Pussy Willow
I have a little pussy,
And her coat is silver-grey;
She lives in a great wide meadow
And she never runs away.
She always is a pussy,
She’ll never be a cat
Because—she’s a pussy willow!
Now what do you think of that?
Author Unknown.
K has been singing this song often. It makes me think of my Grandmother.
Pussy Willows have always made me think of my Grandmother. I loved her so much. I can’t believe that I haven’t seen her for almost 20 years… even after all this time, she is still often in my thoughts. After she died, we sprinkled her ashes on the slopes of her beloved Table Mountain. We used a silver spoon. It was a windy day and her ashes took flight with the wind and settled all around us… in our hair, on our eyelashes… we even breathed her in. I loved that… her soul was letting us know that she was part of us and would always be with us.
My Grandfather fashioned a bench for her and placed it under the Pussy Willow in Kirstenbosch Gardens below the mountain. The inscription on the bench reads, ‘Our crystal in the sun.’ We would often find him sitting peacefully on her bench, warming his back in the sun and talking to the Pussy Willow. Now, we go there, whenever we are in Cape Town. It is a lovely memorial to two very special people.
Here is an old photo of us, for K and T, when they are old enough to want to know…
Granny is on the far right. I am the girl sitting in the middle next to my beautiful mom. She would have been saying ‘Shoulders back, Donni!’ Gramps is standing with his arm around a family friend. My aunts, Susan and Ilona, and my cousin, Belinda, are in the photo too. I remember this day as if it were yesterday!
I hope you take this moment to think of someone who was special to you too… your crystal in the sun. I’d love to know who it is and the memory you have of them.
Blessing and magic.
Donni
9 Responses
I have been trying to find a similar song about a little dog that ends with bow, wow, wow, wow, hot dog! You don’t happen to have the words to tht do you? I learned it in grade school, 40+ years ago.
Karen in NE Indiana
Love your stories about your Grandmother. On Easter I was thinking of mine quite a bit. She has not passed on but is in a home and often doesn’t remember much. I called her to tell her I made her rolls for the first time and they turned out well. To my surprise she remembered and we had a nice chat. Grandma’s are special beings!
What a lovely memory. I feel blessed to have known both my grandmothers. I have a pot outside my front door with grape hyacinths and tulips in it, that one of my grandmothers planted up over 15 years ago, just before she died. Every year the flowers open up and I think of my Grandma.
That is wonderful post about your grandmother. I think almost daily of my mother who passed 10 years ago. Oh how I miss her! Warm hugs, Esther
I just love pussy willow. I have never lived in a place that they grow, so they always seems elusive and magical. When I was little I thought that they weren’t real, and the branches people would have were somehow man made. Lovely memory of your grandmother. I wish mine had lived long enough for me to share how much I appreciate all that they did, as women, and mothers.
Pussy Willows make me think of my grandmother, too. She grew both the silver and the black (she was especially proud of the black pussy willow tree).
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was August 17, 2009–NOT at all pussy willow blooming season. On August 28th the pussy willow tree in my mother’s backyard bloomed. In fact, I have some of the dried branches here in my dining room–with a little tag attached, reminding me of this little “miracle.”
I’m convinced this was a message from my grandmother–letting me know I’d be okay. And, I am. I am 100% cancer-free. :)
Such a beautiful story, and the photograph is so great! Even before you asked who was special to us I was thinking of my grandmother Anne, although she dies when I was just a few years old I have so many memories of her, sitting beside her at the piano, walking around the block, out near the flowers, and of course in the kitchen. Lots of kitchen memories of my grandpa too!
You know that is the most requested song by my girls the past couple of weeks?!
Such a beautiful story. Makes me think of my garndmother. She passed away unfortunately from cancer when I was only 10. I wish I had more time with her… But my memories, oh how I hold them tight. She was such a creative person and I think any and all of my creativity comes from her <3
This was so wonderful to read Donni, thank you so much for sharing:) I remember your mom so well from when we were little:) She was wonderful. Have a lovely week my friend,
Warmly
Linda