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As you can see from my photos at 2, 5, and 7 I had short hair. When I was young it was unruly, to say the least. I was tender-headed still am, and it was too much drama when Mama would let it get long and try to brush it, so she kept it short for happiness for each of us. It worked for me, then.

I remember when I was 5, it was the summer of 1961 before I turned 6 in December and I stayed with my precious Grandmother while my Mother and Daddy worked. I did not realize of course how blessed I was to have a Grandmother that was a dedicated Christian. She was the mother of 8 wonderful children, a wife to a Baptist preacher, that passed away in his early 30’s leaving her expecting her 8th child and to raise those children alone. She never remarried and did one spectacular job with those amazing 8 children, I know that for a fact. They were so close, and a loving family for so many years.

She was a very strong woman of faith, a strong leader in her home as she raised her children kept them in church all their lives and just wow. I was her 1st Granddaughter, and she and I had a special bond all my life, until the day she left this earth. One would surely think a lady that raised 8 children alone could handle a 5-year-old in her early 50’s right? And for the most part, she did.

I recall a few things as a young child while staying with her, which probably made her second guess if she wanted to keep doing it. Oh, me! She lived in a huge duplex, for those of you that do not know what that is, it is a large home that has two homes in the one with one door that enters a hall then a door on each side to each home. In the backyard, there were fig trees galore. Grandmother loved them and also made fig preserves from the ones she collected. She would tell me when you go into the backyard do not mash the figs on the trees, the ones that have fallen off you can make your dirt, (mud) pies with.

I was not trying to defy her or be mean, I was just one of those children that had to touch and feel everything. So, I would pinch them and the white juices from the figs would come flowing out. After getting spanked for that, I was on to my next adventure. The Eskews lived in the lovely brick home next door, they had the most beautiful flower gardens and a koi pond, oh me oh my water, fish, pretty BIG fish on a hot summer day with no air conditioning in her home.

After my 1st adventure with the figs the 1st few days I was off to my next adventure, that koi pond.. It was off with my shoes, and plop they went, right into hat little pond with the koi fish the feet went. Tell me how many of you could resist that? As I sat on the side, a brick pond with a brick wall, the fish would swim away, and I would do my best to try to catch them. LoL, I really did not know better, I had no siblings and I had to entertain myself, the kids in Grandmother’s neighborhood at that time were all older or grown. But, I managed to keep my little self pretty busy. That coy pond was nice and cool, and trying to catch the fish without a pole was so much fun, I’d get wet from head to toe in seconds, it felt good to cool off and fun trying to catch those big koi fish with my little hands. Yes, I think they gave off oil, and it is a wonder I did not get sick or kill them, I think some of them might have passed on, yikes.

I remember my Grandmother coming around the corner and when she saw me all in that pond for the 1st time, she totally lost it. It was not funny then but now, if she were still here, she too would laugh with me. She was livid and rightly so. It was sheer luck, no really a blessing that Mr. Eskew as I said early the owner of that lovely home had taken a shine to me. He and his wife had grandchildren, but, they were all grown. Had it not been for him that day I’d have gotten one big spanking! He came out just in the nick of time and was laughing and told my Grandmother that he had been watching me the whole time, it was ok, that I had been a source of sheer entertainment to him and his wife that was now housebound. They would sit at the big picture window that over looked the gardens, they had a gardener that would take care of them and the koi pond. Again, it was not in the country but, it was a beautiful place they had, my Grandmother lives in a very prominent and beautiful neighborhood. I remember Mr. Eskew, telling my Grandmother, Loretta, he would say let that child be a child, but, take me home and wash her well after being in that pond with these fish. I think she took some of her I can’t believe you did that, out on me in the tub, because I sure got a good scribing!! LoL, not in a mean way she was not like that but she scrubbed me up one side and down the other, then back again. I guess she thought I might catch something I don’t know.

About a week later Mr. Eskew came over and ask my Grandmother to bring me over to their house by the coy pond. He had gotten rid of the fish had it pressure washed and refilled it turned on the fountain that trickled into that once koi pond and said she can come over here now and cool off anytime. They had it all, a big swing in the middle of their flower garden wrought iron table and chairs, with thick cushions on them just so plush, funny that a small child notice all those details. That day he had all kinds of goodies on that wrought iron table. We had little sandwiches, lol (finger sandwiches) I just thought they were little then. We had drinks of all kinds, in a large round metal cooler filled with ice, even chocolate milk. He and his wife were in their late 70’s I’m sure but they were just so kind to me I loved them so much. My Grandmother said you should not have done all of this, but, oh how we thank you. I will bring her back each day and let her jump in this little pond to cool off before her afternoon nap, it was truly a highlight of my day to not only be with my Grandmother but see Mr. and Mrs. Eskew daily. Mrs. Eskew did not always fell like coming out as it was hot here in the South and she was not well as I recall. Those were the best naps ever after splashing around and playing in the hot sun, Mr. Eskew always brought out something for us to eat while we were there it was just what he did and loved doing it. I think he was lonely at times and seeing me always perked him up.

While I was a very strong-willed child, and even after raising her 8 children alone, once I grew up my Grandmother would tell me, you were a wildcard, my baby girl, you kept me on my toes and kept me young until you went to school. As I said it was 1961, we did not have A/C and yes a 5-year-old was safe outback of her Grandmother’s home or right next door fishing in the neighbor’s coy pond. She always kept an eye out for sure, and if she did not see me she came looking for me.

Now, for this little 5 and 1/2 year old, I had my own baby pool, lol, two seniors that loved me and bought me all kinds of things, made the best things to eat with snacks, I had it going on. The Eskews, they spoiled me rotten, but I was young and I did love them so much. I had them and an amazing grandmother to myself M-F life was pretty good then, yep, I’d say it was pretty amazing.

I am going to have to share more of my adventures with Grandmother. I learned many things the hard way even as a young child, but, it was all part of what shaped me to be the woman I am today. Thank you, Lord, and thank you, Grandmother, for being so understanding of a pretty curious child like myself. I have been blessed in so many ways. God bless, have a good evening.

Love to all,

Debbie