Monday August 15 2016  A PICTURE INTO THE PAST;  ANNIE JANE

WOW!  Where do I begin?  I’ll begin at my beginning.  The earliest memory I have of Aunt Annie was when I was perhaps 4 years old.  I was sitting at a little table eating dinner in her kitchen with my cousin Carol and her brother Dennis.  The adults were eating out of sight in the “big” dining room.  On my plate were some green peas.  I HATED GREEN PEAS!  I was all done and wanted to get up but Aunt Annie came in and informed me that I could not leave until I ate all those peas.  HORROR UPON HORROR!  I did get them all in my mouth but could not swallow them.  Try as I might I could not get that mush to go down my throat.  I started crying, ran into the bathroom and just stood there gagging and quietly sobbing.  My mama saw me go into the bathroom and followed me, in order to find out what was wrong.  I so wanted to spit the peas into the toilet bowl but didn’t know if it would plug it up (go figure the reasoning of a 4 year old).  I got the words out, and I to my relief, I remember my mama’s very words, “Well for pity’s sake spit them out.  They won’t plug the toilet bowl.”  By the way, this was a real flushing toilet, not the kind left behind in Arkansas.  My mom was my immediate savior and I was so relieved.  And for a long time after that I was quite leery of going to Aunt Annie’s house.

Annie’s daughter was quite hard headed in my book.  As a kid I did not like her, nor did she like me.  We had some pretty good “knock-down, drag-out fights”.  You know, the kind of fighting with scratching, hair-pulling, and floor-wrestling.  And of course, she started them all!  So, needless to say, mama protected me from Carol somewhat and made certain we weren’t left together without her being in earshot.  When I asked mama why Carol was so ornery my mom told me it was because she was just like her mother was when she was a kid, and now her mother was getting paid back for all the shenanigans she did when she was little.  I believed it.

But oh, I certainly found out later what an absolutely amazing and astounding woman Annie Jane really was.  If she had not been a scrappy kid with a lot of spunk, living with the likes of her father, she probably could not have survived.

Below I include the biography I wrote about her to share at our 2011 reunion. 

 

Annie Jane

Born 1931

 

Married: Raymond

Married: John

 

Children:

Carol Ann

Dennis Raymond

 

Stepson

Johnny

 

BIOGRAPHY:

“Well, let’s see.  What can I say about Aunt Annie?  I would say she may be the most opinionated of my aunts.  She has always had a strong personality that at times, so I’ve heard rumor, caused her to butt heads with her strong willed father.  However, her strong personality has proven to be her one most important gifts.  One that has helped her weather many storms in life and come out undefeated.

Annie has outlived both husbands and also her two children.  Aunt Annie, we give you our deepest love and support at the loss of your two children.  The strength you show in your daily walk is truly amazing.

Annie was an L.V.N. and worked at Alta Bates Hospital as a Certified Surgical Technician for many years and is now retired.  She has also participated in Community Theater and loves to sing.  Annie is a talented writer and contributor to music sing-a-longs.  How we love to hear our family sing!  Annie, thank you for blessing our family so richly.  You have reached out to so many when there was need for a safe place to live; offered food to eat, and doses of love.  Both of your grandchildren at different times have lived with you because of that generosity and love.  You opened your home to your sister Sybil when she needed a place to live.  Not only that, you were such an advocate for so many.  Your connection, knowledge and experience in the health care world have also been such a help to so many, as was your advice when we needed medical information.

As I talked to others in the family the one most significant trait that continually surfaced was how you were always willing to help and give support in so many ways.  Counseling, coaching, first aid advice, advocacy, financial aid, meals cooked and delivered, reunions for family gatherings, and so much more.  Everyone I talked to has great affection for you. 

You have been given many gifts; the gift of knowledge, the gift of helps, and according to your grandson Darrell, in his own words: “the gift of loving and helping me.  She was always willing to give time or anything to help me.  I feel she gave me the gift of financial responsibility which I cherish.”  You are remembered by many for your gift of generosity.  All you have given could never be repaid.  Thank you for freely giving your time, your concern, and your love.  You are also remembered for your gift of having fun.  Your infections giggle and your love for life and dedication to family stand out to me.”

Annie Jane’s FIRST PLACE AWARD was rewarded to her for:

“GENEROSITY WITH HUMILITY.”

This is how her family remembers her:  “We will always remember you for your strong willed nature and how your strength persevered through all adversity.”

“You have given in more ways than can be counted.”

And Annie’s first place award and all that it included truly does say it all.  In my eyes she is right up there at the top with all her brothers and sisters for surviving a life that would have brought most people to their knees.  Needless to say, by the time I grew up my childhood opinions of Aunt Annie had changed considerably.  I always wondered over the years if she truly did love me, but in a recent conversation she assured me she did.  Even at my age it was still nice to hear. 

When my mama died I asked for, and received, all her correspondence and diaries.  Though I have not read many of her diaries I have read enough to know how gracious, generous, and helpful my aunt was to my mama in so many ways during the time she lived with her.  As my mama aged she could no longer be a live-in caretaker for the elderly. She found that she no longer had place to live, her health was deteriorating, she had no health insurance, yet she refused to move in with any of her children.  My Aunt Annie opened her home to her.  You know how it is when you have young children and people treat them kindly, it makes you appreciate those who treat them so.  Well, that too is how it is when someone treats your aging mama in the loving way that Aunt Annie did.  Forever after there was very special place in my heart for Aunt Annie.  Not only did she allow my mama to live with her, but she saw to it that my mama received health care she could not afford, and if I remember correctly, my mama received surgery she desperately needed performed by the surgeons for which Annie worked.  You see, it does pay to have a nurse in the family, especially one that worked as a Certified Technician to doctors who were willing to give their time and talent to take care of a desperately needed surgery.

Annie, my hat is off to you!  Thank you so much for all you did for my mama in supporting her emotionally, physically, and financially.  What an asset you were and still are to our family.  I am honored to be your niece.  And just so you know, even Carol and I smoked our peace pipe before she died.

Following is the poem I wrote for Annie for the 2011 Reunion:

 

Annie Jane

Born 1931

YOU HAVE GIVEN IN MORE WAYS THAN CAN BE COUNTED

Kathleen Martens

April 2, 2011

 

Such a woman of power and strength,

She’s lived a “dash” of quite some length.

Not always easy, what she lived through,

Weathered some storms, but starts each day new.

 

An amazing woman with a generous heart,

To so many she’s given such a start.

So much about her I did not know

And lots of her traits she does not show.

 

But I found out as I dug up her past,

She is a stalwart woman with integrity that lasts.

She has much to say, but listens well,

And some of the stuff she doesn’t tell.

 

Her knowledge is sound, she dispenses advice.

She says what she means and quite concise.

If you need help, she’s the first to come.

She works hard, but knows how to have fun.

 

Delivers meals on wheels to Lois her sister,

Stays out of the sun so she won’t get blistered.

She gives her love while helping others,

And to more than you know, she’s been a mother.

 

She still has a sparkle in her eye,

And men still likely on her spy.

Her swaying hips – now just a small jiggle,

And she has the absolute best, infectious giggle.

 

Annie, thanks for your gifts, you’ve shared with all,

Thanks for answering when we call.

We love you Aunt Annie – for who you are,

And for all you’ve done, YOU ARE A STAR!

 

END OF 2011 POEM

 

A GOOD RACE YOU HAVE RUN

By Kathleen Martens

August 15, 2016

 

What more could be said

Is quite a lot.

Her unique traits

Still highly sought.

 

She has since moved

Left a lifetime behind,

Turned a leaf,

A new life to find.

 

A different stage of life

She forges ahead,

But we will never forget

The wisdom she has said.

 

She dispensed life

To those around,

And her advice

Was always sound.

 

She has cried buckets of tears

For lost loves and kids,

And some of her memories

She will never be rid.

 

But she holds her head high

And bemoans not her grief.

Always the life of the party,

And gives to others relief.

 

We love you Aunt Annie,

Words can never express

How much your family honor you

That you live life with such zest.

 

You are so amazing

In all you have done.

And though not always easy,

A GOOD RACE YOU HAVE RUN!

 

One more tidbit I would like to share about this noble, and persevering woman of fortitude, is that she accomplished a great feat that she set out to do.  She wrote her autobiography, had it published, and it is all sold out.  The title of her book is “A BAKER’S DOZEN”.  Annie self published and does not know if she will have another printing done.  I read her book and it is remarkable.  It is well written and I believe it should be made into a movie.  It would give a more realistic slant on how desperate life was to so many before, during, and after the depression years.  It is a story of pain, tragedy, and sorrow; as well as one of resilience and triumph. And, Aunt Annie survived it all.  And you’ll never see a more irresistible smile upon a face, or hear a more infectious laugh, coming from anyone else.  YOU GO GIRL!

I had so wanted to receive permission to include in my blog what was written on the back cover of her book.  My cousins edited her book and wrote an awesome review about it.  It spoke much more eloquently and thoroughly the message I wanted to convey.  But alas, I could not get through to Aunt Annie on her phone today to ask for permission. 

I published a photo on Saturday, August 13, 2016 which you can view by scrolling down after reading this blog.  It is a picture of part of the clan during the depression era.  My mother was already married, having babies of her own, by the time the photo was snapped so she is not included in the picture.  The two youngest children were not yet born, and of course Helen had died many years before.  Annie is the little girl on the lower step, second from the right.  My grandparents are in the center on the top step.  Take a close look at my Grandmother.  When this photo was taken she was 37 years old and had birthed 11 children. 

 

God, thank You that You have placed in my life such women of valor.

Thank You God for all my family members.

Thank You Lord that my mother instigated the move to California, the land of opportunity.

Thank You Lord for a Grandmother who loved You and prayed so diligently for her children as they (Grandma included) were being so tormented by Grandpa.

Thank You for the work that You did in Grandpa’s heart after he was too weak to be so mean.

Thank You that Grandma outlived him.

Thank You for tomatoes.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!