Memorial Day is the only national holiday I am aware of that is about remembering, although I suppose you could argue the same is true of Veterans Day.
After dinner last night, Mother told me some stories about my great uncle Jake Henderson.He was the brother of my grandmother, Cordelia Henderson Thompson.
I think I have heard every family story and that's it, there are no more.... and then Mom tells me a new one.
I don't have any photos of Jake. He was very tall and thin.
He was an integral part of the family before I was about 8 years old, and he then died. Jake came over every Christmas and helped us untangle and put the lights on the Christmas tree. He was my great uncle, but more like a grandfather to me. He always brought me little presents I asked Mother last night if he was liked by my grandfather Thompson, who was Jake's brother in law.
Mother didn't have to think long. "No, Thompson just sort of tolerated him," was her reply.
Jake was "bad to drink." He was a binge drinker.
I learned that in World War I Jake had been gassed. The horror of that experience probably contributed to his being an alcoholic. He never had children, although he was married once, briefly.
Jake was a very kind person, however, and very funny.
One time he called his sister [my grandmother Cordelia] and said that he was coming over and bringing all the food for Thanksgiving dinner, and she should get all the family gathered. She got some of their siblings and a feast was prepared, courtesy of Jake.That was probably in the 1930's or 40's.
A week or so later, Grandaddy Thompson got the bill from the store for all the food. Jake had charged it all to him.
Skip ahead to the 1960's. Jake liked to come to our house and bring a huge bundle of collard greens, and get Mother to cook them for him. He had worked in grocery stores for years and was very knowledgeable about food.
One time we took Jake to Atlanta for a baseball game - this was another story Mom told last night. I was around 6. Jake was impressed by the fact that he was related [through Dad's marrying Mom] to a professional baseball player [my grandfather Bob Hasty]. Jake's stomach was not in good shape, so Mamaw made all sorts of foods like rice, and pureed veggies and such, so Jake could have a good lunch that would be easy on his stomach. Then the entire family went to watch the Braves play.
Jake saw a hotdog vendor at the stadium and proceeded to eat several hot dogs. He didn't get sick. The grownups thought Jake's hotdog eating was funny.
When we got in the car later to drive back to Augusta, Mom said I pitched a fit. I wanted to stay in Atlanta with my grandparents. Jake said "Dee, if you will hush up I will give you $5." I got quiet immediately. Then Bruce started squalling. He was offered $ to hush up, too.
Mom and Dad and Mamaw and Papaw were very amused by Jake's handling of the situation.
One of the last times I saw Jake, he was in the VA hospital in Augusta, and he had asked one of his nurses to go buy me some clothes for my Barbie, pretty dresses. I was thrilled. I climbed in his lap and gave him a kiss. He left us soon after that.
above, the Henderson house which my grandfather Thompson bought in the early 1930's, in Hepzibah, Georgia [just outside Augusta]
above, my uncle Bobby, Grandaddy Thompson, and Aunt Ceph holding baby Frann [Bob's daughter] around 1956 -- this is the bed Michael sleeps in now
