Sex and the Lutheran Woman

Grandma was endlessly upset and intrigued with the topic of sex. She’d rant about how irresponsible my parents were in allowing us kids to see our farm animals mating. It was a sin! We shouldn’t be exposed to, to, that!

In later years, after I was married, I remember a particular visit with Grandma at her house. She and I were having coffee and discussing television shows. Grandma was an avid soap opera fan and frequently riled by the sexually-themed story lines.   As our conversation continued she let out a wistful sigh. “Gail, when I see how the women act on television I can’t help but wonder if I ever satisfied your grandpa. You know…in bed. I certainly didn’t do the things those women do.”

While it was one of those topics a granddaughter backs away from with a healthy “Ewww, I do NOT want to think about Grandma and Grandpa doing it,” I was nonetheless touched that she shared that tiny window of intimacy with me. Woman to woman for a change, instead of protective Grandmother to innocent granddaughter. Perhaps Grandma’s prudish ways prompted my mom to go in the opposite direction.

More next week!