Grannie Annie loves Sarah Palin. I mean she really loves Sarah Palin. She loves her so much that, in all her years I've only known her to read the Bible or other religious books, and yet she's requested Palin's "Going Rouge" in large print.I don't love Sarah Palin. I inwardly sneer at her faux pas and blunders.
But I do love Grannie Annie. I have learned so much from her, from her stories, from her life, from her humor, from her strength. When our family gets together we play dominos and sometimes I catch myself, oblivious to the game, simply staring at Grannie Annie. In that stolen moment, I am present to how much I love her and I try in vain to make the moment last as I know she won't be here forever. I'm only brought back to the game when her blue eyes catch mine as she fusses at me to hurry up and take my turn.
I did something very dumb recently on my FaceBook page. I posted a political comment in my status and wow, did that stir the pot! The responses started to fly and it got really nasty. I've always prided myself in not identifying with either political party too much. "I'm not Red or Blue", I'd say, "I'm Purple" as I aspired to blend the best of both political views. All this brew-ha-ha raised on FaceBook though reminded me of why I'm making this documentary - I am always amazed at how different Grannie Annie and I are: she's a native Texan, I'm a native Yankee. She didn't finish high school, I graduated from the University of Texas w/ Highest Honors. She had her 1st baby at 18, I'm childless at 39. She is a devout Southern Baptist, I'm best described as New-Agey. Then there is the Palin thing.
Yet for all of our differences, we're family, we're inextricably connected. For all of our differences, I only exist because she exists. And I don't just mean in the obvious physical sense. I mean for every hardship she's been through, I've benefitted from it. She essentially raised my mother on her own for many years and the stories of her strength and family devotion have shaped me. When I need strength, I draw on Grannie Annie's example.
Grannie Annie has also taught me that our differences are irrelevant. In fact, in many ways, they make us the same. Her strong spiritual life practiced as a Baptist for example, has taught me the importance of a connection to God, though I practice it differently from her. Isn't America like that? We are so diverse, yet essentially aren't we the same? Our political opinions or religious views will vary, but don't we rely and depend on each other?
Yes, Grannie Annie and I are very different from each other, yet it is from her that I've learned how to live.
