Will I Be Remembered?

selective focus photography of woman

( Intermediate Level )

Lillie Mae Crenshaw, the baby of her family, at age ninety five, was the last surviving sibling to a family of 10. With three brothers and four sisters, there was never a dull moment in their house.

With her fast approaching ninety sixth birthday coming, she sits under her favorite tree at her parent’s home and reminisces about her childhood.

They lived in the small hand – built home in Madison, Georgia. Her parents were simple people. Neither of them finished school. In those days, it was more important to help their families.

Her mom would wash people’s clothes and sell home- grown vegetables at the local market that they grew on their land just to earn a little money.

Her dad, on the other hand, hunted deer, squirrels, elk and even fished for crawdads, catfish and turtles. He would sell these to local families so they would have enough meat for the year.

When the children were old enough to help they did.. Her brothers learned to shoot rifles at age ten. “If you can hold the rifle up to your shoulder and pull the trigger, then you’re old enough,” her dad would say.

Lillie Mae thought differently from her sisters. She didn’t want to do what her mom and her sisters did. She was a tomboy after all. She hated wearing those silly dresses her mom would make for all her sisters. Instead, she loved bibbed overalls with all those pockets.

She loved being outdoors and wanted to be like her brothers. She wanted to hunt. If she could spend all day outside then this is what she wanted.

“Girls belong inside,” her dad would say, “leave the hunting and fishing to us men.” Her brothers would smile when he said this which made her more determined to prove herself.

Her father passed away when she was fifteen and two of her brothers had moved away leaving her one brother and sisters to care for mom and the home. It was tough but somehow they managed.

It was but two years and her last brother married and moved away. Her two sisters left within five years from dad’s passing leaving the burden of the responsibilities to her.

Mom couldn’t do much anymore. She was older and her body ached. Lillie Mae did what she could over the next few years for her until she passed.

Lillie Mae stayed on at the old homestead.. There were too many fond memories here to just up and leave.

Unfortunately, Lillie Mae never married or had children. She had been too busy in her years to socialize and meet people.

Now that it is just her, she has joined the local Southern Baptist Church in town. Every Sunday, like clockwork, she was there. She met many wonderful people there who adopted her into their families as their own.

Many of the children called her Me Ma or Na Na as their way to show respect. Grandmother is what she figured these words meant. Many Sundays she stayed after services to give the children cookies that she had baked the previous week.

Sometimes she was invited to someone’s house for an afternoon dinner. It was common to have the biggest meal of the day at two on Sundays. She gladly accepted most of the times she was asked.

One of the parishioners discovered Lillie Mae’s birthday was next Sunday. She wanted to keep this to herself but the word quickly spread to others . They all decided that next week’s service would be dedicated to her and her milestones in life.

That week was uneventful. Lillie Mae went about her normal daily chores. It was just her so her garden was much smaller than it used to be. She had a few chickens which provided daily eggs and sometimes fresh meat for a soup.

Lillie Mae moved slower now like her mom had done before she passed. She knew the end would soon come. Until then she would continue living life to the fullest.

If only her dad saw how independent she had become. She was able to provide for the family as he did when they were still around.

She wasn’t the marksman with the rifle as her dad was but she was able to get the job done. She believes that he does see what a strong person she had become and he sits there smiling from ear to ear.

Sunday morning’s sunshine beamed through the living room window as if it was a spotlight for just Lillie Mae. Today she turns ninety six. She walked outside and stood on the porch to hear the morning birds chirping in the trees.

As she stood there drinking her morning tea she thought, “Will I be remembered? She didn’t have children or grandchildren so who would remember her? “Who will tell my stories?”

She shrugged off the thought as she went back into the house to have a light breakfast. Today they would have a luncheon right after service, in the recreational hall, to celebrate her birthday.

With breakfast done she went to clean up for church. Today she would wear a pale blue dress with hundreds of white daisies on it. She laughed as she looked at herself in the mirror. “If momma could see me now!

She had a short walk into town. Usually it took about twenty minutes or so, if she cut through the fields, but now it takes about thirty minutes or more.

People said they would stop by and pick her up but she politely refused each time. She loved walking and enjoying being outdoors when she could.

The temperatures in late fall and winter kept her indoors and she hated it. The cold weather bothered her more and more as she grew older.’

She arrived at the church with everyone still outside visiting with each other. As she approached the children came running. “Happy Birthday Me Ma! Happy Birthday Na Na!, they chanted.

“How old are you today, Miss Me Ma?” She looked at the little blonde hair girl. “I am ninety six today. “ “Oh,” she exclaimed, “That’s old!” Then she ran off to be with her parents.

She smiled to herself as she thought how innocent children are. She barely remembers those days.

She finally reached the group standing together as the adults greeted her, one by one, “Don’t you look beautiful today.” “Happy Birthday Miss Lillie Mae.”

Sunday services ended and the luncheon began. A special table at the front of the recreational hall was set for the guest of honor.

On the left side of the table was the most beautiful cake she ever laid eyes on. It was a three tiered white cake decorated with tiny roses, her favorite flower.

Many cards, gifts and baked goods sat around the cake. One gift caught her eye. It was a photo album filled with pictures of everyone. In the very front was a black and white photo of her entire family taken years ago. All ten of them.

As she looked at each member of her family her heart filled with so many memories. The arguments with her sisters. Trying to do what her brothers did and proving to her father she can do anything.

“”Where on earth did you find this picture? She laid the album down on the table and looked up. The congregation was quietly looking at her with love in their eyes. ” I guess I will be remembered!

“Thank you everyone for making me feel special.” Everyone clapped and they started serving the food. This surely would be a birthday she would remember for, hopefully, years to come.

Written By: Angel

Follow me on:

Instagram: morningangel847

Twitter: AngelOfTheMorn5

Meta Business Suite: Angel’s Thoughts to Pen

Thoughts From Angel:

One of the things I love the most is to sit down with an older person and have them share their childhood memories with me.

If you appreciate what I do and would like to support me:

Vocabulary:

surviving – adjective: continuing to exist

reminisces – verb: thinking of past events

crawdads – noun: freshwater crayfish

tomboy – noun: a girl who enjoys rough, noisy activities associated with boys

bibbed overalls – noun: ​a piece of clothing that are trousers with an extra piece of cloth covering the chest, held up by narrow pieces of cloth over the shoulders.

determined – adjective: a firm decision

responsibilities – noun: being responsible

just up and leave – idiom: To do something quickly, unexpectedly, or abruptly, especially without warning or explanation

socialize – verb: participate in social activities; mix socially with others

respect – noun: deep admiration for someone or something 

parishioners -noun: those who attend a particular church

milestones – noun: an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development

chores – noun: routine task (s)

independent – adjective: free from outside control

marksman – noun: a person skilled in shooting

beamed – verb: shine brightly

luncheon – noun: a formal lunch

clean up – phrasal verb: make someone or something clean or neat

politely – adverb: in a respectful and considerate manner

the guest of honor -phrase: important guest at an occasion

tiered – adjective: having a number of levels on top of one another

congregation – noun: a group of people assembled for religious worship

Question ( s ):

Have you heard stories from your grandparents regarding their childhood?

Could you live back then? ( Living simple without the modern conveniences )

Autopilot

road under cloudy sky

( Intermediate Level )

Janie felt her life was at a dead end. The same routine day in and day out. She was single but she felt as if she was married to her job.

When she looks back, to when she was in high school, she yearned to be an adult. No responsibilities for studies or homework.

How different her life would be when she didn’t have to go to school anymore. Freedom. Or so she thought.

She soon realized how much her parents had provided for her. Simple things like the laundry or having dinner every night, never fail.

She never paid much attention to these things. Maybe she was like all other teenagers at the time.

Working nine to five every day, sometimes six days a week. She barely had time for herself. She was usually too tired to go out with the few friends she had.

I am on autopilot, is how she explained her life to her parents.” I do the same thing every day, Mom. From brushing my teeth to making coffee.”

” Most of the time when I head to work my mind is so focused on the things I have to get done that I feel my car drives itself to work.”

“Honestly, I do not know how you and dad managed so many years. You had me and Johnny plus the house and work. And you never complained. I try to be strong like you were but I feel I am breaking inside.”

“Welcome to being an adult, Janie,” is what her mom always said to her. Janie knew her mom meant well and probably she, herself, felt the same but couldn’t do anything about it.

Janie knew she had to do something about this. She was slowly losing herself. Slowly losing the ambitions she once had. She was tired of driving down the desolate highway of life and going nowhere.

Work deadlines needed to be met and Janie knew she couldn’t think about such nonsense. If she was to make it in the adult world she needs to buckle down and focus.

Vacation time was in two weeks. At this time she could reevaluate her life. Was she like all others in the world, working a nine to five job and they too felt stuck? She hoped to find the answers.

The first three days of her vacation was bliss. She didn’t need to set the alarm. She had the choice to get out of her pajamas or not. She didn’t have deadlines to meet.

To her surprise, she woke up at the normal time as she would if she was getting up for work. She tried to sleep in but she kept tossing and turning in her bed.

To add insult to injury, she found herself in that same routine. Starting the coffee, showering, grabbing a small breakfast. Why was this? She was on vacation.

Janie had planned a lunch date with her mom for noontime today. They would meet up at their favorite eatery, The Barbecue Shack, at the mall and afterwards do a little window shopping.

“Hi Mom. It is great to get out. I was going crazy. Here I have two wonderful weeks off and I find myself already bored after three days.” Her mother smiled at this comment.

I used to feel the same as you, Janie. I felt I was stuck. My life wasn’t going anywhere but I soon realized without routine in my life I didn’t have a purpose. I made myself take time out for myself. To do the things I enjoyed.”

“Some people had argued this was selfish of me. I am, after all, a wife and a mom to you and your brother. This time was just for me. Selfish? No, not really. It helped me continue knowing my identity. Who I am and what I love to do.”

“Your father did the same. We spent our time together and then we had our own special time alone. We were much happier as a married couple and as individuals.”

Janie listened carefully. She didn’t have the responsibilities of her mom or had a husband to think about but what she said made sense. What time did she set aside to do the things she loved to do? She hadn’t.

“Mom, you’re right. I haven’t painted since I graduated from the university. I haven’t gone out hiking or even swimming in a long time. I was focused so much on my career I gave up on living.”

It is not that you gave up on you, it is that your priorities are set up in the wrong order. In order to be the best person you can be you must first take care of yourself and enjoy what you love doing. I went many years like you until I discovered this.”

The two finished their lunch, paid the bill and headed out into the mall. Neither one had anything special to say but but each was enjoying the other’s company.

After spending hours going in and out of shops it was time for them to part. Janie turned to her mom and gave her a big hug.

“Mom, thank you. Thank you for today and thank you for your honesty. When I return from my vacation I will have new priorities in place. Work is important but I should come first. Always.”

Written By Angel

Follow me on:

Instagram: morningangel847

Twitter: AngelOfTheMorn5

Meta Business Suite: Angel’s Thought to Pen

Thoughts From Angel:

I think all of us feel like Janie sometimes in our lifetime. Is the grass greener on the other side? I do not believe it is.. I found that believing in yourself and following your passion you can achieve the necessary balance in life and enjoy every moment.

If you appreciate what I do please support me:

Vocabulary:

dead end – noun: no exit, no way out

yearned – verb: wanting something

never fail – phrase: someone or something always does what is expected

autopilot – noun: doing something without thinking

focused – verb: pay attention to someone or something

complained – verb: dissatisfaction

ambitions – noun: desire and determination to achieve success

desolate – adjective: emptiness

deadlines – noun: the latest time or date by which something should be completed

buckle down – phrasal verb: to finish a task with determination

reevaluate – verb: to look or evaluate again

bliss – noun: happiness or joy

insult to injury – idiom: make an already bad situation worse

eatery – noun: a restaurant or other place where people can be served food

window shopping – noun: just looking at products or items in stores without the intentions to buy

purpose -noun: the reason for which something is done

identity – noun: who or what a person or thing is

responsibilities – noun: a role, job or obligation

priorities – noun: most important

Question ( s ):

Have you found yourself on autopilot?

Do you feel as if you are working to pay bills and not enjoying life?

What hobbies or activity can you start to break up the daily grind?