Welcome to Glamour for Grandmothers

In the late nineteen fifties, I was ill with scarlet fever. My temperature was alarmingly high, and my mother was worried. I was in and out of a state of delirium. My father had just transformed a spare bedroom into a bathroom. Not only did it have a built-in tub, but it also had hot and cold running water. It even had a flush toilet-sweet luxury compared to my past. 

My mother’s friend came to visit and brought with her a cube of lavender bath salts. The two women filled the bathtub and brought me to the bathroom to watch the salt cube dissolve. It was magic! The lavender fragrance filled the room, and the water developed a mauve tinge. They lowered me into the bath, and I thought it was the best experience of my life. 

My mother and her friend talked outside the bathroom, checking, now and then, on my alertness. They wrapped me in a large, plush towel and helped me back to my room. The towel soon smelled of lavender too. My mother dropped a cozy, flannelette nightgown over my head, helping me get my arms into the sleeves, and then she tucked me between clean sheets. I noticed the scent of lavender on my skin. I rolled over, tucked my nose into the crease at my elbow, and drifted to sleep thinking about the experience I had just enjoyed. 

From that day on, I have appreciated a well-planned scented bath, thick towels, clean sheets, and the friendship of caring, older women. I laugh as I write this because the older women were in their thirties. My mother’s friend had silver hair already, and I loved it. I believe that self-care is vitally essential and elevating it to a planned event brings joy, a sense of well-being, and glamour to the bathing experience. 

During the 2020 pandemic, I have thought a great deal about my humble beginnings and how I developed my fondness for some of life’s best experiences. I have also felt blessed that most of the things I consider glamorous were still available to me throughout this time. I am always grateful for the comforts of home. 

Glamour for Grandmothers is available on Facebook and Instagram, both of which feed onto the home page of Glamour for Grandmothers. I look forward to your comments on any of these sites. Signing up to receive this blog means receiving an email from me every couple of weeks.

13 Responses

  1. This was such a beautiful story, I now want to go take a bath!! I loved the picture of you in the tin tub. So CUTE!!!

  2. Ahh…sweet luxury! You always taught me the importance of self-care and putting my best foot forward. I still remember you telling me that you fixed-up for yourself because it made you greet the day feeling like your best self!
    I still hear those words as I start my day! A hot shower, lotion, and lip gloss can go a long way! Well, at this age, a little more than lip gloss, but a girl can dream! Tee hee!

  3. As always, your words inspire us. You have really great stories and I’m looking forward to each and every one. Thanks for sharing!!

  4. My wife said I couldn’t say anything cheeky but let’s just say we have a tub that holds two people and two shower heads in our shower. Keeping clean can be a great indoor sport……..just saying!

  5. What a wonderful memory. It made me sob because lately I haven’t been taking time for these rituals. They are so important for the soul. Thank You for reminding me. I always hang on every word because you have such a wonderful way of bringing me into your writings ??

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