The Wistful Grandma
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
  • Grandma Dolls
  • Traditional Plaited Wool Rugs
  • Seasonal Items

When the Torch is Passed

11/14/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
This past week I lost the last of my aunts. The last of that generation of women in our family. The small town and farmer’s wives. The seamstresses and canners. The cooks and gardeners. The keepers of the houses of my vacation visits. The mothers of the cousins I ran with and the barely known older cousins. The repositories of memories of my father as a young boy and witnesses to grandparents that I never knew. And as I talked to a family member from my generation they commented that the torch for us women had been passed. We were now the oldest women in our individual family lines. It was up to our generation now. 

So I have been thinking. What exactly does that mean “to pass the torch”? What does it mean to be one of the older women? For my individual family what does this torch look like?  By definition to pass the torch means to take on the responsibilities, traditions and knowledge of another when they are no longer able. As my children are adults, they are responsible for themselves now and in turn for families of their own. Yes, we follow some traditions that are longstanding, but have also bent some for modern circumstances. The world we live in changes so fast that knowledge is outdated in the blink of an eye. So perhaps the concept of this torch, lit long ago, is allowed to change.

So here are some thoughts on my modern torch. I will be responsible not for every member of the family, but I will be the silent backbone. My responsibility is to give advice when asked, help when needed and to be there. I will continue the traditions that work for me, learn and share those that work for others and serve as a reminder that the most important tradition is to be a good person in all circumstances and to remember where your blessings come from. As for knowledge, it is useless unless shared. So ask and I will tell you what I know. I hope this is enough to keep the flame burning. Until the torch is passed again.







0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Craft Shows

    ​Spring Market at The Barn
    Terra Yard Creations
    202 E Grant St
    Elkhorn WI 53121
    Sat, May 7, 2022
    10:00 am - 4:00 pm


    Summer Market at The Barn
    Terra Yard Creations
    202 E Grant St
    Elkhorn WI 53121
    Sat, June 25, 2022
    10:00 am - 4:00 pm


    Wildflower Art Festival
    Brodhead WI
    Sat, August 13, 2022
    9:00 am - 4:00 pm


    Harvest of Art & Crafts
    Trimborn Farm
    8881 W Grange Ave
    Greendale WI
    Sat, Sept 10, 2022
    ​Sun, Sept 11, 2022
    10:00 am - 4:00 pm


    ​Oktoberfest
    Our Lady of Lourdes
    3722 S 58th St
    Milwaukee WI 53220
    Saturday October 8, 2022
    11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Sunday October 9
    9:00 am - 1:00 pm


    re: Craft & Relic
    Milwaukee County Sports Complex
    6000 W Ryan Rd
    Franklin WI 53132
    Saturday November 12, 2022
    9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Sunday November 13, 2022
    10:am - 4:00 pm


    ​Crafts in the Woods
    Arts & Crafts Fair
    YMCA Camp MacLean
    Burlington WI 53105
    Saturday November 26, 2022
    9:00 am - 4:00 pm


    Christmas Market at the Barn
    Terra Yard Creations
    202 E Grant St
    Elkhorn WI 53121
    Friday December 2 2022
    4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Saturday December 3 2022
    ​10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Links

    Old World Wisconsin

    Blog Categories

    All
    Car
    Cooking
    Crafting
    Death
    Family
    Garden
    Grandchildren
    Holidays
    Home
    Inspiration
    Life
    Seasons
    Time
    Wisdom

    Blog Archives

    December 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    RSS Feed