenario always comes up in random conversation: “If you could have dinner with a celebrity who has passed, who would you pick?” My answer isn’t Frank Sinatra, it’s always George Black Sr. My entire life I’ve wanted to know this man and talk to him.
I’ve heard our family talk and say he and I were the exact same. Well, if we are the same, he was a darn good-looking man. His wife Loretta (aka Nanny) was the most proper woman you could ever meet. If she was going to 7-11 for a pack of Salems, she was showered, hair done and curled, lots of perfume and her freshest jumpsuit.
The woman wouldn’t leave the house without looking her best. Can we talk about Nanny in the kitchen? Yo! This woman would throw down. She could put together an Irish feast like nobody’s business. I could talk about Nanny for hours but I have two other grandparents to talk about.
Let’s go with Connie next, my mom’s mom. The smallest fiercest Italian woman I’ve ever met. The greatest cook in the world with the biggest heart. This is no diss to my other grandma Loretta, I just enjoy Italian food a tad more.
I always hear people say, “My grandma is the best cook,” or “You have to taste my grandmas cooking.” You are all wrong. My grandma Concetta Stanziale and my grandma Loretta Black would put everyone to shame. My bro and I were lucky we had two grandmas who were the most loving people in the world and cooked so differently. My mom’s parents lived directly across the street from us on Theresa Street.
Mominee was Theresa Street’s neighborhood watch. If she saw something out of order, you better believe our land line was ringing. Her and my grandfather basically travelled the world while they were alive and they used to bring my brother and I gifts from their travels.
The gifts were all of the stuff she stole from hotels or cruise ships. If you need small bottles of shampoo from Greece, my brother and I got you covered. Last but not least is my mom’s dad Donald Geoghan.
I don’t want to play favorites with my grandparents but it was obvious that he was my favorite. I was named after this man, but I could never live up to what he did as a youth. He was in the Marines by age 17, what was I doing at 17? Not that!
We fished, golfed, played poker, watched movies. He was literally my best friend for my entire life. I wish I could tell him that, but I’m pretty sure he knows. Besides my dad, he was the strongest man I’ve ever seen in my life. So here I am writing this and all four of my grandparents have passed away. The moral of the story is your grandparents are from the best generation. They didn’t bitch about petty stuff that we do. Thank you to George, Loretta, Connie, and Don for being the best grandparents a kid could ever want!
Donnie Black was born and grew up in Ewing Township. He currently works at radio station XTU in Philadelphia as a producer, on air personality and promotions director.
,
