letter(s) from grandma

Today, in my continuing slog through my family archives, I found something precious and remarkable: a letter in three parts, from my grandma to me.

The letter is three pages long, each page written on one side of a sheet of stationary, and each page folded into its own small, numbered envelope. ("Read this first," "Second," "Third.") I wish I knew why she arranged it this way; it's whimsical in a way I didn't associate with my grandma.


Grandma (my father's mother) was born in 1905 and lived her entire life in Madison County, NC. She was raised on a small farm, married a farmer, raised a family, and spent her life serving the needs of her community however she could. She always cooked on a wood-burning stove, she taught Sunday school at the tiny mountain Baptist church up the road...she fed everybody she met in more ways than one. I could write a book about her - and perhaps will, someday.

We didn't have a whole lot in common, with me being raised in a suburb in Tidewater, VA. She impressed me terribly, and I was very proud of being her granddaughter, but she wasn't a snuggly sort of person. I knew she loved me, but she didn't dote. (Actually, she doted in her own way: she would always make a cake when we visited, and would tell both me and Dad - separately - that she'd made it just for each of us.)

I think that's why I got so choked up reading this letter today. Given the contents, Dad thinks that it was written soon after my first birthday, a little over a year after my grandfather died. My cousin O. was living with Grandma at the time. Grandma mentions a class she's taking; Dad remembers that she took a short course on the folklore of the Appalachians at Mars Hill College. "It wasn't very successful, for her," he said. "She already knew everything they taught."

My Dear Little E.,

I've been thinking of you every day and thanking our Heavenly Father for sending us a wonderful little girl.
How you are growing up to be a joy to all you come in contact with.
See next page.


The leaves are beginning to fall and looks like a beautiful carpet on a green floor. Then you can imagine the children have been playing and throwing apples and walnuts, since there's a tree on each side.
Today the clouds are all gray and moody looking but, I'm feeling very thankful. There were two little girls here yesterday and one called me Ma Maw.
See next


I know all about your birthday being past but, I'm not forgetting you ever.
Today the man will be here to do a little work on the house and O. will be going to school.
Oh! Yes this brings to mind - I went last Tuesday and will be going back for six weeks if I'm not a drop out. (Just one day a week.)
Hope you are enjoying yours.

Love you ever,
Grandmother