Gramma Jan Reads the Fargo Forum

I have much to share from our exciting trip to North Dakota last week, but I’m still working on a lot of the photographs, so I thought I would start by sharing my very favorite three photographs of Gramma Jan. I have probably mentioned before that I love to take photographs of Gramma Jan because not only is she one of my most favorite people in the world, BUT she is amazingly cooperative when it comes to photographs. She doesn’t cringe, and turn the opposite direction like so many of my family when I want to take a photograph. She doesn’t get nervous or sheepish or jump at the sound of the shutter clicking away repeatedly. She just ignores me and goes right about her business of reading the newspaper. Which is perfect. I have some pictures of Gramma Jan looking up, also, but I LOVE these pictures of her looking down at the newspaper because that is exactly how I think of her looking when I’m far away in Minnesota. So many afternoons when I was a teenager I’d zip across the driveway and read Newsweek, the Smithsonian, National Geographic, and the New York Desk Reference Book (such an interesting book of facts and lists) while Gramma Jan chewed away at Time magazine or the newspaper.

Gramma Jan is probably my most faithful blog reader, and she’s also a great poet. When I was home visiting she gave me a worn black folder of poetry she penned herself. I love it. Thanks Gramma. I could go on and an about how special you are!