‘Real Good’ babysitter fondly remembered
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I can still see her little red car pulling into our long driveway, see the worn cardboard box covered in stickers she always brought with her and hear the reassuring sound of her grandmotherly voice in greeting. Some people, no matter how long ago you knew them, leave a lasting impression on your heart.
Granny Goose was the best babysitter a kid could ever have. She was cheerful, kind and though not our grandmother, she had all the same wonderful grandmotherly traits: quick to smile, easy to please, difficult to anger and johnny-on-the-spot when a hug was needed.
Besides our real grandparents, she was one of two other adults I remember my parents leaving us (my younger brothers and I) in overnight care of. It didn’t happen very often so getting to see Granny Goose was sort of a rare treat. And I’m sure having someone they could rely on to watch their four children, each two years apart from the next, on their busy ranch was a rare treat for my parents too.
Granny Goose was a smaller lady with perfectly combed auburn hair (I would find out later it was a wig), big glasses and a friendly smile. Her sunny, caring nature made her very special to my brothers and me. Her visits were joyful occasions.
Having come highly recommended by fellow Lamaze class participants, Granny Goose was a natural with children. In fact, childcare was her occupation.
The mid-size cardboard box she always carried contained her coffee, creamer and “goodies.” The brightly decorated box was covered in stickers and a testament to her popularity. Though I’m sure she’d added a few of her own stickers over the years, the children she babysat would add stickers when she visited. I remember adding a few of my own “Lisa Frank” stickers.
Sometimes I would ask Granny Goose about a particular sticker and she would tell me a story about which of “her children” had given it to her and what they were like.
She took the name Granny Goose from the popular brand of potato chips. She had the brand’s signature logo – a matronly goose wearing a bonnet and carrying a basket, taped to her sticker box.
Though Lois was her real name, I didn’t find this out for years; I only ever knew her as Granny Goose. I remember asking my Mom one day who this “Lois” lady was she’d been talking about. To my shock, Granny Goose was just a nickname. Her huge six-foot three-inch tall husband, whom she always referred to as “Lover,” we later discovered, was actually named Francis.
After my family moved to Montana from California in 1994, we would receive occasional correspondence from Granny Goose and always a Christmas card.
She signed all of her cards and letters with the classic closing phrase, “God bless you, REAL GOOD.”
Granny Goose passed from this world to the next, last month. When going through her things, one of her daughters found a letter Granny Goose had written me two years ago but never sent. Along with a note about her mother’s passing, she sent me the letter. What a treasure to hear my Granny Goose’s voice through her words one more time. It felt like a farewell hug.
I’ve realized over the years that God has and continues to bless me “REAL GOOD” through the wonderful people in my life. Friends. Family. And those who occupy the special place in between – people, like Granny Goose.
