Grandmaw's Wiskers

Granny's Whiskers

Dare I kiss grandma Barnes
Her whiskers prickle my face
Hard as steel and thick as yarn

Loved me she did if only to remiss
My name from the others
Laird, Steffan, Forrest, Grandma! I am Chris!

We knew she was a pioneer delivered by wagon
Traveled from California somewhere far down
End of trail for her was our future place in Oregon
As a young boy you weren't to know
That at one time Grandma was a fair maiden
No whiskers to graze your nose

Said hardly a word but made herself known
Old sayings for good nights
By the deeds she did and care of home

Coffee with milk, toast, eggs and bacon
Breakfast was early and lunch on time
Heard in the garden her rose bed a rakin

How I miss grandma Barns her whiskers and all!

MY GREAT GRADMAW BARNS
We were told she came up from California in a covered wagon, and that she had a lover who was black. There were some photographs of her when she was younger. She was attractive, but plain.

What we really knew was what we had each of us experienced. Grandma Barnes was a compassionate housekeeper and gardener. She had a green thumb. Roses would perform for her, house plants would grow like the dickens. There were little snippets of this and that green thing everywhere. Actually my mother must have acquired this knack from Grandma Barnes.

I used to go on my little bicycle from St. Helena Street, down King Road, down Monroe Hill and then up to the Government Housing units to stay with Grandma. Never really needed an invitation, she was always there and ready to take care of me. It seemed like a long journey, but it was only about 12 miles. Quite a bit for an 8 year old kid.

I would play with the other kids in the area and have breakfast, lunch and dinner with Grandma. She loved to take care of me.

She was always a quit person. When she spoke she wouldn't use too many words. She would ask questions; You hungry, thirsty etc. Of course I was always a bit of all of those things. There was nothing better than the smell of fresh bacon and coffee with milk in the morning.

As I grew older and we moved to Cedar Crest I spent less and less time at Grandma's. She was in a rest home.

One day I came home from school and my mother met me in the road coming from the bus stop. She had that look in her face. The moment she said Grandma Barnes I knew she was no longer with us.

She is still the Pioneer in my heart.