Granny's Legacy

Silver gray hair

Lola Umalliw in deep thoughts

Neatly combed in place
There were four generations
Of love on her face
She was so wise
No surprise passed her eyes
She's seen it all

I was a child, oh
About three or four
All day I'd ask questions
At night I'd ask more
But whenever, she never
Would ever turn me away
No, no oh woah
I'd say how can I be sure
What is right or wrong
And why does
What I want
Always take so long
Please tell me
Where does God live
And why won't
He talk to me
I'd say Grandma
What is love
Will I ever find out
Why are we so poor
What is life about
I wanna know the answers
Before I fall off to sleep
Woah ho woah ho

She saw the smile
As she tucked me in
Then she pulled up that
Old rockin' chair once again
But tonight she was
Slightly, remarkably
Different somehow
Slowly she rocked
Lookin' half asleep
Grandma yawned
As she stretched
Then she started to speak
What she told me
Would mould me and holds me
Together inside
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

She said all the things you ask
You will know someday
But you have got to live
In a patient way
God put us here by fate
And by fate that means
Better days

She said, child we are all
Moons in the dark of night
Ain't no mornings gonna come
Till the time is right
Can't get no better days lest
You make it through the night
You gotta make it
Through the night
Yes you do
You can't get to no
Better days
Unless you make it
Through the night (baby)
Oh ho, you will see
Those better days
But you gotta be patient
Be patient, oh baby
Be patient

Later that year at 

Lola Malliw always asks "Nangan kan?"

The turn of spring
Heaven sent angels down
And gave Grandma her wings
Now, she's flyin'
And slidin', and glidin'
In better days
And although
I'm all grown up
I still get confused
I stumble through the dark
Getting bumped and bruised
When night gets in my way
I could still hear
My Grandma say
I can hear her say
I can hear her sayin'

You can't get to no
Better days
Unless you make it
Through the night (baby)
Oh ho, you will see
Those better days
But you gotta be patient
Child, do you hear me, yeah
Well, well, well, well
You can't get to no, no
Better days
Unless you make it
You got to make it
You got to make it
Through the night
Oh Grandma, oh Grandma
Do you see me now, lady
Oh oh oh oh oh
Tender replies

 



 

I always find myself humming this song of Dianne Reeves whenever I think of Lola Umalliw. 

Better Days is just the song for her.

 

Lola Umalliw did not have a formal education. At times, her ignorance is just so appalling. You would grow weary of her unending questions. She just seems to meddle at everything you  do.  Sometimes, my nephews and nieces find her a nuisance. They mimic her. They laugh at her. They make her mad. She makes them mad.

Life has been tough on her but life has taught her much. She has grown old with wisdom and is never selfish to share it.
 

 



In her youth, she was a beauty to behold! With Lolo Manolo

Life has been tough on her but she fights back. She has raised her ten children well. And her

50 grandchildren have much to say about her pure heart.

Her 37 great-grandchildren are just so lucky to still have her.

 

 

 Lola Umalliw, no greater words would define your being. You would always be my loving LOLA...

 

 

I always honor my Mom with words of love and praise

I always tell about her goodness

and her kind and loving ways..

Yet I should also think of you Grandma

For you mothered my dear Mom

As Mom mothers me

So shall I mother my own child....