Grandmother Hattie

  Call it reminiscing, remembering, longing, yearning...it matters not. Every now and again, things get to you.  It is during those times that happy times of the past, are needed even if they are only in memories.  I have had a lot of days of reminiscing lately.  I wish I could go back once in a while just to revel in some happy event of the past.  So I do.  The only difference is, I can only go back in my mind.  Yesterday while going through some old photos, I took a journey through time to visit my maternal grandmother.  I recalled a lot of happy times with her.  Her funny little quips, her sweet "faerie tales", her scent of violets or roses and her silvery white hair all came to mind.

  Grandmother Hattie was a lady of an era lost.  Sorry, but the times have changed and not everything is for the better.  Sure, women have come a long way in their rights but somewhere along the line most have lost that genteel quality that made them true ladies.  Grandmother was definitely one of the Southern Belles even though her folks came from England.  (Or perhaps I should describe her as nigh on like a queen!) Her grace and sweetness were always forefront and she never paused a moment to let folks know she was a Lady!  She dressed the part in her modest outfits which included the ever present "pumps and purse". The lady was soft spoken and non-controversial.  This is not to say that she did not get her way when it was important, she just did it in a way that spoke authority not bull-headedness!  

  Growing up with the likes of her should have rubbed off on me a bit, you would think.  Instead, I am more jeans and flannel shirts than pumps and purse.  I have a stubborn streak a mile wide and have been known to be more of a tomboy than a lady.  I would rather be fishing than playing cards and sipping tea from pretty floral cups. I wish I could be more like her but it "ain't happening".  Things have changed....and its not all good.  I wonder if it is too late to become Grandmother?