A Century of Time

My Great

Aunt Katie Nell

is turning 100 years old

this Friday, April 17 2009!

1944 as a student at Gordon College in Georgia!

1943 with husband Carey! They met while Katie Nell was teaching school and Carey came on as the new principal. They shared their 50th wedding anniversary in May of 1981 and Carey died that December.

Katie Nell and my 1 year old son Preston ~ A century of time between them! She had no children of her own, so she's spent her life doting on my mother as her own daughter and loving me & Nancy as her own grandchildren and even remembers the birthdays of Leah & Preston- Her great, great niece and nephew.

This Friday, April 17th is a milestone, a history marker, and a reason to celebrate! My family is throwing a huge party for her where she lives in Thomaston, GA and this big birthday bash has put quite a spark in the old woman! Katie Nell has two new dresses for the party, a guest list a mile long, and even got herself on the front page of the local newspaper (well, I did that, she would never draw attention to herself like that)!

Just imagine a life full of 100 years worth of changes . . . in health, technology, education, politics, economy, religion, social standards, traditions, fashion, language, travel, . . .

but Katie Nell is still as southern as ever. With stories and wisdom that my mom & sister have journaled after almost every meeting over the last 5 years. It feels like perhaps we can't absorb quite enough of what she knows or where shes been.

Fondest memories of the GREAT Katie Nell:

I will always treasure the fully prepared meal for any and every occasion, breakfast, lunch, or dinner- from Easter lunch to ordinary Tuesday afternoon at Katie Nell's house. (pot roast in the oven, homemade yeast rolls, pimento cheese, sweet pickles and fried apple pies). The miracle of it all is not what a fantastic cook she was, but the 9x12 sized kitchen with no counter space, no microwave, and no dishwasher or disposal . . . she never upgraded, never complained, never knew the difference!

A house that looked the same always! In a life that is constantly changing, I even get swept up in the "change is good" mentality- remodeling decor to match Southern Living Magazine, rearranging furniture to fit my mood, or just finding a new house when the one we have doesn't suit us anymore . . . Katie Nell moved into a two bedroom brick ranch home with probably 2.5 acres of fig trees & azalea bushes, in 1952 and stayed there until 2001 when she sold it to move into her current residence at the retirement village (an old school house that has been converted). The furniture at Katie Nell's house never changed, nothing was ever out of place, the smell sticks in my head . . . just the way I like it!

Ice cold coke in a bottle, from a vintage refrigerator kept on the screened porch- with the fold up lawn chairs and wind chimes. And a rotary dial phone kept in a little nook in the hallway, with a little bench and place for the phone book. This is the only place you were to "entertain telephone calls".

Going to town- a mere 2 mile drive or 15 minute walk maybe, to Thomaston town square to drop off a watch at the jeweler, run into the bank and post office, and of course a stop at the 5 & dime store for necessities. These errands took a total of maybe 1 hour, but this was your one and only trip "to town" for the day.

Stories of her family, stories of the community, stories of the past. Because my grandmother (my mom's mother & Katie's Nell's sister) died when I was only 8, Katie Nell has spent all these years building the family tree, or heritage and history, in my mind, Along with trips to various and rather un-monumental parts of Georgia that have definite meaning to these legends . . . . but that's the difference in my world view and hers. Mine is filled with flashy, remarkable, noteworthy, photo ops and her stops along the way were studied, remembered, and passed on . . . how beautiful!

Happy Birthday to the Great Katie Nell!