Day 26: Great Grandmothers

Roger and I have responsibility for our first grandbaby, Olivia, for several days. Aidan is traveling with his parents as he is still nursing. We thought it would be a good opportunity to visit Roger's mother, Ginny, in Mankato this week-end, while we had Olivia. A wonderful opportunity for all of us to be together and spend time in the Mankato parks and Ginny's garden.

Olivia calls Ginny "Great Grammy Mac." The idea came from the first grade children Ginny teaches every day during the school year...they call her Grammy Mac....so we just added the "Great."

One aspect I really enjoy in "my new life" is the time for more unusual musings. So today I was wondering about the origin of the term "great" for grandmothers and grandfathers of the previous generation. After searching on the internet, I could not locate origins for the term, so I looked up the term "great"...and it became clear why "great" was chosen for referring to our "previous generation" grandparents"...read all the various meanings of "great"....I think they all make really good sense...

of major significance or importance; "a great work of art"; "Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century"

remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect; "a great crisis"; "had a great stake in the outcome"

bang-up: very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"

a person who has achieved distinction and honor in some field; "he is one of the greats of American music"

Ginny certainly fits these definitions...especially in Olivia's eyes.