August 11

Eighty eight years ago my mother was born. The second child of William Allen Hull and Ailene Victoria Banks....times were hard, grandpa worked as a drag line operator working on the Tamani Trail in Homestead Florida. He had  been in the Navy, met my grandmother and then married. They didn't tell alot of their life, wish they had  as I would have loved  to hear their stories...do know that life was hard. I remember the home that grandpa built where 9 children were born. My mother and her older sister were born in Arch Creek Florida, which is an historic place now. Dr. Dupree birthed each of her children and then birthed my sister and I. He retired after that. He had delivered over 5000 babies in his medical career...operated a dairy  until the 1950's or so  I understand.
I loved to go to my grandmothers home....that is where she would fry us potatoes with fried spam...it was good. They had to stretch dollars with 9 children and potatoes and spam was plentiful and cheap. Later on after the 9 children had married and left home, Dad built them a new home where grandpa had the most beautiful roses. They were his pleasure ....later he became ill  where he lost the muscle tone of his jaw, drools alot and was very miserable. He lived for a few years until his lungs filled up with fluid and he passed away. My grandmother, God bless her, was a strong woman, loved and stood by her man!
She was a gentle woman made homemade vegetable soup every Wednesday and all who could would come for lunch and the soup was served  with cornbread. How I loved that soup. Most of the kids who lived nearby would come over for lunch. My grandmother loved God and served Him faithfully until she too passed away. She had had a stroke which was her second or third one and decided not to live any more. My mother visited with her, then grandmother sent my mother home for her favorite white sweater...when she got back grandmother had passed away. She wanted to be buried in the sweater....and she was.
Now to my mother...she was a good mother, she loved her children, made some of our clothes, kept a clean house ( most of the time with help from another lady) as my mother helped my dad with his business. She made sure we had bountiful food, clothes and love. She was so busy most of the time that we got lost in time I am sure...doesn't that happen too much  in our families?  She had periods of being sick at times, lost her vision for life at times and then survived the passing of her husband. then for ten years lived by herself until she fell and had to be put in a nursing home. It was a tragic time for all ofus and mostly her...I have wished that I could have done more but she would not allow it. She had a stubborn streak! Thats where I get my stubborn streak and from my dad...double whammy!!!!! lol
My mother loved to crotchet afghans, tissue holders and doilys...I have some of all of them. Her handiwork was perfect...no mistakes. She did not like mistakes....that would bother me as I am not perfect. I like imperfections in life, "character" is what I call imperfections...She made me a dress for a party that was help at the Fountainbleu Hotel....it  was made from a Vogue pattern...very upscale...can you believe there are no no no pictures of me and that dress. I was working for Burdines and they had a party for all of the seniors who worked for them.... it was nice....had a good time. Usually my mother took pictures of everything but I think that did come later.  When I  was pregnant with Windy she made all of my clothes for my growing belly! I have a few pictures of those... I had a good mother. Sometimes we don't realize how fortunate we are until we loose that which we love.
So Happy Birthday to my mother who is with Jesus, Vann, Dad, Charles and all of Windells family. i love you mother.
Thanks for listening grandpa Leonard..I love you J