Granny Hannie, A Lady

Helen Lee, as many knew her, was a woman of elegance.  She played bridge and referred to the fridge as an ice box.  She bought me bon bons.  We made trips to the salon together for hair and nails.  

We enjoyed chicken salad on summer days, but the French toast she would make on Saturday mornings melted in my mouth.  I can still smell it.  She made it with Texas Toast.

She had shoes.  Lots of them.  

She would take my mom, her daughter in law, on Mystery Trips to places like New York and Montana.

Granny was a fabulous hostess.   She was on a cooking show once.  Granny cooked for fancy people and for the Food Pantry.

I miss her.

Granny didn't like the smell of chewing gum.  

She was nicknamed The Queen.  I was of course, Princess.  

She made Baked Alaskan and Prime Rib on Christmas Eve.  Sometimes her smoke alarm would go off.  We would all laugh.

She traveled the world.  She has even been to Antarctica.  

Granny preserved family antiques carefully.  We have a rich family history.  She says we were distantly related to Pochihauntus and Ben Franklin.  I don't know about that, but I like it.

Our family has beautiful pieces of furniture in our homes that graced the homes of ancestors before the turn of the century.  Granny was a humble socialite.

If there is such a thing.

She taught me the importance of thank you notes and hand written replies to formal invitations.  

Granny loved silver, fine sterling silver.  She was an only child.  Her father owned a family moving and storage company.  

She grew up during the Depression.  It didn't affect her much.  She married a stunning young man.  He went to war and came home to her safely.   He loved her and is devoted to her to death and beyond.  He misses her.  A lot.

They were members of the Country Club and enjoyed Pot Luck with good company.

They lived in a mid-western town and had good values.  

She made her help lunch.  Good lunches.  

She enjoyed entertaining.  She loved sororities and secret clubs.  She was a Junior Leaguer.  She had two boys.  They are successful men.  She was their Boy Scout Troop Mom.

Granny, grew up a Baptist, became a Presbyterian, and I hope that she knew Jesus.

I asked her about that.

She said there were many ways to heaven.

I said there was only one.  His name is Jesus.  We are forgiven only because of  His death and victory over death.  She listened.

We talked several more times about it.  If she were alive now, I feel certain, she would want you to know the Truth.  She was that kind of lady.

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."  John 3:36

He gave His most precious gift for you friend, to cover you, to cleanse you,  forgive you, and to save you.

It doesn't matter if you write thank you notes, have silver, or have kin named Ben Franklin.

We die.

Granny is dead.

Where will you be when that time comes?

I was with Granny Hannie when she passed from this world to the next.  

I miss Granny Hannie.  She was a lovely woman.