Grandma White

My Grandmother, Esther Lillian Appell White, lived next door to us as long as I lived home in North Branford. She taught me many family values, and so much more. She was one of a kind. She was my dad's mother, had a total of nine children, went to church at Zion, walked there every Sunday, took me so I could sing in the Choir.

Grandma White

My grandmas hands were gnarled and wrinkled

with arthritis from washing clothes for nine children

and a husband, on a wood and metal washboard, then

wringing them tight and hanging them to dry

My grandma was a very special and always did so

much for others that she neglected herself

She was always there for me, finding me white

gloves for church on Sundays, making terrariums for school

or creating the perfect Halloween costume from wonderful

clothes from her attic of wonder

My grandma let me watch her make preserves, canned tomato,

and stitch threads of love on her treadle sewing machine

as she cooked a large dinner set for a king

She was first to have television and let us watch “Queen

For A Day” each time it was on, and we would all cry tears

of happiness for the lucky winner of the days show

She changed a lot of diapers in her life before needing one

for herself, as my aunt cared for her until she eventually passed

from old age and Alzheimer’s

She was to me, the most influential person in my life

and will always be nearby in my heart.