Sweet Tater Momma: February 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Shake a Leg for Memaw

It was a warm fall day at the Biloxi mall in 1997, and Memaw was treating Alice and me to a trip to Biloxi.

Memaw was Alice's spry 70-something grandmother - a lady with zest for life and penchant for slots and fun. Who wholly believed nothing is funnier than a fart. Alice and I were 21 years old, blond and sassy. We wore knee high platform black boots and loved attention anywhere we could find it - even the Biloxi mall.

As we crossed the mall parking lot, we heard Memaw behind us. We turned around to see Memaw kicking her leg out to the side and then bend over in laughter. We laughed with her despite being slightly mortified and looked around to see if any cute guys were watching.

I was partially to blame for this gesture. Because during the course of the trip, I shared with Memaw my experiences grocery shopping with my father. My father took great pride in needling me. And one of his favorite ways to do so was to pass gas while he was pushing a cart down the aisles of the store. Not a little squeak. But a bubbly elongated fart. And after, he would stretch out one leg out to the side and shake it. Like he was shaking loose the fart.

Memaw thought this was HILARIOUS! So when Memaw felt the rumble, she decided to test out my dad's method and shake a leg. And Memaw's laughter was contagious. She did not laugh alone.

Memaw was one of a kind.

Tonight, Alice's family and all who knew Memaw had a "Memaw sized hole in their hearts," as we said goodbye to her. Tomorrow is only better because we know she is in heaven watching over us, sprinking cheer amongst the angels, and shaking a leg when she feels the rumble.