ngirilover: my granddaughter and john hope

I am now an official grandmother and of course have lost my mind over this beautiful little girl who has entered the lives of her parents and mine. I was always told that you lose your mind when you become a grandmother, but I didn't believe it-yet, it is true. You look at this incredible innocence and you just want to protect it. The little baby's very elderly (hmm 28) year old auntie has decided that it is time to train her to understand and say the word "monkey", and is currently working on flash cards. She does have beautiful long toes and fingers, so she may be able to find her agile way out of many scrapes and over the edges of hedges and crib sides. But at this time she is just lovely. Here are just a few pictures. We also must correct the notion that she has no eyebrows, they are lovely.!

Mom and baby, very happy (with eyebrows)

Baby's feet perfect for climbing

Mom teaching monkey talk

Mom laughing with Chrissy on phone regarding monkey training

The grandmas!

Grandpa is obviously as sleepy as baby girl

The sad part of the day-or rather the thoughtful part of the day, was when the news arrived that John Hope Franklin died today. My friends and family know that John Hope and My father often referred to themselves as "twins". They had known and loved one another for a very long time. My dad's respect for John Hope and his devout friendship lasted for decades. When dad died, John Hope simply replied, "I already know. You always know when your twin has died. " Therefore, I was not surprised that I would have dreamed about John Hope last night and felt that I would not see this gentle giant again in this life. For many people, he was the great African American Historian, or the great American Historian. For others, he was an amazing orchid gardener and beloved mentor. For some, a fierce warrior who fought racism and wrongful acts against anyone. For others a sort of terrifying man who believed that you have to work hard, and harder to earn your success, and that there are no excuses for poor outcomes if you don't work as hard as you can. And then, there were some of us who put all those things together, but just loved him because he was kind, fair, and tolerant-forgiving of our lack of knowledge or a little uneasy of being around such greatness. I had many memories of John Hope-My youngest daughter interviewed him for a history project, and he told her about growing up in the Jim Crow violent South, but did it with gentle humor so that her 7th grade heart wouldn't break. His wife was in the early stages of Alzhimers and he gently guided her into the living room so that she could be part of the interview. I remember some of his speeches. I remember he and dad together talking, and mother and Aurelia shaking their heads at the "twins" as they talked about new works, new events. I remember how Bouna, John Hope's African son invited John Hope and Dad to be on his show one father's day, and to talk about what it was like to be a father. Dad loved it, and I know that John Hope did, too. I remember stories of his and Jesse Jackson's relationship and how much he enjoyed visits from Reverend Jackson. I remember him coming to Chrissy's Syringa Tree and being overwhelmed at her acting and at the show. I remember him telling my brother and his wife, "let's not talk history, let's talk orchids". I remember running into him as he was riding Southwest to see his son and a grand opening of a Smithsonian showing and how we got to ride together and talk all the way to DC. I remember him coming to dad's memorial service and how much I wanted to have him bring dad back just for a moment. I loved his story of going to Timbuktu with his son and the crazy dash to the overcrowded airplane. I remember the story of the surreal trip he made to our beloved Tanzania (Tanganyika at the time) for the first presidential innauguration in Zanzibar, just a few days after JFK's assassination. Sometimes, when I read about all the things that happened to him or heard him tell about them, it just didn't seem possible that they could have happened to this gentle giant, this kind soul who seemed to have transcended the hatred and violence that was directed against him just because of the color of his skin. But, then you would feel the warmth behind him, but also the fierce championship for the rights of all people for equal opportunity regardless of their wealth or color of their skin.

Somehow, if there were a line or two for the history books and John Hope Franklin, I hope they remember his humanity, his individual love towards people despite all the terrible things that happened to him during his life. He won so many awards and met every famous person, but above all he was so thoughtful, so human and so kind, and such a loyal friend.