How Many "Happy Birthday's" Have You Had?

On March 24, 1912 my Granny came into the world. She was the youngest of 13 kids. Her 6th child was my dad. She had three girls and then three boys. My uncle William died when I was very young, so, I don’t remember him. But, all of the other five are fabulous people. I don’t know what Granny’s secret was, I think she was just a wonderful example to her kids. I tried once to get some words of wisdom from her – it was on her 90th birthday. I asked her what advice she would give to a young person today. Her response, “Pick less cotton”. Which she did a lot of! In this “story” of Granny, I often speak of her in past tense. However, I want to say that today she is very healthy. The only thing “past” about her is her energy level.

Granny was a very hard working woman. She worked at a clothing factory in Abilene, Texas for many years. I can remember going to pick her up after work so that she could come spend the weekend at our house. I remember it well because the factory parking lot had speed bumps, the only ones that I had ever experienced, and I loved when the car when over them. Granny lived in Anson, about 20 miles north of Abilene. She never learned to drive, so she carpooled to work with some other women from Anson. At some point after my dad came into the world, my Granny became a single mom. Not by choice, my grandfather was just not a very responsible man. But, the remarkable thing is, my Granny never told me one negative thing about my grandfather. She just picked herself up and raised her kids the best she could. They didn’t have much as far as money or possessions, but, obviously they had each other. Her kids learned to depend on each other and to do what was necessary to get by. They are still close today, and I hope that I am still that close to my brothers when Daddy is 97. I wish I had time to tell you about Connie, Jo, Lou, James and especially my daddy. But, that will have to wait for another time. I can tell you that I remember when I was young, my mother telling me that if I was one-tenth of the person my aunts were, I would be a wonderful woman. She was right!

My favorite flower is a daisy. Granny always had daisies growing in her flower bed. Just simple, old fashioned Shasta daisies; you know, the white ones with the yellow centers. They grew in front of the house she owned in Anson. She bought it after my grandfather left, with money she earned at the factory. I can’t tell you what year that was, but it was an impressive thing for a woman to do alone. Granny was extremely resourceful. She could live for weeks on beans and cornbread. Once, when I was staying with her, the plumbing failed in the bathroom. Because Daddy would be there in a few days to get me, she didn’t want to call and bother him. So, we used a coffee can for a toilet and took showers after dark on the porch. She walked all over Anson to run errands and go to church. She did have many friends to help her out, but, she had no problem walking when necessary.

Today, Granny would still be busy planting daisies, making cornbread or rice with cinnamon and sugar, but, it is her turn to rest. She spends her days watching Price is Right, listening to gospel music and talking to her kids on the phone. Today is her 97th birthday, and I want to say “Granny, you are a wonderful role model and you will inspire every day of the rest of my life!”