What I See
I see a woman in her 30s who takes care of herself. She has a manicure, and her triple string of pearls, a business-like dress on. She knows her picture will be made and she makes sure she is more than presentable.
She keeps a perm. She has an open expression and a creamy complexion, she likes to be around people and she prefers to be indoors.
She wears her wedding ring, but no watch or bracelets - they can get in the way when you type. And the typewriter - she's a writer of some sort and the picture is taken because she's a writer.
She is in her kitchen - see the canisters and the sink in the background? She writes at home.
What I Know
This is my grandmother, Kitty Warren, long before I knew her. Here, she's a young housewife proud of her career - writing for magazines such as Grit. In later years, she was a stringer for Women's Wear Daily in Birmingham, Alabama, the city where she raised three sons and was a member of the Garden Club. She was a bit of a society lady, always dropping names that meant nothing to the rest of us. She talked about her bridge foursome. (That southern Alabama accent made "foursome" about five syllables.)
For someone who claimed not to know how to cook, she could make delightful biscuits without a recipe. Here is the standard menu for all family gatherings - a sliced ham, fresh green beans prepared Southern style with pork, potato salad (a bowl with celery and bowl without because Granddaddy didn't like celery), in the summertime there were sliced fresh tomatoes and a little bowl of mayonnaise, a Jell-O salad, a casserole like corn or squash with a crunchy crumb topping. And for dessert, a cake made by Mom or me - I remember that carrot cake with cream cheese frosting went over well.
Kitty liked nice things. The cat's bowl was Limoges, and the yard man was served iced tea out of the sterling pitcher. Her house in Mountain Brook was filled with quality antiques - cut glass, sterling, crystal and well-made furniture. She always wore pricey shoes - claiming that Ferragamos were a necessity for her narrow feet (and the handbag had to match.) She had a mink stole.
I see this picture and I know this woman had trying times with a difficult husband, and let's not even begin to talk about raising three sons. She was always upbeat, talking about the events she attended, the stories she wrote, the women in her bridge foursome. She was always my grandmother - not the lemonade and sugar cookies kind, not the squishy kind, but a well-dressed woman who loved God and her family, and we loved her back.
Kitty loved to talk and to write. Maybe that's where I get the writing from? If it is, can I demand better shoes?
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Comments
~R
Fusun: Isn't this the coolest picture? I wish the typewriter could fit in the avatar.
Lunchlady: She was unlike any of my friends' grandmothers, that's for sure (I kind of wanted the granny kind for awhile).
Lisa: thanks for reading & I missed your skc post this week!
Love this!
It's there! http://open.salon.com/blog/lisa_kuebler/2010/05/30/mediterranean_turkey_burgers
I posted it Sunday, just before everyone left for the holiday. :)
Sorry - the link got cut off. :P
ladyslipper: the cat had a nice gig, don't you think?
nola: I knew the picture before, but now I have a connection to it. Thanks for reading!
Lisa: thanks for the link - found it!
Katrocada: I'm glad you had a sweet grandma, too!
Gabby Abby: I'm sure my feet would never find their way into Ferragamos. The recipe list is from my half-year of Salon Kitchen Challenges. I agree, I didn't think I cooked that much. Thanks for reading!
Everyone, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my story!
Linda: I almost wrote "steel magnolia" - she most certainly was one!
Thanks, friends, for reading & commenting!