A dear friend recently posted beautiful pictures of her Virginia garden in all its Springtime glory! In one picture was a lawn chair like the ones above, and I thought of a funny incident with my honey.Byron's maternal grandma, Mary Siddons, was a lady not too fondly remembered by the family. I know, that's a sad thing to say...but it was true. She was bitter and angry and difficult to get along with.
Shortly after the Robinsons moved to Las Vegas she moved into the house next door. The "boys", all six at home, were assigned chores at grandma's weekly. They mowed the lawn, brought the trash out, washed her car and various other projects. But never once did she ever thank them! They remember that more often than not she complained about what should have been done; or how it could have been done better. Didn't make for many fond memories to say the least.
The crabbiness seemed to get worse the older she got. Now I have this theory that old age doesn't really mellow a person, it just consolidates what was always there. Grandma Siddons sort of proved that theory. She didn't enjoy the grown boys and their families, and she certainly couldn't tolerate the great-grandchildren! She was crabbiness indeed!
After she died the families were offered a few things from her belongings. Byron chose a green lawn chair. We had just finished a new pool and patio and it was something we could use. A few weeks later we were enjoying the company of one of Byron's brothers out on the patio. Byron was sitting in the green lawn chair as he and his brother were remembering grandma and her crabby nature.
Just as Byron said, "This is the only thing the old lady ever gave me, and I'll bet she wouldn't even want me to have it!" the chair flew out from under him and he landed hard on the cement! It was just as if someone had jerked it away! After a few stunned moments, we all started laughing. Byron said, "Well I guess the old crab hasn't changed a bit!"
Sad but funny memory...hope we leave better ones for our loved ones!
(c) CH Robinson, May 2011
Painting "Three Chairs" (c) by Marcia Crosby, 2006
That is funny...I'm sitting on the couch when I visit, cause she probably wouldn't be too fond of me either! My mother's grandmother was crabby, and never showed the children any kindness even though the depression was in full swing and they sure could have used it. She was experiencing no hardship but the kids prospects were precarious. Glad Nannie and paw-paw didn't let their earliest experiences define who they are!
ReplyDeleteMay 12, 2011 4:16 AM
what a funny moment! I can see Byron on the ground...I remember the day Raymond and I got married his mean ole aunt died....he looked at me and said, "she told me I would get married over her dead body"
ReplyDeletePeople influence us for good or bad forever...
I think that the collapse of Mr B's chair was not a mere coincidence.
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