Granny Irene

I’m not sure how old Granny would be today. I’ve never been good about remembering birth-years. Would she be 90? Mom, am I right? I know she has been gone now for 5 years and is missed very, very much. It’s so hard to believe it’s been 5 years. I had fun ‘remembering’ Granny Lois and wanted to do the same thing for Granny Irene. Here are some things I remember, please chime in on the comments section with your own remembrances…

I remember she always had Juicy Fruit chewing gum in her purse and would only give you a half a piece at a time.

I remember she always kept peppermint in her purse too. Mom, I think you do this now too.

I remember staying with her for a week every summer. I have so many memories from those weeks with her in Dawson. That week always included shopping and a trip to Calloway Gardens.

I remember her taking me to Calloway Gardens every summer. She always let us invite one of our ‘Dawson’ friends to go with us too. She and one of her friends would sit in the rocking chairs under the pavilion while me and Alice and our friends would play in the lake and on the beach.

I remember having sleep-overs in Dawson at her house with one of our ‘Dawson’ friends either at her house or at Mrs. Mervin’s.

I remember she loved to take her 3 grandkids shopping and was always very generous. I think she was largely responsible for our new school wardrobe each year.

I remember me and Alice always slept in her King size bed with her when we visited her in Dawson. We would get so tickled lying in bed at night and laughing at different things. She would laugh at us and then Alice and I would laugh at her uncontrollable laughter, it was an endless cycle. I think we sounded more like 3 teenagers having a sleep over more so than 2 granddaughters with their grandmother.

I remember her stirring up my ice-cream to soften it and make it like fresh homemade ice cream days after it had been churned. The expression on her face, well I guess you just had to be there.

I remember walking to and from First Baptist of Dawson on weekend visits to her house.

I remember Sunday afternoons on her front porch. All the adults sitting and talking and the kids playing in the front yard and picking up pecans from the lawn.

I remember watching T.V. on Saturday nights in her den while eating homeade ice cream.

On those same Saturday nights, I remember Alice and I scheming a plan to 'sneak' up on the adults while they watched T.V. We drew a schematic of the den complete with our route planned carefully. No way they would see us crawling behind the couch and under the coffee table.

I remember she always gave me and Alice a Madame Alexander doll for Christmas. That collection is still in Mom’s attic.

I remember she is largely responsible for my jewelry collection, generously giving me birthstone jewelry and many other rings and necklaces. I treasure each piece and although I don’t wear it daily, I try to wear one piece a week and always think of her when I do.

I remember going out with her and all of her ‘buddies’ in Dawson to play cards or eat at The Varsity. She was always so busy!

I remember eggs, over-easy with fried cornbread for breakfast. I’m hungry just thinking of it. The cornbread is something no one else has been able to duplicate since she died. I think it was the fresh cornmeal that made it so difficult to duplicate.

I remember throwing table-scraps across the fence to her neighbors’ chickens after each meal at her house.

I remember pulling under her carport on Friday nights after dark and her opening the carport door in her gown and robe giving us each a hug and kiss as we walked into her home. “Hey Deezy, Hey Doodlebug, Hey T-Ron.” We each had a nick-name.

Most of all I remember how much she loved us. We were her only 3 grandkids and as an adult I can vividly remember how proud she was of us as kids and how much she loved us all. Our comfort rests in the knowledge that she is with Granddaddy experiencing the splendor of Heaven and we will one day be reunited with her again. What an awesome day that will be!