Grannie (by Kristin)

My Grannie never traveled far from home. As far as I know, except for a trip to visit my Dad’s parents in Illinois and the short time that she and Grandaddy lived in Florida, Grannie never left Alabama. Her trips were returns to Walker County and Birmingham to visit and take care of family and friends. In that way, Grannie and I weren’t alike, since I have lived and traveled all over the United States, and I am sure that this wanderlust perplexed her. Not a conversation passed that she didn’t wish for me to live closer to Decatur. In other ways, though, I am very much like her.

Grannie taught me how to chew gum and blow gum bubbles (and warned me that my Mom didn’t like to hear gum-smacking!) She showed me how to keep things neat around her tidy house. She taught me how to make mud pies and look under bricks to discover rolie polies and earthworms. Grannie made the best biscuits and macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had, and I’m still practicing on those, though with my more modern taste for whole wheat products. She loved Elvis and gospel music and listening to preachers on the radio and TV. She loved to talk about the days of growing up in Empire and especially tell stories about her family.

She earnestly told me I could do anything I wanted to if I put my mind to it, and I believed her. She loved to listen – and talk – and had a strong streak of justice in her. It angered her when she felt someone was mistreated. She had simple but beautiful tastes in furnishings, clothes, and jewelry – she liked things in order and not too fancy. Grannie worked hard, even as she aged, and I really respected that. Walking into her home was a haven; the glossy pine cabinets in the kitchen still gleam as bright as they probably did around the time she and Grandaddy moved into their house in the 1960s. Their comfortable living room couch has supported many, many visitors and long, loving and patient conversations.

Probably my most endearing memories with Grannie are from my childhood years. She was the only “babysitter” I ever had. We spent several summers together when my Mom decided to return to college to complete her teaching degree. Those were fun times. Grannie showed me how to make cut-out dolls from the JCPenny catalog, play hopscotch, make brownies, swat flies with the “fly flap”, hide Easter eggs inside on a rainy day. She threw a “dance party” on her carport one summer day for all of the neighborhood kids, complete with record player and a thin sheet of plywood to dance on.

She was a woman who deeply loved her family – and she was a lot of fun. The last time we got to see her – this past Thanksgiving- my Mom had decorated the house early for Christmas for my children to enjoy her extensive collection of Santas. My three year old daughter loved Nana’s “dancing Santas” - the kind that wiggle their hips and arms to Christmas songs when you switch them on. She danced and danced, and before we knew it, four generations of women were up and dancing with the Santas. I think Grannie was having the most fun! I will deeply miss her, but I know she will be doing a lot of dancing now for a very, very long time.