MY GRANDMOTHERS by Mark Kennet

Mother's Day STORY    By Mark Kennet
It occurs to me that although our grandmothers were also mothers, we seem not to mention them on this day. Both of mine were very special people.

Elsie Lou, Grandma  Sadie, Granddad David Mudie
Abbie Mudie and dog named Danny

Grandma Sadie Mudie and Elizabeth Mudie
aka Buffy Bachman

Many of you know that my mother was not born Jewish; she converted in an orthodox ceremony not long after meeting my father.

That's another story, and not my purpose here other than to explain that her mother was not Jewish. Anyway, my grandmother and grandfather

built their own house from a Sears, Roebuck kit in a then-new suburb of Pittsburgh. After finishing, they moved in, along with an indeterminate number of cats and dogs. As was the custom in those days, the local pastors came calling to try to convince the new neighbors to join their church. My grandmother received them politely, and invited them to drink lemonade or tea. During the ensuing conversation, one or other of the cats unfailingly jumped into the preacher's lap. Each of the preachers in turn would brush the cat back to the floor, until one of them started to scratch the cat behind the ears and make her purr. THAT was the church they joined; she knew what was important in her religion.

Building the house on Tropical Avenue

Building the house on Tropical Ave. 

Elsie Lou in front of the Tropical Avenue house that her dad built.

Sadie and David Mudie, Tropical Avenue

MOSHE KENNET'S MOTHER

I have many more memories of my paternal grandmother, since she lived to a much riper old age. She imparted many pearls of wisdom, and inspired me to learn enough Hebrew to have a deep relationship with her (she spoke Hebrew, Polish, Russian, German, and Yiddish as a native, but almost no English). She used to sit on the porch of her apartment in Tel Aviv and comment on the passers-by, especially the every-time fancier-looking women. An old-school socialist, she was indignant at their use of makeup. She said, The young ones don't need it, and the old ones it doesn't help! She was a great cook, and made the best blintzes anywhere.

Written by Mark Kennet