Gertrude and Me

My maternal grandmother, a Ukrainian immigrant, made lace and clothing samples for a manufacturer. It is her lace on Gertrude and Me. The eyes are mine. Gertrude and I did not have a close relationship. She was a rather cold woman, quite harsh, and I don’t feel like I knew her well, though she and my grandfather lived with us growing up. On the other hand, I am so proud of my grandmother, who was also a suffragette and labor organizer, and an incredibly strong woman. She taught English and helped refugees, and one day recently, when I was doing the same things, I realized why I had needed to do this piece.