Cyclone139

Riley recently posted on Twitter that his grandmother was not feeling well. I hope she's recovered enough to enjoy Thanksgiving with the family.

FoxPhile

I hope she's okay!

Cyclone139

He posted a photo, she seems to be feeling better now.

FoxPhile

That's good. I love that he calls his grandmother Heart.

Cyclone139

It's cute. I've heard a wide variety of names people choose to call their grandparents (or that the grandparents choose to be called), but never this one.

FoxPhile

We called my American grandmother Mamie. I have no idea where that came from - it wasn't her name, but I suspect it had something to do with things my older brother couldn't pronounce as a baby. For years I thought it *was* her name and I was totally shocked when I found out what her name really was.

WeBuiltThePyramids

I know a couple people who call their grandmother Mamie, though that was odd to me when I first heard of it because I'd only ever known Mamie as a nickname/pet name for Mary.

FoxPhile

The only other person I'd ever heard of with the name Mamie was President Eisenhower's wife. I thought it was cool that my grandmother had the same name.

Cyclone139

I've never heard the name at all. Is it pronounced Mammy, or May-mee? (Or something else?)

FoxPhile

May-mee.

I think it may have started because my brother was practically raised by my grandmother until he was about 4 years old because my dad was in med school and my mom was working to put him through med school. I heard a story once that he started calling her "Momma", which of course, my mom didn't like too much. But he couldn't say "Grandma" or anything like it. This was during the time when Eisenhower was in office, and my mom was a huge fan of his, so she taught him to call her Mamie and the rest of us fell in line.

WeBuiltThePyramids

And somehow the woman with the history degree totally forgot about Mamie Eisenhower.

FoxPhile

Well, it's not like she was Eleanor Roosevelt. Mamie Eisenhower didn't do a lot as First Lady except wear nice clothes and host parties.

Cyclone139

I've always liked that your Presidents' spouses are given a title and a prominent position in public life. Although the wife (or husband) of our Prime Ministers are visible at official engagements, they're usually just there to "support" the PM - so smile, shake hands, don't do anything embarrassing!

FoxPhile

Most First Ladies come up with some sort of program that they promote for social good. It's a great way to capitalize on their visibility.

Cyclone139

To be fair, I'm sure ours probably do charity work too.