MacaDamien
Baba & Pup
Although lacking a date, at least this photo has some writing on the back:
"This is Mom & Pop being busy working the garden as usual. It's taken from a distance that's why you can't see them very well."
By the time we (the great-grandchildren) came along, "Mom & Pop" became "Baba & Pup". I have so many fond memories of them I don't know where to begin.
They didn't speak English very well. They were Polish immigrants who came to America when they were first married at age 19. Baba could understand a little bit of what we said, or at least she faked it well enough. "Oy vay!", she'd say. But Pup would speak to us in his own language and laugh like he said the most clever thing. He'd give each one of us great-grandchildren a silver .50 cent piece every Sunday when we'd visit. We'd always give him a hug and a kiss as thanks and I can remember that he always had scratchy stubble on his face. He died when I was a teenager and I recall my Baba throwing herself on his casket at the church screaming, "My man! My man!".
Baba was always good for a pack of Juicy Fruit gum. She'd hide it in her vast apron pockets and she'd give it away like she grew it on her own Juicy Fruit tree. This woman made the BEST pierogies that I have ever had. Every Sunday, we'd go to Baba & Pup's for homemade pierogies and Juicy Fruit gum and silver .50 cent pieces. They didn't have much, but it was something I looked forward to every week.
When Pup died, the house was sold and she went to live with my Gram in the first floor bedroom. I'd go visit her and we'd sit on the edge of her bed, talking. Baba made me promise never to ride a motorcycle, a promise I kept for a long time. I was a senior in high school when she died and I took it pretty hard. She grew peonies in her yard and would cut them for us to take home. I always associate the fragrance of peonies with Baba.
She is the reason I have them growing along my yard. When Spring comes and I smell the heavy perfume of those peonies, I think of Baba and her Juicy Fruit gum.
Baba & Pup
Although lacking a date, at least this photo has some writing on the back:
"This is Mom & Pop being busy working the garden as usual. It's taken from a distance that's why you can't see them very well."
By the time we (the great-grandchildren) came along, "Mom & Pop" became "Baba & Pup". I have so many fond memories of them I don't know where to begin.
They didn't speak English very well. They were Polish immigrants who came to America when they were first married at age 19. Baba could understand a little bit of what we said, or at least she faked it well enough. "Oy vay!", she'd say. But Pup would speak to us in his own language and laugh like he said the most clever thing. He'd give each one of us great-grandchildren a silver .50 cent piece every Sunday when we'd visit. We'd always give him a hug and a kiss as thanks and I can remember that he always had scratchy stubble on his face. He died when I was a teenager and I recall my Baba throwing herself on his casket at the church screaming, "My man! My man!".
Baba was always good for a pack of Juicy Fruit gum. She'd hide it in her vast apron pockets and she'd give it away like she grew it on her own Juicy Fruit tree. This woman made the BEST pierogies that I have ever had. Every Sunday, we'd go to Baba & Pup's for homemade pierogies and Juicy Fruit gum and silver .50 cent pieces. They didn't have much, but it was something I looked forward to every week.
When Pup died, the house was sold and she went to live with my Gram in the first floor bedroom. I'd go visit her and we'd sit on the edge of her bed, talking. Baba made me promise never to ride a motorcycle, a promise I kept for a long time. I was a senior in high school when she died and I took it pretty hard. She grew peonies in her yard and would cut them for us to take home. I always associate the fragrance of peonies with Baba.
She is the reason I have them growing along my yard. When Spring comes and I smell the heavy perfume of those peonies, I think of Baba and her Juicy Fruit gum.