I never knew my grandmother, but I like to think that she helps me make our Thanksgiving dinner every year. Somehow, I ended up with her large roasting pan. It is full of dents and dings, and I’m surprised that someone didn’t throw it out years ago. Despite or perhaps because of these dents, a turkey always turns out moist and golden brown. My grandmother was an immigrant from Finland with three small children when my grandfather drowned in Lake Superior. It was the depression, and times were tough. There was no public assistance or food stamps and she spoke only a little English. To feed her children, she scrubbed floors and took in laundry. To ask anyone who knew her, my grandmother counted her blessings every day. She lived with a smile on her face, a cheerful attitude and was always singing songs. She had courage and spirit and an unyielding faith in God. That faith gave her the understanding that the hardships in life somehow help us to appreciate the blessings even more. Her courage and faith never wavered even when she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Although I never knew my grandmother, I see her faith in my mother and her spirit in my daughter. We sing her songs in our hearts every day. Our circle of life is of grandmothers and mothers and daughters who become grandmothers and mothers and daughters. There are a few hardships and many blessings along the way. The riches that we have are not found in money, but in each other and beat-up old roasting pans that cook to perfection.
In memory of Anna Sofia Anderson Holm 1890-1952
*Originally published in the St. Augustine Record, St. Augustine, Florida
The Minnesota Farm Woman 
Lovely! I have some of my Grandmother’s cookware also. I always remember the dishes she would serve up and the memories that were made during those visits.
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Thanks, Sue. I love it, don’t you? I don’t think I will ever let that roasting pan go…..
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Found this on Facebook. What a wonderful remembrance. My grandparents lived in Cuba, with the exception of one grandmother. Immigrants in this country are great survivors because they know how fortunate they are to be here. Their resilience is our legacy, and your grandmother’s roasting pan is a great metaphor for how tough and resilient she was despite her circumstances. Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome! Glad you liked the story.
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Thanks, Frances, for reading and for commenting. They were inspiring, weren’t they. I come from a family of hard workers, but nobody worked as hard as they did.
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While I was fortunate enough to have my Grandmother in my life, I do so recall those stories from the depression era. Times were tough, I can not imagine how hard it was for your Grandmother not being able to speak English fluently. People were much harder workers back then.
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They were, weren’t they? Thanks so much for reading, Shawn.
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Beautiful…..and so many memories of my grandmas and cherishing the ones I can still make with my momma. Thank you.
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