Happy Birthday to My Grammy, my Nagymama who immigrated from Hungary over 100 yrs ago. If she were alive today she would be 121yrs. She was a weaver in the woolen mills in New England. She was awesome. She came to live with us when I was 1 yr old. She raised me. She taught me how to knit and the appreciation of the fiberarts. She taught me how to “Cheat the Devil” at Solitaire. Maria Ana Soltesz walked so fast––even in her 80s––that I could barely keep up with her. She sang beautiful songs in Magyar. I miss her. I miss her lost in translation sayings… like… “How much clock?” meaning, ‘What time is it?’
So my dear Nagymama…thank you for loving me (in your own gruff way), thank you for raising me, thank you for your song, your strength. Thank you for bravely leaving your homeland, alone, at age 15. You lost your family to Hitler’s Nazis. You taught me how to persevere. I love you. Until we meet again.