A single mom at age fifteen,
A mind of her own, entire.
When women's lib came on the scene,
No changes were required.

She raised her daughter up to be,
Equally independent.
In ev'ry way, I have to say,
She was her mom's descendant.

She didn't like the "Grandma" name,
Being only thirty-five.
So Gan-gan was the name she chose,
When her first grandchild arrived.

She worked at jobs for other folks,
No time to be romantic.
My first memory of her work,
Shipping vitamins organic.

Her only child raised up and wed,
She started her own bus'ness.
And quite successful was she too,
To that I am a witness.

Chiropractors phones she answered,
Black phones with dials dismounted.
She never missed a call for them,
The only thing that counted.

Twice a year she would take time off
At Christmas and Thanksgiving.
On Black Friday, go downtown,
To do our Christmas shopping.

The window decorations charmed,
Our little eyes with wonder.
We'd stop and stare in rapt delight,
As the crowds around would thunder.

On streetcars we would make the trip,
Those special times with Gan-gan.
And memory still melts my heart,
Even now as an old man.