It's amazing how you can hear a song and memories come flooding into your mind! The other day I heard the song, "Make the World Go Away" by Eddie Arnold and I immediately pictured myself at my grandmothers house in her living room by her stereo (in a cabinet with colorbars on the side) on her freshly waxed parquet floors with a stack of 45's playing. I see her in her kitchen smoking a cigarette, swaying and singing to this song. I have such great memories of her and as I write this, I miss her.
I'm named after my nanny, Wileata. Everyone wonders where that name came from. Here she is. She was a hardworking nurse who was loved by all. She had a hard life. Raised 4 children alone and they were poor. I mean poor. She picked cotton and cleaned houses before she finally got her job as a LVN (kinda like a nurses assistant I think). She was so proud of that job and it enabled her to buy a house and nice cars. Every time I see an Oldsmobile, I think of her. They were her car of choice.
For awhile, when I was in Jr. High, we lived across the street from her. Once a week she would make me a lunch with an egg sandwich and a moon pie and leave it on our doorstep before she went to work (at 5am). I loved that lunch and looked forward to it every week. I would go over to her house afterschool and we would listen to her records. These are the ones that stand out the most:
Make the World Go Away - Eddie Arnold
Behind Closed Doors - Kenny Rogers
Please Release Me- Englebert Humperdink
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye-Eddie Arnold
The Green Green Grass of Home - Eddie Arnold
Knock Three Times-Tony Orlando and Dawn
She passed away about 13 years ago, too young, in her late 60's. My children barely remember her, but I will always remember and love her. Thanks for listening.
1 comment:
Beautiful tribute to your grandmother!
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