Jolene Shepard James

My fondest memories are sitting on the big screened in porch after supper or around the “big yellow table” after meals listening to my mother, grandmother and aunts talk. The conversations would range from recipes, fashion, the latest beauty products, weight issues, men issues to world issues and of course a little gossip. The gossip would always begin with “ Now you know this doesn’t leave this room”. I loved being a part of the “grown-up” table and knowing a secret. Sadly, I can’t remember any of the secrets!

Grandma would sometimes send me to the chicken pen to see if there were any eggs. Unfortunately, she would also tell me to watch out for chicken snakes. The snakes would coil up in the nest and eat the eggs. I was so afraid to go in there that I made my brother or sister go with me. Not a fun place to visit.

A few times I helped Grandma hang out the laundry. There were two lines, a front and a back. Towels, sheets and shirts went on the front line. Underwear, panties and bras on the back line just in case anyone pulled up in the driveway. We didn’t want strangers to see our panties.

Pawpaw would pour his coffee in his saucer and slurp it. Grandma would fuss at him and tell him to stop because the children would want to do the same. He would just laugh and keep on slurping. We thought this was the funniest thing. Poor grandma. Pawpaw was sometimes just like having another child.

I never remember Pawpaw sitting in a chair to watch television. He always sat in the floor. We would get on the floor with him and just as something scary was about to happen on the show he would pop one of us on the head or our earlobes. This usually ended with someone crying and grandma fussing at him. We all knew as painful as it was it was his way of showing affection.

One Sunday the women were in the kitchen getting lunch ready when Norma Jean brought out a box of instant mashed potatoes. All the ladies gathered around as she made a presentation on how to prepare them. It was the most amazing thing any of us had ever seen. Grandma was not impressed but I thought it was the best thing ever. It scored right up there with Tang, the instant orange juice. I guess that was my introduction to “not real food.”

I have so many sweet memories of Mississippi and Enterprise. It’s sad to think that some will never know the smell of magnolias, gardenias and honeysuckle, drinking sweet tea on the porch after supper, catching lightening bugs, fanning at reunions with a fan provided by the local funeral home, swinging on a gate or sitting around a table with a big family where everyone talks at the same time. I am so blessed to belong to this big, loud, very loving Ousley family. Elsie and Arthur you did well.