I am disappointed by the fact that I do not have more pictures of Grandma Bucky-- she wasn't one to pose for pictures, but she tolerated them. I think that says a lot about the kind of person Bucky was. She had an opinion on pretty much everything, yet if something/someone differed from her opinion, she would tell them so--and then accept them for who they were. If you took the time to talk to her, she would always have something to tell you, thus begins my memoir of "Bucky."
Grandma Bucky will always be remembered by her family and friends—and even those who did not know her, but heard her stories. I will always have a smile on my face when I reminisce about this wonderful woman that I learned to love as my own grandma.
I first met Grandma Bucky at a family Christmas gathering. If you have ever been to one of Debi’s shin-digs, you know that she puts a lot of effort into these parties and wants to make sure every guest feels important and leaves filled to the brim with her fine cooking. I was immediately introduced to Grandma Bucky and she looked me up and down and was very pleased with my dark hair. She then asked “Are you Italian?” “No.” You could see the disappointment in her face. Then a slight look of panic “Are you Sicilian?” “No.” Some relief washed upon her face. (Italians don’t like Sicilians!) “Well what are you then?” This was Grandma Bucky, not afraid to ask questions of any kind. Later, at the end of that night, she sternly told Rob and me that “we don’t need any more babies in this family!”
I quickly learned that Grandma Bucky was a “No Nonsense, Right to the Point” kind of lady. She didn’t play games, she just told you straight forward how she felt about things and she expected the same from you. I greatly admire her for that. Too often we spend time playing around or not being honest with others, let alone ourselves. I always knew what Grandma Bucky thought of me, good or bad (as well as everyone else J) She was not the easiest lady to impress either. She had high standards which she especially held all of her children too. She may have been quick to voice her displeasures with her kids, but listening to her talk to others about her children, she was always beaming with pride.
Her family was her life. She had pics of her grandkids in her purse and at her home her walls were lined with one photograph after another. She was truly dedicated to them. She would always be telling me the happenings of one child or another. She was always in the know and if she felt out of touch, she would quickly call you, ask what you are doing, ask you to come take out her trash and bring her some food and then hang up without saying good-bye. (Grandma Bucky did not say good-bye’s—perhaps she did not like the finality of them—or she was trying to always keep the conversation open so that you would feel obligated to call back.) She would always have a reason for us to come and visit her (food or trash were the main ones she would give). She loved the company.
A couple of “unbelievably” true stories of Bucky: One day one of Ryan’s high school friends was driving in a rough area of Milwaukee to discover Grandma Bucky hitchhiking! Turns out she would often hitchhike to get to the Walgreen’s on that side of town. She said that Walgreens was cheaper than the fancy ones. Ryan’s friend was nice enough to take her home, but wow! Do you see how much she trusted others?!
At my wedding shower she sat in front of a group of friends and was passing gas. She accused the girls of doing it (something she would often do—pass the blame on to someone else.) Grandma was a lady after all and would never confess to such a dirty deed! J
Turns out that Grandma Bucky actually had—and still has friends in the mafia. Occasionally she runs into them—(and yes I have been there at a time when she ran into these mafia men.) They are such gentlemen with her and show her such respect and I know she LOVED it!
My best memories of Bucky will be her occasional outbursts which were off the wall and at times just unbelievable—most due to Richard’s prodding. “Richard—I would never “off” my roommate!” “Yeah—I got some bling!” “I lost 200 lbs last month, just look at me!” “I can bench 150 lbs, I did it yesterday.” “I have a wire in my chin.” (She was convinced—again I believe from Richard’s doing—that she had a wire growing out of her chin. She even persuaded cousin/Dr. Paul to look at it.)
One of Grandma Bucky’s most common quotes was “Everybody loves me!” Well Grandma—that is definitely true. People who did not even know you, have been touched by the joy in your stories and your life. Your presence, spontaneity and honesty will be missed. Your life on this Earth was TOO short, but we now know that you are having an eternity in heaven. I love you Grandma.
I first met Grandma Bucky at a family Christmas gathering. If you have ever been to one of Debi’s shin-digs, you know that she puts a lot of effort into these parties and wants to make sure every guest feels important and leaves filled to the brim with her fine cooking. I was immediately introduced to Grandma Bucky and she looked me up and down and was very pleased with my dark hair. She then asked “Are you Italian?” “No.” You could see the disappointment in her face. Then a slight look of panic “Are you Sicilian?” “No.” Some relief washed upon her face. (Italians don’t like Sicilians!) “Well what are you then?” This was Grandma Bucky, not afraid to ask questions of any kind. Later, at the end of that night, she sternly told Rob and me that “we don’t need any more babies in this family!”
I quickly learned that Grandma Bucky was a “No Nonsense, Right to the Point” kind of lady. She didn’t play games, she just told you straight forward how she felt about things and she expected the same from you. I greatly admire her for that. Too often we spend time playing around or not being honest with others, let alone ourselves. I always knew what Grandma Bucky thought of me, good or bad (as well as everyone else J) She was not the easiest lady to impress either. She had high standards which she especially held all of her children too. She may have been quick to voice her displeasures with her kids, but listening to her talk to others about her children, she was always beaming with pride.
Her family was her life. She had pics of her grandkids in her purse and at her home her walls were lined with one photograph after another. She was truly dedicated to them. She would always be telling me the happenings of one child or another. She was always in the know and if she felt out of touch, she would quickly call you, ask what you are doing, ask you to come take out her trash and bring her some food and then hang up without saying good-bye. (Grandma Bucky did not say good-bye’s—perhaps she did not like the finality of them—or she was trying to always keep the conversation open so that you would feel obligated to call back.) She would always have a reason for us to come and visit her (food or trash were the main ones she would give). She loved the company.
A couple of “unbelievably” true stories of Bucky: One day one of Ryan’s high school friends was driving in a rough area of Milwaukee to discover Grandma Bucky hitchhiking! Turns out she would often hitchhike to get to the Walgreen’s on that side of town. She said that Walgreens was cheaper than the fancy ones. Ryan’s friend was nice enough to take her home, but wow! Do you see how much she trusted others?!
At my wedding shower she sat in front of a group of friends and was passing gas. She accused the girls of doing it (something she would often do—pass the blame on to someone else.) Grandma was a lady after all and would never confess to such a dirty deed! J
Turns out that Grandma Bucky actually had—and still has friends in the mafia. Occasionally she runs into them—(and yes I have been there at a time when she ran into these mafia men.) They are such gentlemen with her and show her such respect and I know she LOVED it!
My best memories of Bucky will be her occasional outbursts which were off the wall and at times just unbelievable—most due to Richard’s prodding. “Richard—I would never “off” my roommate!” “Yeah—I got some bling!” “I lost 200 lbs last month, just look at me!” “I can bench 150 lbs, I did it yesterday.” “I have a wire in my chin.” (She was convinced—again I believe from Richard’s doing—that she had a wire growing out of her chin. She even persuaded cousin/Dr. Paul to look at it.)
One of Grandma Bucky’s most common quotes was “Everybody loves me!” Well Grandma—that is definitely true. People who did not even know you, have been touched by the joy in your stories and your life. Your presence, spontaneity and honesty will be missed. Your life on this Earth was TOO short, but we now know that you are having an eternity in heaven. I love you Grandma.
