Memories Of Momo

"A grandmother is a remarkable woman. She's a wonderful combination of warmth and kindness, laughter and love. She overlooks our faults, encourages our dreams, and praises our every success.” –Unknown

My grandmother will always remain one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever known. She possessed a keen intellect and relished mental challenges. She enjoyed reading the local newspaper from start to finish and watching the evening news, both local and national. As a mother, she encouraged her children not to engage in lazy speech. From her, I learned that the way we speak makes an impression on those we encounter. As a child, she discouraged me from using slang or incorrect vocabulary.

"Grandmothers are a gift not to be taken lightly. So many lose them, before they are old enough to know their magic." – Nikita Gill

After the murder of my grandfather, she raised their six children alone. There was no one else she could depend on to provide for her children and her. She had never worked a public job and had never lived in a big city. When an opportunity came to live in low-income housing in Louisiana. She packed everything they owned and bravely embarked on a life-changing journey.

There was no time to grieve, and she had a family to care for.

"I could do worse than become my own grandma, or anyone of the strong women who raised us. Our strengths emerged from theirs; we build on their heritage and transform their resilience and competence into our own." – Regina Barreca

The apartment was small, but having lived in tenant houses, they were accustomed to living in close quarters. Tenant houses provided by landowners for sharecroppers were bare bone, basic structures consisting of a rusty tin roof, and were often prone to leaking. Walls were rough, tongue and groove boards. The floors were constructed using the same material as the walls. In spaces where boards did not go together, the floor was opened to the ground. Chickens would gather beneath the house with the expectation of catching any food crumbs dropped by the children. There were also spaces in the walls letting in frigid winds in winter. There were no modern conveniences in these houses, which were nothing more than primitive one-room shacks. Entire families lived in these houses during all the seasons.

"A grandma is warm hugs and sweet memories. She remembers all of your accomplishments and forgets all of your mistakes." – Barbara Cage

Challenges and difficulties were a frequent aspect of her existence, dating back to her adolescent years and continuing throughout her life. Failing health restricted her parents from performing the work necessary to keep the farm running, and this work fell upon my grandmother.

Along with the daily chores she also had the responsibility of supervising her special needs sister who was prone to wandering away, hiding and not responding when her name was called. It was a contentious job keeping her safe.

When the Great Depression happened in 1929, Momo was a teenager. Her family was not hit as hard because they had a a cow and chickens, and were able to barter for other things they could not produce. She would load a sack of corn to the mill, and in exchange for grinding it, the mill owner would get a portion of the milled corn.

For her lunch at school, she would bring a leftover biscuit, some bacon if her family had traded for some meat with a neighboring farm. Her father grew and ground his own coffee beans and the smell of roasting coffee is a memory she carried from her childhood.

I was especially close to Momo because I lived with her from the time I was ten years old, along with my mother and sister. She played a big part in raising me.The person I am today because of her influence. As life moved forward, there were many times Momo and I would be the only ones home and I cherish those precious memories of time spent with her. My passion for reading from her.

Living through the Great Depression left a serious impression on her. Along with her experience raising a large family alone. She did not believe in wasting anything, and always made the most of anything. Her family was the most important thing for her, and she did everything she could to help when they were in need. Her grandchildren were a source of great joy and she treasured her time spent with them. The loss of a son and grandson left a deep ache in her heart.

My grandmother left behind a legacy in the lessons she taught through her strong, determined example she modeled in every aspect of her life. She left us January 24th, 2012 at the age of ninety six, following a short battle with cancer. Her death had a significant impact on my life. In many ways, the life I knew, the one I lived with her died with her. The lessons she taught and values she passed to all her family will live on in each of us. She built a strong foundation for present and future generations carry her legacy and impact to build their lives and carry on the knowledge and love she had for all of us.

That’s all for now, I’m just here trying to change the world one story at a time!

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