Alma

Chloe St.Onge
Language Arts per # 5
December 17th, 2010
Essay

Great Grandma Alma

My great grandma Alma was purely inspirational. No words could ever come close to describing how strong and independent she was as a woman. She went through things that no one in this time period could ever imagine; simply treacherous things. But, she never once complained about her life and the conditions she had to live in, because she was such a strong and grateful individual.
About four years ago my great grandma made a huge move from New York to Washington State, and that’s when I got to know her on a more personal level. Not once would I leave her house without hearing an earful of stories from her time period. My great grandma blessed me with the stories of her past, whether it had great meaning or not. 
My great grandma lived through the Great Depression throughout the 1920’s. As a young newly-wed, her husband left her to go serve his country in World War II, leaving her to fend for herself and three children. She got by, by sewing clothes and making food and money stretch as far as possible. Living on only a soldier’s wage, she had an abundance of hardships. Yet, she always seemed to make the most of what she had. The stories that she told even in her last days were about how blessed she was and never about hardship.
You could say my great grandma was old-fashioned. She was excellent at sewing, crocheting, knitting, tatting, and embroidery. These might seem like out-of-date talents now, but in her day she used them to make the most of what she had and take care of her family. 
Alma really opened my eyes to how fortunate I am to have so many luxuries compared to the day and age when she was raising her children. Present day, the world is very materialistic and commercial. In her day, it was about providing for your family no matter what it took. Those values might be rare today, but my great grandma’s influence on me always reminds me to cherish what I have, and the potential I have to give.