|
a.
|
Note: Her grandchildren called her "Granny." We used to go to her house every Christmas and she gave all her grandchildren presents. The last present she gave me was a quilt she had made to give me at my wedding. She enjoyed quilting. The thing is that she made it long before I had even met my wife. It was a good thing too. She got sick and died and never knew Tina. I wish she'd had. My memories of her include picking green beans, talking about the Bible--she was a Bible trivia expert. We debated often about "Once saved always saved." I think she changed her mind last time I was able to talk to her. I remember that last time. I was in college in Texas. Traveling back I stopped in Lebanon to spend a few days with her (Autumn was with me too). The few days was more than I planned, but I for some reason, thought I should stay longer. I'm glad I did. A few months later she got sick and wasn't in her "right mind" until she died in 1995. I hope who ever reads this in the future will remember that no matter how long science can extend life, it's still so short.
I remember she made "spice tea" that I loved so much. She used to make "Elderberry jelly" for me because she knew I liked it. Elderberries grow wild in middle Tennessee. We used to pick blackberries too. (I didn't like them, however). I remember fishing up on the hill too. They had a pond (now long gone and dried) stocked with fish. I fished with a long pole. One time I caught a fish and was so excited I pulled it out of the water not watching where I was swinging it and hit Granny right in the face!
She used to tell me ghost stories. My favorite is the simplest. She'd say, "On a full moon up this road, they say there is a ghost. When the moon casts your shadow on one side, look on the other and you might see ANOTHER shadow!" She told me the story of "Where's My Big Toe?!" There was this poor farmer digging in his garden when he came upon this big toe in the dirt. It was so big! and being hungry, he took it home and he and his wife ate it for dinner. That night when they were in the bed. They heard this noise outside. Then a small voice was heard "Wheeeerrrreess my big tooooooooe?" Well, you can guess the rest. She taught us how to tie clover together to make a rope. We made pistols out of a plant native to Tennessee but I don't remember the name. The flowering part would pop off! She was a good cook. We used to eat slices of tomato with salt or cucumbers just sliced and eaten as a side dish, something I still do. Interestingly, she was a big fan of Elvis Presley and had his album "Blue Hawaii." She was able to go to Hawaii once herself.
She didn't like my dad at first, but over the years grew to love him, especially after he became a minister.
From LeAnne:
Eric remmebers playing cards with Granny alot and she always called Aces Asses. She hated to get them in Shang-hi (I don't know how to spell it.) I remember picking green beans when I was really small with Granny and she picked a green snake. It scared me to death but she just said its a green snake and threw it away. I guess a tradition that I remember was canning tomatoes out under the pear tree. She had a table out there and she would peel the tomatoes and work under that tree. Of course, none of us will ever forget all the dinners at Granny's. Those days will never be again. Do you remember how she used to make stuff all the time? She had a workshop. I still have a bookcase she made me when I was only 7. I used to get off the bus at Granny's and she would always have me a grilled cheese made and a glass of tea. I could count on it. One of the weeks that me, Debbie and Sheila stayed with Granny and Granddaddy, they fixed us a tent in the back of the truck. She put a mattress in the back and made a top for it and ran a light out there. Of course I dont think we stayed out there long. She had to fight with Granddaddy, he thought she was ridiculas to do that.
|
