Tomorrow we officially say goodbye to this house...it was a great house. We knew once it went on the market, it wouldn't last long. It's in a great location with great schools. I remember standing in Tomi Jean and Greg's kitchen when he said they had a contract on it. Immediately tears formed in my eyes and a lump in my throat. To me, the new comer, this is Mema's house. Not Tomi Jean and Greg's first house or the location of their wedding...it was Mema and Doe's. I asked for one more trip. Today the girls and I pulled out the breast cancer keychain with Mema's house key on it and went inside. That key has been in my vehicle since Mema gave it to me...so that I would always have it. As I look at each room, something sparks a moment of joy, a sweet memory. I want to record each one here so that I always remember!
The very first time I came to visit Mema, it was fall and of course dark at 6 pm. I was so nervous because I knew Mema thought a lot of Andy and I so wanted to impress her. We visited for quite some time. I immediately knew why everyone thought she was so special. She walked us to the door to say goodbye. As we were leaving Andy said "Tell grandaddy goodnight!" I thought to myself...we just spent an hour here with no mention of Grandaddy...I thought he died years ago. So when curiosity got he best of me I asked him about his grandfather. He responded “oh no, he’s been dead for many years. She just likes us to say that in case anybody is in the bushes.” 😂
Mema knew I didn’t like staying by myself. So anytime Andy went out of town, she would always invite me to spend the night. This was my bedroom when I stayed with her. It was just across the hall from her bedroom. I loved hearing those sweet feet shuffle by my door...we spent many nights with her standing at the bedroom door talking before I went to bed. This was also the room that Andy stayed in before we got married. The year that he lived with her was the best year of his life. She waited on him hand and foot! The laid the sport section on his bed so he could read it when he came home from working 3rd shift. If he worked 2nd shift and got off at midnight, she would have his dinner plated and waited in the microwave for him. And then he married me and I wasn't the same...bless it!
Mema’s room
This was the wine closet. If you knew Mema, you know she did not store wine in her house. So this is where she put her seasonal decorations. We would dig through until we found exactly what we were looking for...
Mema’s chair sat in this corner. She had a table beside her chair that had all her important stuff. The couch ran along the long wall. Andy and I always sat on the couch when visiting. In front of the couch was the coffee table. That’s where the candy dish was...I love candy corn and she knew it. Come September there was always candy corn or candy pumpkins in that dish which an extra bag for me to bring home.
This is where the kitchen table was. We ate many yummy meals at this table. But more special than the meals we shared was this was where Mema had her quiet time. No matter what day or time, before noon, you would fine her sitting here reading her Bible in her housecoat.
The way to our heart was through our tummies in her eyes. Anytime I stayed over we made dinner together. Many nights were spent teaching me to make hoecakes. Breakfast consisted of bacon and toast. If we were lucky we got grits too. I ate a many a bacon sandwiches on the way to work. Once I left full time teaching and Caroline was no longer in daycare, Mema would often keep her if I needed help. When I would drop her off, Mema would ask her if she had breakfast. It never failed, Caroline always told Mema that I didn’t feed her. Even if I did, little stinker! So Mema always made sure to have bacon and toast in case I hadn't fed her...
Delores bedroom....spent many a day laying on the bed talking to her.
The beautiful backyard. Mema loved working in the backyard. We would wander around aimlessly looking at stuff. I love that when we went in the backyard to take this picture, Caroline said “this is where we used to pick up pinecones and Mema would pay me a nickel for every one I got.”
Mema kept a fridge in this corner. We all knew, the girls included, that’s where we found our special drinks.
These drawers contain small goodie bags. Every season Mema went to the dollar store and bought seasonal Ziploc bags. When we left her house she had to fix the girls a goodie bag to carry with them. Sometimes it was candy. Sometimes it was cookies. But the girls couldn’t leave without a treat bag.
This was the formal dining room and where the adults ate holiday meals. I only ate in there a few times because I was still considered part of the kids table. Mema and I spent many hours sitting at this table making corn bags together.
So many memories have been made within the walls of this house. Mema took her house and made it a home. This precious lady loved me well while I stayed in this house. It’s hard to close this chapter but I’m thankful for the memories!
Mema loved walking these sidewalks. She was known for walking the streets and praying for her neighbors. When she passed so many people on the street told us how much it meant to them...they knew if she was walking, she was praying.
So long sweet street, may we never forget the memories made!
