Seems Granny Knew Best!

"Seems Granny Knew Best"
 
If any of your were remotely like me when you were younger, then you knew more than your parents, and less than your grandparents. Somehow my grandparents, particularly two of my grandmothers, were fountains of wisdom and strength. I knew only one of my grandfathers, and he was a gentle, and kind soul.  Family meant the world to him and he strived to do the right thing.
 
Now back to my grandmothers, namely the one that was born in Cuba, Alabama that is and raised in ROLL TIDE country.   I affectionately refer to her as Granny.  Granny was a die-hard Southern Baptist woman.  She was just as wise in her silence, as she was when she spoke.  She'd observed and studied people's behavior and she would act accordingly.  In her own way, she was a Psychologist of sorts.
 
Granny was a business woman too: often selling goods that people would otherwise have to walk miles to get, even it were a treat or refreshing beverage. Many people came to Mrs. Levy!  Granny was the first woman I saw and knew as an entrepreneur.
 
Now my grandmother, all of them actually, were/are some of the best cooks I know.  But this particular Alabama Granny's food was down-home, southern good!  My older sister Stefanie and me would think it strange when Granny would cook a perfectly good skillet of corn bread and then mash it up in a bowl of buttermilk.  Turns out Granny was ahead of the game, when it came to probiotics.   Perhaps the one thing that kept her alive well into her 80's was the buttermilk.
 
It was always a nice surprise and treat to come home after school to Granny’s home-made yellow cake with chocolate home-made frosting. Granny knew something about making each moment special and not waiting for only special occasions.
 
And the first liquor I ever heard of and tasted was Granny's pot liquor.  There was no liquor in our home growing up, so when Granny suggested we drink the pot liquor, I was a little hesitant at a very young age, but knew Granny knew best and she would not put us in harm’s way. Turns out that pot liquor had all of the nutrients, minerals and vitamins from the collards and turnips that she cooked. The pot liquor was one of the best parts.
 
Then there was the regular Father's John and liquid iron in a red and white box, along with the quarterly cod liver oil. Turns out Granny also knew about omega threes and the importance of a clean colon. 
 
She would wake at the crack of dawn, and I literally mean the crack of dawn, and have us put water on the fire for  her favorite pot of coffee: Maxwell House.  Granny drank coffee by the bowl and saucer, and not the cup and saucer. And we joined her each morning, as we sat on the porch and watch the morning come into itself, as we snacked on saltines.  Seems Granny also knew the importance of family time, and quiet meditation before God! 
 
This early morning ritual also taught us strong work ethic and the importance of starting the day early and finishing it up early. A practice I need to apply.
 
Granny taught me more than I can ever count and certainly more than I ever got a chance to thank her for.  If you were fortunate enough to have a Granny or Grandpa or Guardian in your life to teach valuable  life lessons, whether verbally or just by living it, then they taught you Da Art of Living!

I share this tribute song to my Granny and Great Granny who await their heavenly wings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBff3nN-sqc
 
Be blessed now, and into the Christmas Holidays!
 
~Simply Lady Dana
  December 2013 (c)