Aunts

I had two aunts named Bessie. Mom and Dad both had sisters named Bessie. Mom’s sister, Bessie Ross, lived in the north; Dad’s sister, Bessie Denison, lived in the south.

Bessie Ross was like an older sister and always a port in a storm for me. She was a pragmatist and over the years demonstrated her ability to cope with difficult situations and not only survive but come out on top. Bessie was married to Uncle Wallace and their son, Homer, was their only child.

Bessie Denison was the pivot around which Uncle Alvin, their children, Rosalee and Albert plus Grandma and Grandpa Abbott revolved, and we always stayed with them during Dad’s annual vacation. The trips to visit relatives in various parts of Kentucky and Tennessee radiated from their home.

Bessie Denison was soft spoken with a charming southern drawl that contrasted mightily with the quick, hard edged speech we in the north were used to hearing. It was great fun to have Rose and Albert repeat words such as ‘time’. Adeline was always quick to pick up the nuances of language and within a few days of our visit, Adeline was talking like Aunt Bessie. Apropos of the spoken language, when my daughter, Kim was 5 years old, she asked Aunt Bessie Ross to tell her about sewing the flag. We had a wonderful laugh when we realized that Kim had confused the names Betsy and Bessie.

I will never forget the wonderful visit my husband and I had with Aunt Bessie and Uncle Alvin when they lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While Bessie and Grandma prepared a wonderful meal, Uncle Alvin took us on a tour of the tobacco crop and we helped put the milk cans on the road for the milk truck to pick up. Albert was our special guide and made certain we saw everything. I loved his enthusiasm and I still recall his saying the words, ’flatter’n a fritter cake’. At that time I never thought such an engaging youngster would grow up to look like the proverbial distinguished Kentucky Colonel with snow white hair and beard that Adeline and I met again years later when we visited him in South Carolina.

As the years went by, both Aunts continued to be the hub for family gatherings and sources of news about distant cousins, aunts and uncles. Even after Uncle Wallace and Uncle Alvin passed away, I often turned to them for comfort when Mom and Dad were not at hand. They were a grounding rod for me during difficult times and I will never forget how gracious and willing they were to show me kindness when I needed it most. I have been very lucky to get bunched in with such a generous and loving family!

What fun to recall drinking coffee with Bessie and Grandma Abbott and watching Grandma’s parakeet sitting on her shoulder and saying, “I’m a democrat”.