Ode to Honey Vey- my grandmother. Honey Vey, my mother’s mother was born this day. Happy Birthday. She was brought up in Main Line Philadelphia society. Instead of oozing with airs of the uppity, she was a down to earth, outspoken adventurer. She was an excellent marksman, golfer, painter, & pianist. I must have inherited (through my mother and HoneyV) the proper appointment of meals, served on warmed plates with lovely colors and flavors, dressed up in the right herbs and spices. According to HV, we were all “damned fools” if we didn’t know these food basics. I am less concerned with my gnarly , arthritic knuckles because I remember how you (HV) cursed yours. No time to feel sorry for yourself. We’d all be “damned fools & as*%es)” if we could not find something else to do with our time and talents. She intimidated and awed me. The piano and golf eventually sidelined in favor of backgammon. God-forbid you were foolish enough to call her during a televised tennis or golf final. G-Dam&%$#!!! HV was a fierce competitor and could be a lousy sport. If you beat her at anything especially backgammon, you won because you had all the luck of the dice. If she won, it was years of experience. Fortunately, she didn’t hold a grudge. I would have been afraid she might shoot me. And I knew, we all knew, she wouldn’t have missed. People were taken back with her “tell it like it is” personality always laced with her favorite curses: “horse’s asses”. She embarrassed every one of us at one time or another. She would publically and loudly ask if we needed to tinkle before boarding the plane. I was a teenager for God-sake. Boy, was she a character and damn it, HV, we all miss you! She quit smoking, when for the last time she infuriated herself doubling back to the house to retrieve the smokes. Damn fool, she must’ve thought, don’t be a horses $%@. Honey Vey put me through college and loved to hear of my adventures, new fitness pursuits, and political notions. I was invited (and at times, ORDERED) to her Key Largo Ocean Reef Club home for rest from college and college life that she in her street smarts knew was getting the better of me. A detective of sorts, she discovered that I had a part time job at college. “I didn’t pay for you to work your way through college. You quit that job today, or I will call and quit it for you. I’m sending you a plane ticket for Florida. A car will meet you at the airport. Be packed and ready. You leave in two days.” I would have my own coffee pot in my room and bath on the other side of the Key Largo home. Neither she nor I liked to talk before morning coffee. God love you Honey Vey. Happy Birthday. I am a damned fool still, but I’m going at life more like you would. To hell with all those other “horses #$*%@ out there!!! xo
Posted on: Sun, 25 May 2014 10:27:59 +0000
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