Milledgeville, GA in the 1960's employed many at its hospital & prison. Grandad's perk of being a doctor there was a home to live in, no rent, and a full-time maid. Grandma was asked, "Do you want a thief or murderer?"
"Once a thief, always a thief." she said.
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I spent a lot of time with Annie, above. In the garden mostly. Grandma made me leave her alone when she napped. Annie's room, at the back of the carport, had a bed, table, chairs, lamps, chest, throw rugs on the concrete floor, a few things hung on the wall, oscillating fan, curtains at the windows, a door that locked and a screen door.
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I would peek in the window, often, wanting Annie to be done with her nap.
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Many afternoons it was only Annie & me at home. This meant Annie was family. My parents never allowed me to spend the nite with anyone or had a babysitter for me, ever.
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Eating lunch one afternoon, Annie letting me lick the silver spoon from the china sugar bowl on the table, I asked Annie why she was in jail. She said she was in bed and her husband came home late and began arguing with her then messing with her and she asked him to stop. He started hitting her. She took the gun from the nitestand and shot him dead.
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Age 6, I knew this was self-defense. But it was Georgia ca. 1960's.
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Without Annie I couldn't have played in Grandma's garden for so many undisturbed hours. When I did slow down for a Coke, pie or anything Annie thought I would like I always had Annie's lap, her arms around me and her wonderful voice telling me stories about her own children. I loved the way she smelled.
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My earliest memories of a garden are in Grandma's garden, and I was with Annie.
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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
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