The Quilt

     As I look up just a couple feet above my head I watch the rhythm of the fabric that looks like a wave to me as needles pierce its skin just to be returned to the other side I lay sprawled out with feet of all kinds surrounding me...thousands of words it seems but I am not paying attention to that, my mother has her friends over and they are quilting and I have found my happy place. Having been born with a slight disorder of innate mischief always coming to mind first this was heaven to me, my mother even though looking back must have been concerned having me out of slight amongst her friends feet yet I never remember not feeling welcome or wanted. Now to the feet: As soon as some of the ladies arrived their shoes came off , some came in slippers, some always in nylons and formal shoes, many wore nail polish other did not some were hairy which a young boy failed to understand since I knew they where all women... remember my disorder, well I would see which ladies would allow me to tickle their feet, Bonnie Tanner would fuss, giggle and kick at me, Maryellen Smoot knew me well enough and that I had the attention span of a bug so she didn’t flinch no fun I moved on very quickly, but Ruby Brown became my soul Mate yes very large pun intended. Ruby I believe was one of my mother best friend they seemed to enjoy each others company and spent a great deal of time together which I was often part of (trips to See's Candies, ZCMI, Lunch at that Tiffin Room, and hours at the Genealogy Library ) When Ruby knew I was under the quilt I could count on the loud squirt of lotion from the tube she carried and then her feet would appear. The game was to make the lotion disappear on her feet why you might ask? Well Ruby was magic...somehow when I wasn’t watching she would place trinkets between her toes after I had finish rubbing her feet. Dimes, wrapped candies, super balls and somehow a yoyo. I remember my giggling at my treasures and having my laughter returned in genuine love by Ruby and my mother. More than once I fell soundly asleep between the feet of these two women whom taught and loved me. Remember the widow's mite from the last post not a single quilt that I know of was my mothers...

Gertrudism #2 "Life's not fair the sooner you learn it the happier you will be"

The Tiffin Room