Lynda Anne Bruck Gould wrote about Grandma Clara Joblinski

 9-7-94

I was only 4 1/2 when grandma passed away so I don't remember a whole lot. I think that makes a what I do remember more precious to me.

I remember sitting in grandma's lap in her rocker.  We were sewing a little pillow for my doll together.  It had flowers on one side, little triangles on the other side.  I thought it looked like sail boats.  I loved it. I'm sure grandma did most of the sewing because it is still in one piece. The big wide stitches I'll bet are mine, the rest are nice even little stitches.

I remember going to see grandma when she was sick in bed. I don't think I understood she was sick. I just knew she was always tired so she was in bed. She used to keep a box of paper dolls in her closet. I used to play with them a lot. When she wanted me to lay down by her she would pat the bed and say "Come lay by grandma my little golden hair." (She always called me her little golden hair). So, I'd crawl up in bed with her and she'd talk to me and stroke my hair. I remember laying there by her, happy to be with her. 

Grandma made all of us grandkids an animal that last year. She made me a pink cat with a blue flowered dress. Some people used to ask me if it was a rabbit. Those were fighting words. Boy did I get mad.  My grandma made it for me and it was a cat! I always slept with my cat until her head started to fall off. My mom fixed it for me but afterwards I did not sleep with her as much.  I always slept with her when I was sick though.  It made me feel like Grandma was close. Like somehow it would make me all better.

Grandma also made me a quilt.  I thought it was the best quilt ever, actually it was because she made it.  It had a pocket on one of the squares toward the bottom.  I used to put "important" stuff in there. I never sa2 a quilt with a pocket in it before.  Grandma was pretty inventive.

I don't really remember much about the funeral.  I knew I cried a lot.  I had a desk in my room that I used to crawl under and cry.  I don't know why I did it under my desk. I used to take my cat and pillow to bed sometimes and cry too.  I did that even when I got older, occasionally I still do.Whenever I wanted to cry because I missed her, or just upset about something my cat went to bed with me.

I still have my little pillow. My quilt with the pocket had to have a new backing put on but it's otherwise in very good shape.  I still use it on my bed in the winter even though it doesn't fit my bed.  My cat's head is still intact although she's having a big problem holding it up. 

I am so glad I have these few precious things to remember my grandma by.  I still miss her very much. 

Now if you'll excuse me, my cat and I need to go to bed