Generosity, part one

Leta loved to be generous. She had spent so many of her years struggling financially that once she had arrived at a state of comfort, she wanted to assist others to be so. She had lived through the financial stresses after the death of her beloved Albert in 1927, the monetary instability of being married to Ora Freeman, the persistent poverty after divorcing Leech Hoose, the Great Depression, and the quick dwindling of her finances during her unhappy marriage to Claud Bassett. She had scrimped and sacrificed and saved. She had gone hungry. She had lost opportunities because she did not have the funds to enjoy them. She had lived a long time.

Finally, when she was in her sixties, she had achieved a financial state in which she not only could completely take care of her own needs, but also enjoy some luxuries. More heartwarming to her was that she could financially assist her grandchildren. Her children were financially secure and did not need her support. Her daughter Vivian and son-in-law Edward were more than solvent. They owned their own home. Ed had a good job as an electrical engineer. Ed had even invested in the stock market. He was so smart with his investments that he also managed some of hers. Her son Dale and his wife Kate were also money-conscious. Dale had worked for the same automotive company for decades. He earned a good salary. He and his wife Kate owned their own house, took family vacations, and had savings. Both of her children were saving for retirement. Her son and son-in-law purchased new cars every four years or so—comfortable sedans. They were secure.

In 1960, her oldest grandchild Donald married. He was too young. He was going to college. He was working. A wife would interfere with this path. However, he met a wonderful girl—beautiful, friendly, proper and poor. For the wedding, her mother prepared all of the food, a herculean task for 200 guests. Leta gave the newlyweds a sizable wedding gift. She wanted the young couple to use the money to remain stable while Don finished his schooling, but almost a year to the day later, the baby came. Up until then her granddaughter-in-law had been working, but a baby changes everything. The mother stayed home, and Leta’s grandson temporarily left college and went to work to support his family. Leta gave them a big financial gift for the baby, and her granddaughter-in-law immediately opened a savings account for the boy.

In 1962, her second grandchild Connie married. Again, Leta believed that she was too young, only 19 years old. But she was pleased to be able to make a generous financial gift to the newlyweds. Connie had her first child in 1963, and Leta made a financial gift for the baby.

When he was seventeen years old, her grandson Alan paid her a visit. She was living in an apartment near the University of Toledo. He was in his senior year of high school and just finished the football season. He was wearing his letter jacket, a sign of prestige in his small suburban town, especially since his team was its league championship that year.

“I see you’ve got your jacket on,” Leta noted.

Alan stood up a little bit straighter. He liked to have others notice.

“Yep,” he acknowledged proudly. “We’re the champs.”

They sat at the kitchen table, and she gave him a couple of freshly made raisin cookies.

“I almost made a pie today,” she said, “but something told me to make cookies instead.”

“And here I am! Thanks, Grandma.”

“How are your dad and mom?” Leta inquired.

“Doing good,” he said as he nearly swallowed the first cookie whole.

“And your new niece?”

“Cute as a button,” he answered. Alan’s older sister Connie had recently given birth to her second child.

“I’d sure like to see that baby again.”

“Connie doesn’t really go anywhere,” Alan explained. “She and her husband Ed only have one car, and he works a lot.”

Leta sipped her coffee. Alan finished his two cookies and milk.

“Would you like another one?” she asked when he finished. His face it up.

“Yes, please,” he said.

She stood, took the plate she had given him and went to the counter.

“Grandma,” he said once her back was turned. “I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I need to buy a car.”

To be continued.