Sarah Adeline Howell Holland

I was telling my brother tonight about my t-shirt that I made for the Kickball team in 6th grade. I didn't have any laundry proof markers to do mine so I used regular ones. Now, how silly was that… Times were hard for us. My mom received Veterans Widow pension from her first husband. My dad never did help us and mother never got anything but food stamps on my behalf from the government.

I thought well if I only wear it over my other shirt and not wash it then it will be ok. Boy was I wrong by the end of the year it was in bad shape. Mother also smoked inside so it had a yellow tint to it too. I remember telling mother after 6th grade no you can't throw that away I got lots memories with that. I am sure that's where it went in the trash but it should have.

When I think about this shirt and living at Granny's I have mental pictures in my mind and they are in color. We lived in a 2 bedroom one bath low income apartment with my granny. Mrs. Rogers stayed nights with us. She had her own apartment but didn't like being alone at night. Granny had her full size black iron bed in her bedroom. Mrs. Rogers slept on Papa Holland's twin iron bed in Granny's bedroom. Mother and I slept in a full bed in the other bedroom.

That room was full. There was just a walking path around the bed. The closet was pretty much full but somehow mother found room for our things. Granny had all the drawers of the chest and dresser full and the wardrobe too. I guess it comes natural that I have all my closets stuffed too now. I really need to go through and get rid of things. We do, we hold on to so many things?

Granny had flowers in the window seals during the winter months. There was her pretty dresser it was one thing I got of Granny's but I passed it down to my niece Michelle. In return she had me keep another dresser that was her cousin, Mikkis' unfortunately she left us why to soon. Then next to the dresser, granny had an old black trunk full of things. Next to trunk the large double wardrobe stuffed full. Then there was the closet that had a curtain for the door. It had half Granny's things and then mine and Mothers'. Even the door had things hanging in it. Right out side the door between the bedrooms was a very old black dresser where granny kept her things she used the most.

I could go through and describe everything in that apartment. This was finally home to me. Here is where I thrived. Here is where there were no bad memories of my mother. Here is where I felt safe. Here is where my life took on new meaning. My granny was the sweetest loving woman.

We had family visiting all the time. We had food on the table all the time. My granny had special treats hid for me me always. My first address to remember 813 Forrest Ave Rockmart, Ga 30153. Now how's that for memories. These were the best years. From the age of eleven till fifteen. Granny unfortunately fell in the apartment and broke her hip when I was tenth grade. The family made a decision that broke my and my mother's heart. It was to put granny in a nursing home.

Mother's drinking had gotten a little worse around the time granny tripped on a throw rug and fell. So it appeared to some in the family that it was my mother's fault granny fell. I can assure you it was not. This was a terrible time. Granny unfortunately did not survive long in the nursing home. She ended up contracting pneumonia and passing away within months.

My granny, Sarah Adeline Howell Holland was my rock, my friend, my inspiration, my heart, and so much more. She was the first person I lost to death that I really knew and had a strong connection with. Her memory is a sweet special one. The song, 'I'll fly away", watching wrestling number 2, the wibberts, pink lipstick, red hair, beauty mark on her lip, half aprons, RC colas, flowers, and unconditional love are all description words for my sweet granny.