I swannee, Grandma, it's your birthday!

I've talked quite a bit about my Maw here on my blog but like everybody else, I have two grandmothers.  My mama's mama.  Grandmama when we were little, shortened to Grandma as we hit our teenage years.  

Her name was Edith and she would have been 92 years old today.

My granddaddy was quite a bit older than Grandma so when he died in 1957, he left her with five little children to raise.  She raised them on her own, she never remarried.  She devoted her life to those five little children -- my mama, her sister and three brothers.

I think my earliest memory of Grandma was when I was 5, I think, I don't believe I was in school yet and me and Ricky stayed with her while Mama had surgery and was in the hospital for a while.  I remember "helping" Grandma hang her laundry out on the clothesline and I remember how goooooooood everything smelled.  Grandma used Downy fabric softener.  April Fresh Downy in the blue bottle with the little girl on the front.  I loved that smell!  Grandma let me walk through the towels and sheets just smelling them.  I think Downy's probably changed that formula because I've tried to recreate that feeling and it is impossible.  Maybe they changed the formula.  Or maybe it was Grandma and her sunny backyard.

I was in my early twenties when Grandma passed away, too young and self-centered to realize what I'd lost.  I realize it now, though.  I miss her every day.  I'd give anything to be able to talk to her again.  And maybe hang out a towel or two to dry.

Grandma used to say "I swannee" a lot.  For those of you who've never heard that, it's an old southern saying that means, "I swear" or "my goodness".  I use it in my every day conversation because it makes me feel closer to Grandma.  I do it to keep her memory with me.

So, happy birthday, Grandma!!  I love you and miss you so much!!