If I Know A Song Of.......................

I don't know if it is the weather, we are finally getting lots of good rain, or the fact that my baby girl just got married or what. I've been feeling kinda melancholy. Not sad, just reflective. Please indulge me on this post. :)

One of my all time favorite movies is Out Of Africa. Of course, the book is better and is the true story. I highly recommend both. The author's pen name was Isak Dinesen, but her real name was Karen Blixen. This is a quote from her that comes to my mind quite often.

"If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a color that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?"

It gets me to thinking. If I know a song of Kentucky or of this wonderful world of ours, does Kentucky, the world or any of its inhabitants know a song of me? Am I leaving a mark? Am I making a difference?

I have many wonderful items that were my great-grandmother's. Her real name was Mary Jane Sutherland, but to all of us great-grandchildren, which numbered in the 40's, she was Grandma Sudie. She was a little bitty tobacco chewing woman with one of the meanest chihuahuas and green parakeets you have ever seen. I can't necessarily say that Grandma Sudie left her mark on me except that her daughter-in-law, my Grandma Embry, passed many of Grandma Sudie's belongings to me. Some of her crocheted doilies, a couple aprons she made from feed sacks and a beautiful clay cookie jar.

Grandma Embry left a huge imprint upon my life and in turn on my children. She instilled deep within me a love of plants and flowers. I can remember walking through her yard with her pointing out various plants, naming them and telling me how to propagate and care for each plant. This past week Sara told me about the various house plants she bought and began asking questions as to their care. When she and I are out she will point out a plant and ask me the name. I owe much of my love of plants, heirlooms and Motherliness to Grandma.

This is one of many very precious gifts she gave me. It is a ring she purchased when she was 17 and gave to me when I was 17. As stated before, I am one of 40 some odd grandchildren and I am not the oldest so it was a great joy for me to receive it. Her first name was Minnie, thus the engraving. I have worn this ring practically daily for 33 years now. Sorry for the fuzzy picture.

Another way she has left an imprint on my and my family's life is........Grandma Embry had 11 living children whose ages differ over a span of approximately 20 years. It wasn't an easy life so when it came time to eat, she first and foremost made sure Grandpa got the biggest helping of whatever there was to eat and then the children. After that she would eat whatever was left and sometimes what the children left on their plates. To this day, if there are 4 donuts and 5 of us, I won't eat one until I know that David and the kids have had what they want. If David or I have opted to wait for everyone else to eat before we partake, we call it "Pulling a Grandma Embry." In our case it isn't usually for lack of food to eat, maybe just leftovers.

I firmly believe that I am leaving a mark on my children and they will continue my legacy with their child and future children even when I'm gone. And if that is all I ever do that would be enough, I will feel I've done a good thing.

Outside of my family I try to leave a lasting impression on all that I meet. Some will remember my name, my humor, my impact and many others won't.

The many women I have taught to knit, they will remember me and hopefully they will in turn teach their children and others to knit as well. Many of you may not know that I am a Pastor's Wife. I'm not your typical Pastor's Wife now mind you. :) In fact I am possibly the most unreligious Pastor's Wife out there. It is of huge importance to me that other's around me feel very comfortable. It is purely by God's great grace that I am a Christian, certainly not by any goodness of myself. With me, what you see is pretty much what you get. So through the years I'm sure there are those who will remember me. Hopefully I've been accepting and encouraging.

Last week David and I began leading a "12 Step Program." We meet every Tuesday. Last night we had 12 in attendance. The majority are women who are on their last leg. Some have already spent time in prison, lost their children and everything that we hold dear. They have to attend 90 meetings in 90 days. What a joy it is to meet these women and men. They are each so very precious. Hopefully my motherliness and acceptance will go with each of these where ever their paths may lead.

But.........................what song will be remembered of me?