As a kid I remember my mom packing us into our family car and off to my grand parent's home; we called them Other mom and Pawpaw. We'd go to their home and it was always fun to go to her front porch with the swing and the chicken always boiling on the stove. Usually we'd go on a Friday night. Aunt Dunnie and Aunt Jewell would always be there as we walked through the door. On this particular Friday night they had company from Tennessee. I were about ten years old. There was two old ladies as I remember sitting at Other Mama's dining room table. She had the table for eight. Aunt Ada was a sweet old lady that had a very gentle spirit and was always dressed. Then there was Aunt Frank. She had the red lipstick and the white hair in the bun. I remember getting our hugs from them and going through and seeing Other mom in the kitchen. I asked who are those old ladies? My Other Mom would gently say "Those are your PawPaw's sisters." Then we would go out the back door and proceed to met up with our cousins and play chicken on the side walk.
Well last summer my sister and I were out to eat with my Aunt Dunnie. We had a great visit and ate Greek food. After eating lunch at the Greek cafe, we took Aunt Dunnie to her favorite veggie market and then back to her house. When we were leaving I told my sister "One day, that's going be us with one of our nieces". Well as this 53 birthday approaches I realize I'm that old lady aunt now. That we have four generations now. It's my niece's and mikie's turn to bring the icess fruit roll ups and be the cool aunts and uncle. Me, I'm a great aunt now. My Aunt Dunnie is the great-great aunt and my sister Sanibel Suzanne is a grandma of what 5 or 6 and from the stories I've heard she's a special grandma. I know Other Mom would be so proud of her and as far as me and my big sister go we are the great aunts that you will see together on the beach together two times a year; Her in her Capri's and her shark tooth basket and me still in a two- piece because I love the sun. We will be drinking us some Mickey Dee's sweet tea. My sister and I can still move when it comes to a low tide. She says "sand bar" and I say I'm There! It's HAPPY SHELLIN FOR US. I'm so blessed to be a daughter, aunt, great-aunt, sister, and sister-in-law so in less than six weeks my big brother and sil from Ohio are driving down I-75 south to come get me. We are taking a road trip to Alabama to little brother and sil's. Then it's on to Englewood, Florida. It's that time of year again to do I-75 south to GET SOME SHELLIN ON.
