Vacation Time When I was a boy I went to elementary school in Illinois, but my mother would pack us all up and go to Mississippi each summer. It was the one thing I looked forward to each year. The excitement grew as each mile grew closer to Grandma's house. I would barely let the car come to a stop before I jumped out and ran to Grandma's open arms. One time I did get a terrible lecture from my Mom for jumping out before the car was stopped! The Blessing and the Curse... I was Grandma's favorite of all the grandkids, because I paid her the most attention. Some of the others were jealous, but she explained one day that I was the one grandchild who always "got under my skin". What she meant was that I snuggled up to her emotionally so much more. Most of the hours she spent in the old country grocery store I was right with her, pricing cans and bottles, or straightening shelves. When we were not busy, we did crossword puzzles together. One year she let me put all of the green stamps she had saved into the redemption books. When I was finished she told me I coul keep them and cash them in. To me this represented a world of wealth! When we went home I forgot the books. Lessie, the black woman who cleaned house found them, but when asked where they were, replied,"I found dem stamps, Miss Emmer, (Emma) but dey's all stuck together in dem books, an' by the time I got dem all unstuck, dey weren't no good!" Finger Nippin' Good! I poked my finger in a chicken cage when I was young and one of the young friers pecked me. I went crying to my grandma. She took me out to the cage and asked me which one did it. I pointed a finger at one of them and sid, "that one". We ate that chicken for dinner. I learned very well how to get fried chicken for dinner when I wanted it after that. Words of Endearment I was the oldest of five children. Grandma would come to visit at each birth (or hatching). At the first introduction of a new sibling, we would state that this new baby was "Mine wurs, and nobody elses". It became a favorite expression between us which we still employ with each new grandchild. "Five Widdle Fwirls" When I was in kindergarten I would come home and recite the poems and songs I had learned. Grandma would always love to hear me say them. Her favorite was one about "five little squirrels". In childspeak this was more represented as "five widdle fwirls". I can not remember precisely all the lines of the poem today but perhaps you might remember it and let me know: Five little squirrels sitting in a tree, The first one said "What do I see?" The second one said "I see a man with a gun," The third one said "We'd better run!" The fourth one said "Let's play and have fun" The fifth one said ... "POP" went the gun and away they did run! Youthful Vigor It has only been about 8 years ago when I can still remember seeing this then 82 year old woman on her hands and knees chasing my youngest daughter around the house and beneath the table. Contentment I have not known any one so full of the zest for life, or so filled with love for every one she knew. She worked very hard in the fields as a young woman picking peas, butterbeans or cotton. She raised three daughters alone. My grandfather died when my mother was 9. Grandmother remarried after the girls were grown. My step grandfather had many good qualities but his health was not one of them. She waited on him diligently and dutifully, caring for him and giving him insulin shots daily. I never heard her complain about the situation she was in, but was so thankful for what she had. Stunt Ridin' Granny As a teenager I often teased her about riding motorcycles and doing daredevil stunts. She always agreed that she did such things when nobody was around to see. I think she may still. It was just a few years ago while on a trip to Laurel, MS that Grandma sat in the back seat of her own car as I drove. As I exited the highway we were on I looked back in the rear view mirror and she was gone! As I turned around I could see that she had fallen over, almost in a rigid way, and was having trouble returning to an upright position because she was laughing so hard. What a Granny! Hard Work Years of quilting took its toll on her body by arthritus and a bent over back. So crippled, even yet she still managed to produce a quilt each month or so. She was always productive. What a legacy of memories I have inherited from this marvelous person. steve hodgin copyright 2001 |
Grandma Luckey |
Grandma Luckey |
