Grandparents’ Month

IS NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS MONTH The Next Generation

...by Gretchen Houser

I often wonder what some grandmother in the future will be writing about her experiences. Regardless, childhood will keep rolling along, each one unique and precious as life itself.

As for me, I’ve kept memories alive by re-reading my journals. In this way, I can recall the sweetness of special moments: Observing sevenyear-old grandson John head out for soccer practice. “Got my soccer shoes,” he says in a low voice, “got my shin guards,” his voice lower still, “got my soccer shirt,” he growls, and off he goes.

And the day my five-year-old granddaughter Lina asks me this strange question: “Can you rub the armpit of my leg?”

“What?” I respond, dumbfounded. “The armpit of your leg?”

“Here,” she said, pointing to an obvious place behind her kneecap.

“Ah, makes sense to me,” I said. And it actually did.

That morning, she had declared it Opposite Day and told her father not to let her read her favorite book and most especially, allow her to play outside.

She then proceeds to tell me about their runaway chicken, Speckles. “Come back, Speckles,” she calls from the window, cupping her hand to her mouth, creating a sort of chicken megaphone.

“Why’d she run away, Gam?” she asks sadly.

I don’t know what to say except something my mother once said to my toddling-around baby brother: “I’m afraid, sir, that you have a bad case of discombobulation.”

“Maybe the chicken just got discombobulated,” I offered.

She shook her head vehemently,

The author’s grandchildren but I could tell she was considering it. “Nah, Speckles wouldn’t do stuff like that.” Later, during our afternoon walk she found a small altar some child had made in a front yard. Pretty shaped stones, tiny seashells, a pintsized carved umbrella, a miniature gnome, all nestled in the bottom of a broken clay pot. “Hold the shell to your ear,” she says. “Sometimes you can hear the sea and sometimes sea fairies.” Dutifully, I put the shell to my ear, listening hard. “I hear it,” I said, “I hear the sea. I’m not sure about the sea fairies.” Then I press the shell to her ear. “Listen,” I ask, “What do you hear?” She cocks her head, eyes wide. “Gammie, I think I hear a boat, a little boat.” Ah yes, that reminds me. Traveling is in her future, though not by boat. Her family, all five of them, would be flying to Vienna, Austria to visit the other grandmother. Gone for (gulp) two whole weeks. I steer us toward home, where once inside, she disappears. Later, I bend to give Lina a kiss goodbye, but she’s immersed in artwork at the kitchen counter. After a few seconds, she looks up, “Wait,” she pleads. “I’m drawing a picture of my family so you won’t forget us.” As if, I think to myself. As if. ❖

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...by Elisa Peterson

I am a zine maker. A zine (pronounced ZEEN -- think “magaZINE”) is a small, selfpublished publication. Zines come in many sizes, but my favorite is a mini zine made by folding a standard piece of copy paper into eight little panels, including cover and back.

People who make zines are called “zinesters,” and are motivated by a desire for self-expression, not for profit. At age 78, I’m a “prime time” zinester.

A few years ago, I went to a Zine Fest in Olympia and fell in love with the brave culture of the zinesters and their willingness to write their unabashed truths. I noticed, though, that they were mostly very young, and I felt that, at my [then] age of 75, I would not fit in. What could I say that would interest them? From that dilemma the Ask Your Grandma idea was born.

My youngest granddaughter loves to hear me tell stories of my most embarrassing moments, my saddest moments, my proudest moments...so I decided to condense a few stories and put them into illustrated zines.

I hope the zines will encourage young people to ask their oldsters some questions and wait to be surprised at the answers.

My Ask Your Grandma Zines ask: 1. When you were a little girl were you nice or naughty? 2. How was your first kiss? 3. Did you wear a bikini? 4. What was the most thrilling, forbidden thing you did as a preteen? 5. Did you ever smoke cigarettes?

I enjoy the challenge of searching for the truest story of my life that I can call forth, so my girls will know that I struggled and at times failed, persevered and sometimes flew. And that humor helps.

I am currently working on an enlarged iteration of a zine collection from the Ask Your Grandma series. On November 21, I will be displaying six enlarged graphic zine panels at Red Elm Cafe in Tacoma. As part of the show, free zines will be available for the public. The show will run through Christmas. Red Elm Café is located at 1114 M.L.K. Jr. Way in Tacoma. For information, call 253-327-1791 or visit redelmcafe. com. ❖

Elisa Peterson is a designer, graphic and mixed media artist who also owns a vintage shop (orangedoorcottage.etsy. com). In addition to zines, she writes memoir essays and has been guest reader at Creative Colloquy, Tacoma’s literary group.

What could be in your zine?

1. Your Aunt Betty’s Secret Barbecue Sauce 2. A poem about your grandchild. 3. A political rant 4. A life-lesson 5. Pictures without words 6. Words without pictures 7. A story you want to pass on

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