Loamy, what an awesome lady she was. It sounds like towards the end, she survived by sheer force of will, refusing to die as long as she could. I love your description of her, especially how she didn't really enjoy people, especially strangers (she was most likely an introvert :x ), yet she took care of many of them. I know you will miss her. I also think she would be proud of you. --J--
You should always have a plant B.
Posts: 2408 | Location: Zone 9b, the OC, California | Registered: March 20, 2004
What a beautiful description of a life well lived. My condolences. The thought of the distance her seeds have travelled is brilliant, I have chills ((hug)) gm
You know, I didn't even describe her physically, aside from how short she was. Ada was a heavy woman, and I always knew her to wear her dark brown (then grey) hair in a long braid down her back. Her face was all creases - laughlines and weatherworn. She had the bright, rosy cheeks, like I inherited, and freckles sprinkled generously all over (which I also inherited). She usually wore a sloppy apron, with big pockets. Most often those pockets were filled with two chihuahuas. She wore socks with sandals. When she laughed her false teeth clacked together. When she was ticked off, her blue eyes just burned, when she was happy, they sparkled as bright as crystal. She was also the only person, aside from my father, who could get away with calling me "Pumpkin".
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Loamy...thanks for the visual! The pic of her with those dogs in her pockets is priceless!!! Vicki
Ada was my great-Aunt. I knew most of these things Mom wrote, although I didnt get to know her very well person to person. I'm probably one of the few younger people out there that has tasted birch syrup, thanks to her.
Ada was always trying to feed me. Said I was too skinny. and called me Babe. She could also spit watermelon seeds farther than anyone I've ever seen (don't ask how I found that out).
isel- ok...now I'm jealous...I never tasted birch syrup! People always try to feed the skinny, and just wonderin'....didja ever beat her at spittin' seeds? Vicki
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Nobody could out spit Ada with watermelon seeds. She was the reigning champion for over 40 years. (Now my father was the pro with cherry pits...) I've been trying to put some meat on the kids' bones since they got out of diapers. I brought them into this world with plenty. Some winters I succeed with their father (like this year. Those 28" jeans are a little tight!), but sometimes I swear the kids are surviving on love and air. I am the dumpling here, and I need company!
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Hey Loamy!
So who are the (spitting) champions now?
And, sometimes, ya just can't get enough meat on the bones! Are ya workin' them too hard in the gardens?
My brother & I are the runts of our family, and probably always will be! We were hatched too soon, so I'm told! The others are bigger!
Have a great day! Vicki
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Not me, that's for sure. The first and last time I tried to spit anything I was riding my bike at the tender age of 8. I thought it'd be cool to ride no hands and spit professionally. So I horked up all the phlegm I could find in my throat and spit with everything I had. Since I did so right into the air and space in front of me, it all came right back and covered my own face and glasses. I crashed over a curb and ended up shredding both elbows and knees. That was the last time I tried to be a professional at anything.
