My wifes husband had a grandmother. Every summer, he would stay with her in her cottage just outside Oxford. She never minded, she seemed to quite enjoy his company. Back then, she ran her own small business she handled everything herself, and made a decent living selling medicinal herbs to the local chemists. My wifes husband still doesnt know exactly how it all worked, but he remembers that, by the standards of the time, she was earning rather well. She was quite a character, a woman with her own peculiar habits. She loved him dearly and never skimped on food, making sure he ate well, but she wouldnt give him a penny when he wanted to spend it on little treats or amusements. The family always assumed she was diligently saving for something.
Her house was full of massive wardrobes with countless drawers, all locked tight. As a boy, my wifes husband was fascinated by what might be inside, but whenever he asked, his grandmother would just say it was all for her business.
Then times changed. Running a business became commonplace, and the competition soon surpassed her. That was when she began working as a healer. She never charged people for her help, but the people who came to her were some of the wealthiest around. We used to visit her while she was still with us. She lived in the most frugal way imaginable ragged clothes, barely more than a crust to eat. We always brought groceries for her, but she would politely refuse, saying we mustnt spoil her she was used to this way of life.
After she passed away, she left the house to my wifes husband. When the time came to sort out her estate and tie up the loose ends, we discovered the larder packed with food, but all of it well past its best. It turned out her grateful clients had been bringing hampers and treats, but she hadnt touched a thing.
But the real shock was when we opened the wardrobes. Inside was a trove of expensive things from the 1990s, an entire museum of oddities all in astonishing quantities. Why she chose to keep her money tied up in things destined to lose value, Ill never understand. That woman remains a mystery to me.
