The next Grilled Grandma

This week we have our first Grilled Grandma from across the pond. Linds hails from middle England yet she exemplifies that grandmas are grandmas, no matter where they call home. (Although I do love her very unAmerican use of the word "Mum" instead of "Mom"!)

Linds offers up the most interesting grandma name I've heard yet. When asked what her grandchildren call her, she has this sweetness to impart:

"I will be Moregranny. My daughter-in-law’s Mum is Granny, you see, and I had a Moregranny when I was a child, and love the name. When I was 2, my paternal grandmother moved to the city where we lived, and my mother explained that I had another Granny, and as a toddler, I apparently looked at her and said “More Granny?” And the name stuck. Everyone called her Moregranny till the day she died, and she had a special place in my heart, so being Moregranny will be delightful."

So heartwarming and so special! I love that!

Find out more about Moregranny, er, Linds by reading her grilling right here.

Then consider the grandmas in your life, and send me the first names and e-mail addresses of one and all you think might be up for a grilling themselves -- even if that grandma is you!

Today's question:

What accent or language do you find most interesting? Can you speak a foreign language?

My answer: I love British accents. I can't speak any other language -- unless pig latin counts. (Although I can count to ten in Spanish, to five in German, and know a couple of colors in Spanish.)

The next Grilled Grandma

This week's Grilled Grandma shares the name of the grandma I grilled just two weeks ago: Cherylann (although the first one went by Cheryl Ann).

I thought it was kind of interesting that I came to know two grandmas with that name in such a short period of time -- especially considering that I'd never before met anyone named Cheryl Ann ... or Cherylann ... before.

Incidentally, I recently read a post on Susan's Grandparents Blog (Susan being the About.com Guide to Grandparents and a regular Grandma's Briefs reader) about a feature on the Social Security Administration's website that allows curious minds to research Popular Baby Names. So, being of a curious mind and all, I typed the name Cheryl into the nifty search engine and found that it was among the top 20 baby names from 1955 to 1961 -- prime years for today's crop of grandmas!

I'm honored two of those Cheryls have graced the Grilled Grandmas page and am happy to introduce you to the latest. You can meet this week's Cherylann right HERE.

If your name is Cheryl and you'd like to be featured as a Grilled Grandma -- or if you have a name of a different sort and want to be a Grilled Grandma -- be sure to contact me with your first name (Cheryl or not) and your e-mail address and I'll add you to the schedule of upcoming grillings.

Today's question:

How do you feel about your name?

My answer: I've always liked my name, especially because the E on the end of my middle name (Anne) made me just a little bit different -- even though I've always been one among many Lisas in the room, as a child and as an adult. That covers my first and middle name. My maiden name, I was happy to be rid of because no one could ever pronounce it correctly and it led to me being nicknamed "Aquawoman" in elementary school. (Dummy classmates had no idea I couldn't swim, which made the nickname all the more moronic.)

The next Grilled Grandma

As I formatted this week's Grilled Grandma, one word kept coming to mind: a lot. (Well, that's technically two words.) Grilled Grandma Donna has a lot of kids, a lot of grandkids, a lot of energy and chutzpah (she's a true motorcycle mama), and clearly a lot of love as it just oozes from her answers and the photos she's shared.

She also has a lot of wisdom, evidenced by the great answers she gave to my grilling. One of the biggies was her response to my question of what she finds most challenging about being a grandma. Donna said, "For me it’s worrying about them growing up in this day and age. Growing up in the 50’s was a pretty good time, I wouldn’t want to be a kid now and have to deal with the information overload and peer pressure they have."

I think that's something all grandmas worry about but because most of those I've grilled so far (and myself) have fairly young grandchildren, it's not yet been voiced. It's refreshing to see that shared worry put into words.

I've never met Donna in person, but if I did, I'd want to just give her a great big hug. She warms my heart ... a lot. I think she'll do the same for you, too. Check out her grilling HERE, then be sure to visit her websites. She's an interesting woman with a lot to share. (Yep, there's that word again.)

If you or someone you know may be up for a grilling, be sure to send me a first name and e-mail address and I'll get right on it.

Today's question:

What do you think is the most positive difference between what kids now experience compared to the formative years many of us experienced decades ago?

My answer: I think there's more knowledge of and acceptance of (I hope) different races, cultures, religions, etc. We were much more sheltered and ignorant of those realities years ago. Being aware of and accepting of such differences makes for better kids, a better world. (And yeah, there's still much, much room for improvement in terms of acceptance.)

The next Grilled Grandma

Cheryl Ann is our next grandma up for a grilling, and I'm quite impressed by this woman's ability to juggle. It's not balls or bottles or chainsaws or whatever folks typically choose to juggle that Cheryl Ann juggles; it's her time with five horses, four cats, two dogs, eight blogs (yes, EIGHT blogs!) and one precious grandbaby.

In addition to all that juggling, Cheryl Ann also provides yet another super-original answer to my question of "What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you?" Her answer: "HORSES!" Her hope will be answered, I'm sure, once her grandson spends just a smidgen of time with the impressive rescue horses, geldings and more that Cheryl Ann takes care of. (I don't know horse lingo, so that's as good as you'll get from me. Sorry! Just take a look at the beauties on her blog and you may be speechless, too!)

Take some time to get to know Cheryl Ann by reading her grilling HERE. And do leave her a little comment love, if you have time.

Administrative note: If you've been a Grilled Grandma in the past and didn't get the snazzy new badge I created for Grilled Grandmas (you can see it on the Grilled Grandmas page), let me know and I'll send you the code to create a badge for your blog that links directly to your grilling.

Of course if you've NOT been grilled and want a badge for yourself, offer yourself up for a grilling and a badge is yours once the grilling is complete. Simply contact me to get the ball rolling.

Today's question:

If you could own any animal, what would you like to have? (Cost/space/feeding logistics aren't a consideration.)

My answer: I think it'd be kind of cool to own a giraffe. They're so odd yet seem so mellow and content. Plus, Bubby and all the grandkids to come could spend hours feeding her crackers and giggling about her long, long tongue. (Yes, it would have to be a girl ... just because.)