Pecans, Aprons, and Old Maids

I read today that the COVID related death toll has lowered the average American lifespan by at least a year.  Reading this reminded me of my great grandmother.  She was born in the 1880’s and the average lifespan for persons born in that decade was less than fifty years.  Dude was my maternal great grandmother.  She had told a story in which her father called her a dude when she was just a toddler playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes.  From that point on, my great grandmother became Dude.  She pretended not to care for the nickname, but a twinkle in her eye gave her away.  

I loved her company…and I believe that she loved mine.

Visiting Dude was one of my favorite activities as a child.  Her home, her block, her tiny little town was an adventure in ‘the simple life’.  No need to consult the TV Guide when visiting her home, the three available channels were dependent on the placement of the rabbit ear antennas attached to her black and white TV.  On a good night you could pick up a grainy image of the Red Skelton show or perhaps an episode of Bonanza, but the reason you were at Dude’s was not to watch television.  It was to enjoy the fellowship that a simple life can provide.  Evenings might be spent playing I Spy or a game of Old Maids that always made Dude happy.

Fall days there might be spent picking up pecans from the vacant lot ‘catty-corner’ to her home.  I am not certain if that might still be possible because I don’t recall anyone using the term catty-corner in the past thirty years or so. It might be that we would never find our way to the pecan tree without the term catty-corner.  Or we might not be able to carry pecans because none of us would be wearing the half apron that was a staple in Dude’s wardrobe.  Her half apron doubled as a pecan carryall when held up by the lower corners.  

In the summer, we might be busy in the garden picking fresh vegetables for dinner.  Dude would hand me a colander and point out which vegetables looked ripe.  I would pick the vegetables, put them in the colander, and carry them inside for preparation.  Dude would begin preparing dinner as soon as we got the vegetables washed.  She would have been ready to cook because she was already wearing her half apron.  

I am not sure if Dude always wore an apron because she was used to working semi non-stop after raising eleven kids or perhaps, she was just protecting the dress that she was wearing.  I say that with some confidence because I never picture Dude wearing anything but dresses.  It was the nineteen-sixties and women wearing pants was a relatively new concept.  It might be that she was protecting her dress from the inevitable mess that would be made when I ran to give her a hug.  Picture ‘Pigpen’ from the Peanuts cartoon giving you a hug.

But whatever the reason, Dude looked natural wearing a dress with a half apron tied around her waist. Add in some surprisingly long hair twirled into a bun, some 1960’s matronly shoes, and an ever-present grin that somehow reminded you that you were loved.  Mix it all together and you had Dude.  

I wonder what Dude would have thought about the COVID situation?  My guess is that she would have taken it in stride because she had lived through the Spanish Flu Pandemic as a young woman.  But more than that, Dude would have handled the isolation with ease.  She would have hand sewn a mask from quilt scraps stored out by the smokehouse. She would not likely be too concerned about being exposed to the virus because her life was not dependent on trips to the mall or restaurants. Exposure to the virus while picking fresh vegetables in your garden or picking up pecans catty-corner to your house has to be a relatively slim proposition. 

I would have liked to have spent some time with Dude during the pandemic.  The slow pace of life, the simple pleasures held over from a simpler time.  I can picture us playing Old Maids in her sitting room with masks in place.  She would have loved it.  I know she would have that ever present grin underneath her homemade mask although I would not be able to see it…but the twinkle in her eyes would give her away.

Thanks for listening!

Your friend,

KBM

Kevin Medlin
kevin@mysilentpew.com