The Old Spinster Aunt at Homeconing!
Jan 25, 2021 22:24:34 #
In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s it was quite common to have the extended family all come back to the homeplace for a family reunion. Often, if there was one available, a photographer would be asked to come by and take a picture of the family.
So, it wasn’t unusual for this family to congregate in early May for an event at Grandpa’s home place. It was such a dinner there wasn’t room inside the house, they had to arrange benches outdoor under the old cottonwood tree, made from saw horses and planks to accommodate all the plates of food to be spread: Now it would not be scriptural if there was not an abundance of friend chicken, fried ham, and roast beef, along with a half dozen dishes of potato salad, various jello salads, and at least a dozen pies and cakes. You can always tell how many bachelors had come by the number of loafs of light bread at the end of the table.
After such a feast, the kids roamed around the farm, coming back on occasion for a drink of water or Kool-Aid and the men retreated to either the front porch or a large cottonwood in the front yard that provided a lot of shade. There they could smoke a cigarette or cigar and whittle on a stick while they exchanged their expectations of crops, cattle prices. and the newfangled oil well being drilled on a neighbor’s place.
Inside the house, the women had finished up with the serving dishes of food, throwing away all the paper plates, and such and had repaired to the living room to chat and rest. But there were a few younger ladies, nieces who had coaxed their ancient spinster aunt to one of the back bedrooms. They wanted her there for a heart-to-heart conversation about the facts of life and what her life had been like growing up in the past century. She was now almost 90 years old, having been born in Indian Territory before Oklahoma had become a state and they wanted to grill her for her obvious wisdom and sage advice.
Her first stories are about her teaching school in a one room school house in West Texas. She had told them stories of keeping a loaded Colt revolver in her desk just in case they were visited by marauding Comanche or Kiowas who were supposed to be peacefully settled on a reservation, but sometime kicked out of their traces and raided in Texas. She, being one full of piss and vinegar, quickly waved off any idea of fear, saying the first six who might have broken into her school, “They would have wished they had stayed home with their Mommas!”
Obviously, one of the most pressing questions was why Auntie had never married. She answered the question openly and quire frankly, “Well, by the time I was really serious about marriage, all those worth having were married and I wasn’t going to marry a drunk or gambler!”
In response to other stories of her early life, she regaled them with her school teaching experiences and such. Now at her age, she had become more than a little hard of hearing. One of the nieces asked about her health, said, “Auntie, were you ever laid up?” Not hearing the question clearly, the aunt replied, “Law, yes, and once in a buggy!” Just Sayin…RJS
So, it wasn’t unusual for this family to congregate in early May for an event at Grandpa’s home place. It was such a dinner there wasn’t room inside the house, they had to arrange benches outdoor under the old cottonwood tree, made from saw horses and planks to accommodate all the plates of food to be spread: Now it would not be scriptural if there was not an abundance of friend chicken, fried ham, and roast beef, along with a half dozen dishes of potato salad, various jello salads, and at least a dozen pies and cakes. You can always tell how many bachelors had come by the number of loafs of light bread at the end of the table.
After such a feast, the kids roamed around the farm, coming back on occasion for a drink of water or Kool-Aid and the men retreated to either the front porch or a large cottonwood in the front yard that provided a lot of shade. There they could smoke a cigarette or cigar and whittle on a stick while they exchanged their expectations of crops, cattle prices. and the newfangled oil well being drilled on a neighbor’s place.
Inside the house, the women had finished up with the serving dishes of food, throwing away all the paper plates, and such and had repaired to the living room to chat and rest. But there were a few younger ladies, nieces who had coaxed their ancient spinster aunt to one of the back bedrooms. They wanted her there for a heart-to-heart conversation about the facts of life and what her life had been like growing up in the past century. She was now almost 90 years old, having been born in Indian Territory before Oklahoma had become a state and they wanted to grill her for her obvious wisdom and sage advice.
Her first stories are about her teaching school in a one room school house in West Texas. She had told them stories of keeping a loaded Colt revolver in her desk just in case they were visited by marauding Comanche or Kiowas who were supposed to be peacefully settled on a reservation, but sometime kicked out of their traces and raided in Texas. She, being one full of piss and vinegar, quickly waved off any idea of fear, saying the first six who might have broken into her school, “They would have wished they had stayed home with their Mommas!”
Obviously, one of the most pressing questions was why Auntie had never married. She answered the question openly and quire frankly, “Well, by the time I was really serious about marriage, all those worth having were married and I wasn’t going to marry a drunk or gambler!”
In response to other stories of her early life, she regaled them with her school teaching experiences and such. Now at her age, she had become more than a little hard of hearing. One of the nieces asked about her health, said, “Auntie, were you ever laid up?” Not hearing the question clearly, the aunt replied, “Law, yes, and once in a buggy!” Just Sayin…RJS
Jan 25, 2021 23:02:12 #
Able Man
Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
Thanks, Mr. Samples... You caused me to become mindful of my own Great Aunt Val... She was born shortly after the Civil War was history. (I think, in the early 1880's)...
She never married either, but, she DID travel all over the place. She ended up living right IN New York City & was there yet, during the 1st major blackout, of the 1960's, as I recall.
Thanks for the reminder.
She never married either, but, she DID travel all over the place. She ended up living right IN New York City & was there yet, during the 1st major blackout, of the 1960's, as I recall.
Thanks for the reminder.
Jan 25, 2021 23:30:30 #
Able Man. Write down any stoires you remember her telling you. Others will come to mind as you go along. They are golden and.. will increase in value. Your children and grandchildren will love them. Just Sayhin...RJS
Jan 26, 2021 00:13:50 #
Able Man
Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
Well, Mr. Samples; it's gone "a little past prime time" for me to be creating any replacements for 2 miscarriages & 1 a******n (which I was NOT AWARE OF, before the a******n...) ... Hell, I turned 62 years old a couple of months ago... I just ain't got child-rearing in me, I don't suppose.
Jan 26, 2021 00:44:34 #
Jan 26, 2021 01:00:29 #
Able Man
Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
Robert J Samples wrote:
But you will always have stories! Just Sayin...RJS
Well, all the same; thank you for the inspiration and encouragement,; ... If I do get around to that, it'll be after a computer is purchased... I'm doing all THIS communicating via Obamaphone!!!
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