Graceloveandpolitics

RECESSION SURVIVAL SKILLS …AND THE THINGS MY GODMOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, “grow, grow.” -the Talmud.

My godmother’s antique lamps. Imagine twin lamps, with hand painted roses, gold trim and the original paper lampshades, made in 1940 and still radiating exquisite light. With this light, my godmother taught me to read and write at age three. Just the basics, she made sure I could spell my name, recite my phone number, the alphabet and count – from one to ten. Sleep over nights at her house were spent reading Dick and Jane books, lit by her beautiful lamps. I wrote the alphabet with thick coal pencils, sharpened with the tip of a small knife. My godmother, (the first black teacher in my hometown) was born in 1898. During the past few months, I’ve thought of her often and wonder how she survived the depression. I may have witnessed a few remnants of her survival skills growing up. She wrapped everything in brown paper bags and secured the package with string; often re-using the same piece of string, many many times. The wooden cupboards in the basement were stocked tomatoes, peaches, pickles, peppers and jam in dusty mason jars. The tops were rusted and impossible to open. Maybe she was saving them for the next “hard times”. She was a great cook and fried fish, perfectly (in an ancient cask iron skillet), baked cornbread and created “drip down the side of your mouth” all butter corn on the cob. Which, when finished was wrapped in squares of newspaper, saved in a corner pile. The pile was tall enough for me to sit on. My godmother also taught me the meaning of respect and grace. She encouraged me to think carefully, and to make choices that are—-”beautiful“. I imagine this is how she said “I love you”. These lessons are probably ephemeral and maybe impractical. But they just might help me make make it through our current dramatic and heartbreaking recession. Here is my list of survival skills: I promise to ask friends-how are you doing & then stop & listen. No one really asks any more. I will look at my life; knowing I’ve made the best choices and move forward with even more faith. I hope to save money and time by slowing down, and planning carefully for each day. And at the end of the day, I’ll ask myself, have I followed my values today? …and will keep moving forward, peacefully. I will cook for friends in their home or mine – renewing what may be a lost way of communicating, having fun or just saying I love you. My godmother (Irene Ambers Hill) passed away in 1984, at the age of 86. Every night, (especially after a challenging day), I turn on her beautiful lamps, take a deep breath and count to ten while preparing for another day.