Miss Mary lived next door to my father's parents, Charles Cecil and Elsie Mae. My grandmother was an invalid and Miss Mary devoted many hours of attention to her.
in the 1920s, when basketball was still an outside sport, Miss Mary was my mother's coach. in the 1950s she was a summer bible school teacher of mine. for many years Miss Mary was the librarian at the public library and also the 'unofficial' county historian.
last night, in a garden setting, my parents, grandparents and Miss Mary visited me while i slept.
this dream brought back one of my fondest memories of her.
the year was 1981 or 82. i was in Mary's garden visiting with her while she dug potatoes. she wore a summer dress and straw hat, and was bare-footed. she was probably 90 or 91 at that time. as she talked she wood take her wire-rimmed glasses off and rub her watery eyes.
"gigi, do you remember such-and-such?"
i thought. "No. I don't think so Miss Mary. But I'll ask my dad. He knows just about everybody around here."
"Oh no. No. He was way before your father's time".
thanks for the memories!
I have a copy of the 'Athertons of Missouri' written by Miss Mary.
ReplyDeleteYour story is precious. I never knew your relationship with her.
Thank you for these memories. She was always digging, working her garden. She told me that after her retirement from the library, the doctor told her, 'get thee to the garden' for a long and healthy old age!
I remember seeing her out there for hours, in the heat, hilling potatoes, weeding, harvesting.
That will be you someday....
and i also will be barefoot!
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