*July 4, 1894...My grandmother's birthday*

[3catwoman3]

28. My maternal grandmother was also born on July 4th. 1899.

She was an independent type, from fittingly enough. She ran away from her alcoholic mother when she was about 11, and lived with a paternal aunt for some time. She left that home at 16 to go to nursing school. My grandfather, who was a dentist, was a patient of hers during a hospitalization for burns on his face from an explosion in his dental lab. They got engaged on New Year's Eve of 1919, and were married in June of 1920. I wear her engagement and wedding rings on my right hand, and I treasure them. Both of their initials and the dates my grandfather gave them to my grandmother are engraved inside of each ring.

My mom, the oldest of their 4 children (and still here at 95), was also a nurse, now retired. I am the 3rd generation of nurses, and am a pediatric nurse practitioner.

While visiting my mom this past April, I came across my grandmother's nursing school diploma in a basement closet. It is dated June 22, 1918. Just rolled up and sitting on a shelf, no protective wrapping at all, and in almost perfect condition. I will now treasure it, too.

Thanks for your post, CP, both for the chance to learn about your grandmother, and to share the story of mine.