The Flowering Vine: Thank You

On By Lady GIn The Flowering Vine, Uncategorized

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In today’s installment of The Flowering Vine, we find Ma Hallie (Mother’s maternal Aunt) talking about a situation that she and her brother Babe had encountered earlier that day.  

Note:  Mother’s side of the family would often add the terms “Ma” or “Pa” to the first names of older relatives.  

Here, Ma Hallie refers to her brother as Babe, but, Mother would have referred to him as Pa Babe just as she referred to her aunt Hallie as Ma Hallie.

 

Lord, y’all….. me an’ Babe done had us a day to-DAY!

Whew!

You know we had to go out Clayton way this mornin’?

Well when we was comin’ out from out there we run up on this l’il White boy in the woods lookin’ for somebody to help his granmamma.

He say they was in a accident an’ his granmamma done hurt her leg an’ can’t move.

Cos’ Babe told the boy to get on up in the Buggy so he could lead us to her.

Allie, I tell you, this li’l boy warn’t no older than Annie Maude and Ted but he led us right on through them woods to where his granmamma was.

Chile, Babe hadn’t even stopped good when that po’ creeter jumped down out that buggy an’ ran over to a colored ‘oman layed out on the ground wit’ another  li’l boy huddled up ‘gainst her.

The other li’l boy was colored too!

God….Y’all…that thang know it confounded the devil outta me!

I couldn’t make no sense out it!

Cos’ I didn’t say nothin’…..that warn’t the time.

I jus’ wonder where she got da li’l White boy from?

Uhmm!

Jesus!

Anyway, she looked to be pretty bad off an’ we ain’t had no time to waste.

So, I looked at Babe an’ told him to go ‘head on an’ take dem boys to get help cause I knew this was gon’ be mo’ than a notion.

By time Babe pulled off, I looked up to the sky an’ said, “Lord, this ‘oman in a bad way, she got li’l chillun an’ she need you Jesus.”

Then I got on my knees …right ‘side her…put ma hands on her leg and said my scriptures:

By His stripes, you are healed.

By His stripes, you are healed.

By His stripes, you are healed.

Y’all I done that near ’bout the whole time.

Next thang I know, Babe done pulled up wit’ somebody….say he gon’ take care of everything.

Elvy…Allie…y’all…when I went to get up, that ‘oman grabbed hold my hand an’ look me dead in my eyes Jesus!

She held me there for the longest time…

Jus’ lookin’!

Ain’t said a word!

Then… she went on an’ let me go.

Babe say it seem like she done that to tell me “Thank you.”

I thought ’bout what he said.

So I whispered– where only God could hear me–

“You welcome.”

 

 

46 thoughts on “The Flowering Vine: Thank You”

  1. Lady G – my apologies for any unintended slight in a former comment placed after I was blown away by my first taste of The Flowering Vine. I mistakenly concluded that this story was the product of a single pen, raving about Ron’s prose alone, and following only his blog (thinking it was the source).

    Now that I have had the time to return and read a few more posts in this Series (including the one that introduced it), I realize my error and most certainly want to include YOU and everyone else who put your wits and words together to create this masterpiece. The fact that this is a collaborative effort only serves to increase my admiration and respect.

    I am NOW following your blog as well — wouldn’t want to miss an episode.

    Gotta’ say again: turn it into a book and get the manuscript to Oprah! 🙂
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
    – ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
    “It takes a village to educate a world!”

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Wow! Thank you so much for that acknowledgement 🌹
      I am so lucky to have a cousin like Ron as a creative partner.
      The whole thing was his brainchild, but, as you have stated, it is a collaborative effort.
      I am very happy to know that you are enjoying the project as a whole.
      Also, thank you so much for the follow. I most assuredly am going to follow you back 🙂
      By the way, the Oprah idea would be so cool!
      I look forward to seeing you around 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Thanks for being so gracious about my oops (and for the follow). The minute I realized what I’d done, BOY was my face red!

        Yeah, Oprah could put this story on the map! A best selling book (or movie deal) would impact more lives than your family’s I’m betting.

        The world could use a bit of empathy to counteract the hate that, unfortunately, gets stirred up almost every time the news comes on these days. And the timing couldn’t be better, now that the horrible murder trial has concluded (sans appeals, of course).
        xx,
        mgh

        Liked by 1 person

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  2. Great story and lesson about the uses of prayer and the effects bi-racialism. I am glad you captured how mixed race disorients people – as we are taught to categorize people into little boxes. I like how your writing resists translation for the sake of being understood easily by the audience – as everything special would be lost.

    Good work as always Lady G!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you Darryl!
      I really want to stay as true to the character as possible and that includes their thought processes and communication style.
      I just hope that I don’t lose the audience with the vernacular.
      But that said, I think that there are enough contextual clues to make it mostly understandable. LOL!!!
      Thanks for checking this one out 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. Pingback: The Flowering Vine: ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas – seekthebestblog

  6. ronbrownx

    “I knew it was gon’ be mo’ than a notion” I love that line soooo much. I’ve never heard it put quite that way before. It sounds so authentic. I swear, no one gets in the heads of our old ancestors quite like you do.

    Then, the beautiful way you share the experience with us is almost mystical. It’s like we’re there, eyewitnesses to the events through your mind’s eye!

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. You are really a good storyteller. Love how you portray the accents. Now I wonder how you’d do in my neigbourhood. We have so many accents and dialects even in and among racial groups. Anyway, you had me intrigued all the way! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Awww thank you Chevvy!
      Thanks in particular for the compliment about accents.
      Actually I was blessed with a facility for picking up accents which can be both good and bad.
      Sometimes I find myself picking up the accent of whoever I’m with–I don’t mean any harm by it, but it could appear as if I am mocking the person so I have to make a conscious effort NOT to do that.
      BTW, may I say, again, how happy it makes me to ‘see’ you here 🙂
      💞

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. First, it’s good to have some time on my hands to come and visit. I must say that apart from you having the talent for imitating accents, I have a picture in my mind’s eye of a very curious child who paid attention to the finer details. This probably makes you a good listener too.
        It would be interesting to hear what you would make of my accent one day when we meet ( we will meet of course) Most people say I have a voice for singing. My children say I “twang” when they hear me taking work related calls but I can do the “township slang” when I’m in da neighbor “wood” I grew up in. Hope you are preparing for a great Christmas my dear! 😘😘

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  9. T. Wayne

    If the goal of writing this series is to make the reader feel as if they are right there in the middle of the action, then you have succeeded with today’s entry. This was awesome. I may get to them late, but I always look forward to reading The Flowering Vine each Friday.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  12. Tareau Barron

    Woooowwwwww I stand corrected looks like Lady G is back with great stories. I bet that was scary just having a Lil white dude come out the cuts like that in the woods, right? Man oh man.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
      1. Tareau Barron

        Um in no way would I ever be talking bout your granddaddy lady g. I was agreeing that that would startle even me. You be putting words in my mouth and making drama.
        Drama G.

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

        1. ROTFLMAO
          That’s right brah! You might wanna get it right!
          Mr. Leroy’s middle grand baby don’t play 🙂
          And don’t sleep on his second oldest grand boy either.
          LOL!!!!!
          #Ladyglovestoharassandharangetareau

          Liked by 1 person

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