back at mama's

We grew up hearing our mother, and her six siblings, call their parents mama and daddy.  They were Granny and Granddaddy to us, but always my mom's, my aunt's, and my uncles' mama and daddy.  And they were a big part of our lives, and our cousins' lives.  One of my saddest days was my granny passing on.  It was just under a year after we lost our dad, and I think I was clinging to her harder than ever because if I'd learned anything, it was to treasure time and memories and people and love.  We lost our granddaddy when we were babies, but grew up knowing how much that loss affected our mom.  I know it's not just a Southern thing, but I'll tell ya', Southern families are close.  People and love woven in a tapestry that creates a beautiful picture.  We grew up knowing our granddaddy as best we could, because our mama, granny, aunt, and uncles talked about him all the time, shared stories, and kept his spirit very much alive in that house on Wolf Branch Road.  

There's a song out now by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill called "Meanwhile Back at Mama's", and every time I hear it, I can smell that house, see that house, be in that house, I go right back.  I feel, in my heart, that that sentiment is exactly what my mom and her sister and brothers all would hum and sing about their mama.  

In fact, the house on Wolf Branch Road in Mount Dora now houses my cousin and his wife.  He bought it from Granny when she moved back to where she's from in lower Alabama.  It's their pride and joy, and I'm so very happy that it's still in our family.  And Granny's house in Black, Alabama now houses one of my uncles and my aunt.  My uncle and aunt bought it when Granny passed on.  Granny and Granddaddy's youngest lives there, works that land, and puts his feet every day on the soil that is the roots of our family on our mama's side.  

I can't help but smile when I hear that song.  'Cause meanwhile back at Mama's, the porch light's on, come on in if you wanna...supper's on the stove, and beer's in the fridge, red sun sinking out low on the ridge...game's on the tube and daddy smoked cigarettes, whiskey keeps his whistle wet...funny the things you thought you'd never miss in a world gone crazy as this.......  (okay, there was never beer in her fridge)  :)