Frannie's eSpace

I'm a Somebody!

A few months ago, my favorite store-bought cookies, Archway Iced Molasses Cookies, suddenly disappeared off the shelves of all my grocery stores. They still stocked the Ginger Snaps and the Iced Oatmeal, but nowhere were the Iced Molasses ones. (The icing is the best!)

That's when I got the idea to write to the "Where Can I Find it" columnist of the Atlanta Journal Constitution to ask if there's anywhere in the ATL that still sells them. They chose to print my question and respond in yesterday's newspaper: http://www.ajc.com/search/content/living/personaltech/stories/2007/09/29/findit0929sbeze.html - The columnist said that I could find them at the Publix that's closest to my house, but I could have sworn I'd looked there before. Even so, since my name was in the paper yesterday, I'm a somebody now!

Words of Wisdom, Last Installment

Remember your name.

Remember your name? What does that mean? Well, that’s what I wondered myself when Mama would say this at the supper table on nights that I was going out with friends. She didn’t set a curfew; she didn’t say what I could or couldn’t do; Mama simply said, “Remember your name.” My first thoughts were, “OK, sure! I can do that!” Gradually the saying came to life. Remember your name. Remember who you are; live up to the good reputation of the family name. By the end of my childhood, I have to say, I certainly appreciated the trust that Mama gave us, when she simply advised us to Remember our name!

Yes, Mama's pearls of wisdom had quite an impression on me! It was more than words, however. It’s not that Mama just said them; she lived them!

How can you put a price on being filled with positive expressions throughout your childhood? What greater legacy can a mother leave her children than filling their minds with positive thoughts that she not only said but that she acted out in her daily life too?

Words of Wisdom, Installment 6

Bless Oh Lord this food to our use and use to thy service, and make us ever mindful of the needs and wants of others, Amen.

This was our standard blessing growing up, usually said by Mama. It’s a good ol’ Episcopal blessing, but Mama added the “and wants” part, as if to emphasize that it is important to make people happy! I believe Mama has spent the majority of her life making sure that the needs and wants of others, especially her family, have been satisfied.

Words of Wisdom, Installment 5

Ooh, that hit the spot!

Mama would say this after meals or snacks. What is remarkable about it to me is that it shows how easy it was to please Mama. You don’t need a 3-course meal or fancy caviar. All it takes is a Hershey bar or a pb&j sandwich: “Ooh, that hit the spot!” In other words, let’s appreciate life’s simple pleasures and be grateful for what we’ve got!

Jeopardy

Yeah! Jeopardy is back on TV at 7:30 every night! It's probably my favorite game show of all time. I remember it growing up: it was the old Jeopardy, and the players had little conical-shaped cups of water on their podiums that they could drink from if thirsty.

Words of Wisdom, Installment 4

Anther memorable saying of Mama's:

This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Mama said this every morning, especially on Sunday mornings. She would announce from the bottom of the steps as she was waking us up! She would add variety on some days by prefacing it with, “Rise and Shine!” Now, isn’t that better than an alarm clock?

I didn't know it until later that she was actually quoting Psalm 118:24.

Words of Wisdom, Installment 3

Although this next expression is not exactly what you'd call a "wise" statement, Mama's meaning behind it truly shows her to be a wise and Godly woman. Here we go:

Don’t tell Daddy; we’ll eat beans and rice next week!

Mama said this on the occasions when she splurged and bought something nice for us, and every once in a blue moon it would be something nice for herself. Many times, it was at Hancock’s Fabric Store, where she’d see a roll of beautiful fabric that she would buy and “whip up” a beautiful outfit for us. Other times it may have been something for the house. Mama was so generous with both her time and her money. Her generosity and selflessness even after I grew up and began earning a fairly decent salary, instilled in me the joy of being generous. (I have a few other role models, among them my Aunt Ora and my husband Charles, both extremely giving people.)

One of my favorite passages is from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. It comes from the chapter on Giving. Read this, and if you know my mother, doesn't it remind you of her?

And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

Words of Wisdom, Installment 2

More words of wisdom from Mama:

"We may not have money, but we have class!"

Mama said this if any of us children ever lamented not getting to do something for lack of money. It was also said when a richer friend, relative or even someone on tv would do something foolish. The way that Mama said it made me feel proud and as good (or better!) as anybody else. It ended up giving me confidence when I was accepted at and spent four years at a rather snooty private college. Money isn’t everything!

Words of Wisdom, Installment 1

Mama will be 83 years old this week. To celebrate the occasion, I'd like to recall some of her famous sayings! She was so wise and has had a positive impact of everyone who got to know her. Very rarely did a negative thought come out of her lips. I remember wondering if she ever thought bad things! You'd never have known it.

Let's start with the one all of us children remember only too well!

Eat It Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, Or Do Without!

 

Mama said this quite often! It would then be followed by, “Well, you all just don't know. I grew up in the Depression!” As children we’d groan, but, undeterred, Mama would say it with pride!

Obviously now as an adult, it’s easy to see the value of such frugal living. In fact, I once read that thrifty and thrive come from the same root word. Mama certainly thrived on being thrifty!

Mama loves the Marta!