Honey Hush

I heard this comment today and was instantly yanked back to my childhood in Robinhood subdivision in Brandon, Mississippi. It reminded me of when Granny would come and stay with us. She lived in Monroe, Louisiana (2.5 hours away) and Mom would go fetch her and bring her back to stay with us. This woman was HILARIOUS. Every morning when we would wake up, we would have Dr. Pepper that was heated in the fancy electric machine (the microwave) and cinnamonnnen toast. Yes, I spelled that just like i said it when i was 5. So, up to the table Granny and I would get to have our hot soda and sweet toast; it was a breakfast of champions. So after breakfast we would have a little Granny and Matthew time where we would walk around the yard and then I would play my hide-the-walking-cane from Granny. This was a fun experience for both of us and we would laugh hysterically, usually for about 2.5 hours, or until Granny was sick of not being able to walk. So after this we would have lunch, consisting of more hot dr. pepper...none for me as I would have bounced off the walls with my ADHD. I would have some water or milk, both of which I detested for a while and now love. We would eat bologna sandwhiches (sometimes fried, I was super well behaved) and lay potato chips. YUM-O. After lunch was nap time for me and soap time for Granny and Momma. Now, my mother knew the characters and their bios and storylines to about 700 soap operas. We installed upon these daily, as she NEVER missed her stories. I would then wake up, and as all little rambunctious 5 year olds, tear through the house like Red Baron on speed, This would continue for a while, probably a lot longer than it should've, and it would be time for dinner. Now, when Granny came, she ALWAYS made chicken and dumplings for us. She would roll out the dumplings and I would help. By help i mean destroy the Martha White flour bag and end up with it ALL over me. That was entertaining for everyone who wasnt invloved in the cleanup of it. So, dumplings rolled and broth stirred, down to dinner we would sit. I would always get so full that it hurt. Then daddy would clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes and it was bath time! Granny went first, then mom and then me. Always in this order because I insisted on getting every square inch of the bathroom wet whilst bathing. Fun for me anyway. So, momma and granny would both get in their nightgowns and robes and me in my onesie; the good kind: the one with the feet attached. Loved it. So i would climb up on the giant couch ( the god-awful brown and white flower print one from 1979) and sit next to Granny. This is what would become story time. Granny would tell me stories from all over her life; from water wells to square dancing, to farming; she knew it all. She would repeat story after story for me, they never grew old. After storytime, I would lay on the couch by Dad and he would tickle me until i was solid red from laughing. Then, it was bedtime. Granny would tuck me in, always singing the Lion Sleeps Tonight, the version by The Tokens. Then we would repeat this process everyday until it was time for her to go home. I sure miss Granny. I miss hot dr pepper, I miss bologna, I miss Chicken Dumplings, I miss storytime and I miss being tickled. Enjoy every single moment that you share with someone who is close to you. Be thankful that you can always look back and remember how they made you smile.