Grandma’s room
That’s a photo of my grandma’s bedroom in her private house in a small town in Eastern Belarus. I took the photo exactly one year ago, on May 5, 2005.
In the corner you can see several Orthodox icons decorated with a traditional Belarusian towel (rucznik).
The portraits on the wall are of my grand grandmother, my grandfather (who died more than 40 years ago and whom I never saw) and my grandmother, in her 20s.
She’s turning 86 in two days. Grand grandmother Hanna died when she was 86.
May 4th, 2006 at 4:48 am
“Mnohaja leta” to your “babunia.” The last of my two grandmothers, and my favorite, died last October. Yesterday being “Radunica,” I naturally had her on my mind. Her parents came from the Vilnia region of Belarus; one of her siblings was born in Belarus (then part of the Russian Empire), she and the others in the United States after the family immigrated here.
May 4th, 2006 at 5:26 am
Condolences to you both… I dont even have any more grandparents… they all died many years ago.
May 4th, 2006 at 5:44 am
I have a great-grandfather living in Zhdanovichi who is 99, turning 100 in two months. He lived through the revolution, where he lost absolutely everything, and then fought in the 2nd world war. It amazes me that he has lived through so many possible regimes, sadly except for real democracy.
May 4th, 2006 at 8:22 am
There’s an interesting word for a ručnik that’s used for decorating icons — nabožnik (”one which is put over god(s)”). An icon is frequently called “bahi” (”gods”). At least in my village :)
Greetings to your Grandma!
May 4th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
I think its pretty :) I have this little hand-carved wooden box sent to me some time ago. You dont ever see such things here. Everything’s so… plain.
May 4th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Just stopping by while surfing. Greetings from the US. Only have one grandparent left and thats my grandmother, grandfather died when I was 18 due to anm old WW2 injury that flared up and attacked his gastrointestinal system. Anyway, stop by if you have a chance at http://www.yankeeography.blogspot.com and drop me a line. Have a great day!
May 5th, 2006 at 6:10 am
I found your blog interesting. I write a lot about my 101 year old Daddy’s memories and my mine, too, in our Yesterday’s Memories blog.