In the depth of my mind lies two cultures, The South and the North. Having been born in Philadelphia, Pa., and living my summers in Windsor, N.C. was and still is a great adventure. An adventure through, different states, the Ferry Boats to Virginia and the back roads that lead us to Windsor, N.C. to Grandma and my Chum Buddy (Grandpa) house.
How can I honor one grandparent without the other? Because, they both played an integral part of my life. Grandma was the nurturer as she taught me to cook, sew and garden. Moreover, grandma was the best story teller of our fine family history and genealogy. Many grand stories she did tell, with precise description about everyone and everything.
Now, Chum Buddy (grandpa) was different from grandma. He was mischievous, funny and always playing jokes on grandma. Grandma and grandpa balanced each other well.
One joke that my grandma played on Chum Buddy is so vivid. I am laying in my bedroom late at night, I was about eight years old when I hear, Mary, Mary, what did you do to the sheets? Grandma laughing, smiled at me, put her finger to her lips, with a shush. Grandpa yelled again Mary, but my feet are hanging out the sheets. Laughing now, I hear grandma say, George in her southern accent, I short sheeted you to get back at you for giving me the nickname CRIB. I do not look like a crib, still giggling. Chum called me in his bedroom and whispered, Grandma gained some weight and looks like the back of a crib now and was our secret at breakfast and we would laugh and laugh.
There are so many memories to spin a yarn to. However, it would take more than forty years to tell. Smile.
Yet, I would like to tell you of our special nights on the porch, in the swing, my Chum made, when my dad was a baby. Five generations slept in this swing, special made was the backing that it would split, turn over into a cradle. From the swing, I saw the Carolina moon, the lights from a town, two blocks long and the gardens from the neighbors of King St.
Moreover, on the swing we had our special nights, with grandma telling stories about our family lines. Grandma was terrific at story telling and made life from the past, both exciting and fun. She left this legacy to me now and I wish to take the time and tell these stories, not only to my grandchildren, also to share with others the grand, hard working, loving life of the people in the stories as I chose to keep taking this Trip back in Time. I honor my grandfather, George Turner Floyd and my Grandmother, Mary Jane Tynes-Floyd for the wonderful memories of time gone by.
by
Amelia Hall