Thursday, 30 April 2009
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for they shall be comforted
I’m not given to worry. I don’t see myself staying home from work for fear of catching the swine flu. But I am washing my hands diligently and…uh…I dunno… I’m just washing my hands diligently. It’s the best (only?) weapon in my arsenal. I’m still working and I’m not losing any sleep over it. But I’m glad so many schools are closing. I’m not taking it lightly – I keep remembering Granny Gip and Evelyn.
Evelyn Louise Gipson was born in 1915 and she was buried December 9, 1918 – a tragic victim of the 1918 flu pandemic. She was buried along with 7 others in the tiny town of Estelline, Texas that sad day. All dead from the flu. Her 16 year old brother was the only one who could attend her sad funeral because he was the only one healthy enough to leave the house! Evelyn’s poor mother was bed-ridden with the flu and missed her precious daughter’s funeral. What an awful time that must have been.One of her other brothers (my grandfather) was born only a few months before she died, so of course, he never knew her. Understandably, his mother (we called her Granny Gip) never recovered from the loss of her daughter. E’en tho she survived many a year and took able care of all her children, a day didn’t go by when she did not mourn her passing. She was never really happy after that I don’t think. If she saw someone’s new baby, she would always think and sometimes speak out loud, “That’s a beautiful baby, but not as pretty as Evelyn was.” Blessed are they that mourn.
Truthfully, when I see this picture, I don’t see that Evelyn was more beautiful than all other babies, but you can see that, standing against her humble clapboard house, she is dressed to the 9s and on her hair were many loving hours spent. She was cherished.
Granny Gip died when I was young but I believe I knew how she was raised well enough to know that Granny had no doubts that young Evelyn was Heaven bound when she was taken. But I also imagine that Granny never quite believed for sure that she herself was going to be there. She may have sang about ‘a foretaste of glory divine’ but I doubt she had a truly Blessed Assurance. I mourn a little thinking that Granny lived her long life only hoping that she would see Evelyn again. But I know she is comforted and I look forward to hearing about it. I’ll bet theirs was a sweet reunion.
Still though, y’all make sure you wash your hands frequently.
AU~out
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Comments (13)
Good story.
I'm washing frequently.
I'm glad we're taking extraordinary precautions. We the media won't shut up about a sex scandal it's annoying. When they won't shut up about a public health issue I give them a pass, unlike most other people.
So sweet and sad. I, like the Sniper am now crying.
That terrible flu outbreak took my grandmother's mother. My grandmother was just about six at the time and for all my life she spoke of this often. I think that in many ways she didn't emotionally mature beyond that age because of her mother's death. My grandmother was 96 when she died just a few years back, and I spoke at her funeral of what a happy reunion it was when "mimi" finally embraced her momma once again.
Stay washed.
max40 actually was saying "stay worshed."
My eyes are filled with tears so it's hard to see the keyboard. It was a lovely blessing you gave Evelyn and Granny Gip.
Not long ago Lyla and I went out to the Old Hall cemetery. There were lots of deaths from around the same times and in whole families. I'm going to have to go back over there and confirm the year. I'm guessing it was probably the great flu of 1918, though. So sad.
All I can think about is the Great Swine Flu Scare of 76. It was the only time I ever got a flu shot. It made me sick as a dawg. Sick, I was! I'm trying not to be cynical because I know one of these days, something might just be that big. It could be today but we just don't really know.
you know the best way to say things sometimes!
Awww,What a tribute to memory. Beautiful. I bet she was a gorgeous baby!!
Yup.
I came by on seedsowers rec and I'm glad I did.
I think that is a very lovely memory and tributeI am not much concerned over this flu-they (the media) keep trying to compare it to the spanish flu but I suspect it will sort of fizzle out. That flu came on the heels of WWI and a very tired, overly taxed and malnourished world. Like you, I am keeping my hands well washed tho
That is beautiful. It definitely makes me think about my brother. When his little girl passed 4 years ago he never was the same. Even after the new baby who will be 4 in September was born, he wasn't the same. I hope when I pass as well as he we will be reunited with our little angel.
I came from Kates recommendation and I am so glad I did!
What a beautiful story. I know that it was a sweet reunion and one day she can tell you all about the day she got to hug her baby once again!!! I cannot think of anything more sad than to have to bury your child!
What a heartbreaking story!? And, just enough to be that reminder. I could not imagine losing one of my children and having to live the rest of my life with that hole in my heart.
submit your work. ;)
Handwashing and hand sanitizer...that's what I'm doing. All we can do, really. You're right. Great story about your granny's loss. "Eternal rest, grant it unto them, O Lord. May your perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen."