Grandma had a lot of life’s lessons to teach

Boston Herald ^ | 2-7-11 | Joe Fitzgerald

[abbyg55]

Billy O’Donnell wasn’t looking for a story because, as he readily noted, “My grandmother never did anything earth-shattering.” Yet he couldn’t help adding, “But we sure could learn a lot from her.”

Her name was Delia Lane and she died last week at 106. To me, she symbolized the American Dream,” he said. “She was 18 when she came here from Ireland where she grew up on a farm in the village of Kilskeagh, one of the fields of Athenry. She came because there was no work back home. Usually we picture immigrants making a tough voyage, but she always said, ‘Oh, it was grand; we danced across the ocean!’ She arrived aboard the Chimera in 1923, but they had to wait an extra day before sailing into Boston out of respect for the death of President Harding.”

[abbyg55]

His grandmother reminds me of my grandma, who came to America from Germany in 1896 when she was 18. She loved this country and always felt privileged to live here. She died in 1995 at age 99 and I miss her so much. But part of me is glad she isn't here to see what Obama has done to her beloved America.

[skr]

‘Oh, it was grand; we danced across the ocean!’

With an attitude like that, she couldn't help but live well wherever she went!

[abbyg55]

I can almost hear her Irish brogue, “Oh, it was grrrrrrrrrand”.