Howdy,
We hit the road and took to the hills this weekend, spending Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Mariposa with my Grandmother.
Grandma West, or, as she is called by our boys and now must everyone else in the family, Grammabel.
Grammabel takes in her first name, Isabel. Grandma Isabel. But we never called Grandma that. And as a great-grandmother, Grandma and Isabel was combined for Grammabel.
I always hesitate a beat, and wonder, writing down Grammabel, because of the spelling. There have been a few renditions, and I’m not sure if anyone quite knows how we’re supposed to spelling it.
It’s a cool name. But is it Grandma Bel? Grandmabel? Gramabel?
Grammabel, like I’ve gravitated toward and I suppose committed to on cards and things, mostly because that’s how I’ve seen her write it on Christmas cards to us. If I remember correctly, I don’t think that’s how I used to spell it when we commenced with the Grandmother Isabel combination for common and familiar interaction and conversation.
I have seen written, Grandma Belle, but that makes no sense to me since her name Isabel doesn’t have the extra “le” at the end and were not just talking about any ol’ beautiful lady being our Grandma. (I don’t remember who — so no offense intended. It could have been Grandma West herself, for all I know. I’m sure we’ve confused her with the name switch and barrage of spellings as it is …)
We could have simply called her Great-Grandma West since she’s the greatest grandma out west that we’ve got!
Anyways, settling on Grammabel, it was a great family weekend in Mariposa with her. A nice visit with Grammabel. And beautiful weather and outside play for the boys — including a return to the Christmas-present Power Wheels Dune Racer. We unlocked the secret high speed on it, and the boys went for it!
Crazy drivers … with mad skills!
I didn’t expect this post to be about my Grandma West’s great-grandma name, but it is interesting, at least to me, and I do like it and how Isabel is incorporated. Isabel is a great name and has the meanings “My God is bountiful” or “devoted to God.” It’s so neat and a great blessing to hear my boys say, “Grammabel, …” this and “Grammabel, …” that. A very sweet name coming out of their young mouths.
And I think Grammabel likes it too.
Love you, Grammabel. Thanks for the nice weekend!
—Billy
Reading. Writing. Living.
Word Count: 56,965 / On Pace: 57,750 / Year’s Goal: 200,000
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