In mid-July, my dad's side of the family gathered in the Mississippi Delta to celebrate the life of my grandmother, Elizabeth Smith. We spent the bulk of time in Clarksdale, home of the blues and Morgan Freeman. We stayed at the "Shack Up Inn" - literally, in somewhat refurbished sharecropper shacks! I loved it, though it was a little rustic for some tastes. The kids had a blast, especially when it was time to meet and play with their Atlanta cousins!
Skipping around a little bit in this post, one thing that was really important for me was to spend a little time at my dad's old home in Drew. We spent many holidays in the old house - though my dad's parents moved from Drew in the late 1970's, they maintained the house and it was an ideal gathering place for the siblings and families. The house was torn down several years ago (it fell victim to a vicious ice storm) but a few things were still there. One, the magnolia tree where my cousins and I spent too many hours playing "war" with magnolia pods that all too closely resembled grenades. The old barn is also there, as well as the dirt driveway that once led to the house. Those are some of my best memories - my mom and aunts huddled around the ancient stove earnestly trying to defrost a turkey, my dad and uncles taking us out to shoot coke cans, creating original scripts and gathering props for nightly family plays in the formal living room, eavesdropping on the adults as they laughed themselves silly with childhood stories, hugging my grandmother, building blanked forts with my uncle who soon afterwards passed away... Too many to give justice to, but that's just a small glimpse of what that old house meant to me.
My grandmother's memorial service was held in Drew at First Baptist Church. Kendal gladly took on the responsibility of leading the service. My cousins and I got to read my grandmother's favorite scripture and a poem she recited at a reunion gathering at her alma mater, Blue Mountain College. Carlisle even joined us while we read :) The kids were so well behaved, it was a miracle! Afterwards, just the family went to the graveside. Kendal led us in a prayer, my uncle David played "Amazing Grace" on his harmonica and we began walking to our cars. The next thing I know, the twins and cousin Amelia are taking handfuls of dirt and placing them gently over Tit-Tee's urn. They gathered the dirt and let it slip through their tiny hands time and time again. It's a sight I'll never forget and one that really made the whole day
just right.
*These photos are posted opposite of how I planned and I can't figure out how to fix it so - if you are one of about four people who read this blog, read top to bottom and view pics from bottom to top :)
Sweet Evie begin standing up ALL BY HERSELF late last week! She's been pulling up and cruising for a while, but this is a full-fledged stand! She likes to give a big "V" for victory sign when she stands up, too, to increase the drama!
