Grandmother

​I got so disgusted with technology last night.  My phone and my KINDLE both decided to go wonky.  I just brought them to John boy and left them.  He is my fixer.  I think he can always fix anything in the world of technology and he doesn't disappoint.  He had them working this morning.

I was telling Tommy and John boy about how simple life used to be before technology.  My little ole shriveled up Grandmother actually got a telephone a few years before she died.  (She died at age 96.)  She had her own "ring" but when all the cousins were there, and we heard someone else's ring....of course we ran and grabbed the phone.  Invariably someone on the other end would say, "whoever is listening in, hang up!  

I even remember calling her a few times.  I can imitate her  voice if you want me to, next time I see you.  When she answered in her quivery little voice, I would say, "Grandmother."  (always Grandmother...not Granny, Grandmaw, Mamaw, Nana or any other cute name....just Grandmother.)  "Grandmother...this is Patricia."  (always Patricia...not Pat or Prisha or Trixie or Pitty Pat!) 

She would then say "Well, Patricia, how are you?"  We would chat awhile, about what, I don't remember.  I just know I felt better after having heard her voice.  We never talked long, but for some reason, it made me feel good to know that after living all those years with no phone, my Grandmother now had one.

Even though  Grandmother had about 30 Grandchildren and who knows how many great grandchildren, each of us thought she loved us the best.  

When John boy was born, we held a revival at the  church where she attended.  It was a week long event and we stayed with her in her little house in Hubbard Springs, Virginia.  John boy was a chunky  baby, and I was afraid to sit him on her lap.  He looked bigger than she did!  She weighed about 80 pounds.

Another thing I remember  Grandmother for was "recitation."  When she was in school, there weren't a lot of books, so children learned to recite long poems.  I could sit and listen to her for hours recite poetry.  My cousin Jack, gave us all a recording of Grandmother reciting some of her poetry.

When  Grandmother and Granddaddy got married, they rode horseback all night to another town to elope.  Later in their marriage they moved to Oklahoma in a covered wagon.

I started this blog by saying that times used to be simpler.  Maybe not.  To ride horseback all night to elope, and to ride out west in a covered wagon, is not a simple thing.  

So, I guess next time I have technological problems I will say, "Well at least I am not going out west in a covered wagon....with no cell phone!