My Mary Etta

Mom loved to go out and just walk around she would start out sitting in the sunlight and then she would wander off. She did this a lot in Savannah she would come back in with a muffin or cookie of some kind and ask me if I had been to the shop on this or that street. She would then explain all the adventures that she had had while dad and I were sleeping late. Mother loved visiting Savannah she loved to stop into the chocolate shop on river street and buy a couple of bags of candy to take with her.

Mom would get new magazines and the first thing she would do is give them a good deep smell. Weather it was the perfume ads or the smell of a new magazine it was one thing she couldn’t pass up. After this one moment all for herself she would look through the magazine reading and looking for things that were useful. Things that were useful for herself or things that were useful for anyone she knew. She would usually tear these articles out and add them to the notebooks she kept.

The last time i was home i looked through one of her books and it was amazing. The articles that she kept was like a family album each of them hand picked and saved with someone in mind. I realized exactly how much she loved and cared for everyone even while doing something for entertainment she had everyones interest in mind.

I had to post this link:
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Originally uploaded by athelm.

While I was In Savannah mom suprised me on valentines day by sending me this mug from the school with a note attached that said “Fare you well, fare you well I love you more than words can tell” Lyrics from a Grateful Dead song called broke-down Palace.

Its a song about going home. Here is a section.

River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back back home
It’s a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I’ve come
since I first left home

Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

After she sent it she was worried that it maybe to similar to farewell. I told her thats not the way it was meant that it was meant as fare thee well, may it go well with you.

When I think of rain i will think of you
When I think of flowers i will think of you
When I think of white pizza i will think of you
When I think of stars i will think of you
When I think of bridges i will think of you
When I think of love i will think of you
When I think of friendship i will think of you
When I think of courage i will think of you
When I think of strength i will think of you
When I think of carolina i will think of you
When I think of bicycles i will think of you
When I think of flowers i will think of you
When I think of snow i will think of you
When I think of jewelry i will think of you
When I think of georgia i will think of you
When I think of chocolate i will think of you
When I think of pepsi i will think of you
When I think of nurses i will think of you
When I think of bluebirds i will think of you
When I think of the beach i will think of you
When I think of children i will think of you
When I think of georgia i will think of you
When I think of me i will think of you.

{Sent To Me By Nicole Mills}

Today is February 2nd. One month since since my family was forever changed. We lost our MaryEtta. I lost my Aunt Uh. Does time really heal? Not In a month. I will always have a tear in my eye when I think of her and the past year and a half that led up to January 2nd, 2006.

The memories that comfort us make us cry. I would take nothing for them. As a family, we have all shared stories of her that we either forgot or never heard. She made us laugh, even though she was in pain, she never wanted us to hurt. I’m sorry Uh, this hurts too much! I can see her holding my children. They clung to her as I did at least 25 years ago. Lord how I treasure those images. I can hear her reading the story of Brer Rabbit, nobody read it like she could. Singing and dancing along with Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and the gang, these are memories that Johnny, my sister, and I can enjoy together. Nothing can ever take those away I pray!

Today I look back on our time with her. I thank God for her and the memories she gave us. She taught us the important lessons in life. Cherish family, love life and take care of one another. Thank you aunt uh for a lifetime of love!

Maybe time does heal. Not everything though. I will always have a heart full of pain when I think of January 2nd, 2006. As Uh would have it, I end this telling my family how much I love each of you!

{Sent to me by Jennifer Bernett}
I think the hardest time I have had so far was the night before my birthday (Jan 18). I knew the next day would be the first time I would not hear Mary Etta say happy birthday Jenny Poo. Lucky for me the next day I was surrounded by other family (thanks yall).

Words cannot describe how special she was. I can only hope my neices and nephews will love me the way we loved her. I am going to try to model myself like her but I know I will never fill her shoes. I have so many memories deep inside that keep showing up at the oddest times. Sometimes at work tears come to my eyes over the smallest things that remind me of her. Kids are selling worlds finest chocolate bars and it reminds me of buying them for her and saying “worlds finest chocolate for the worlds finest uh.” I never want those memories to stop, tears and all, because I love those memories. We all have lots of pain ahead that will get easier but will never go away. I am glad we still have each other to lean on. I know that is why she was able to let go. One day I know I will feel better knowing she is in a better place but right now I miss her and want her here with us. Thats okay I guess. As bad as it is for me I must put myself in johnnies place. He has been amazing! Lets all try to be a little more like Mary Etta…love deeply and live life to the fullest.