Today is a big day

Published 12:08 pm Sunday, January 11, 2026

Today is a big day in my life. Today I will meet for the first time a new cousin. We share my wonderful Grandma Brooks. She was on my daddy’s side.

You see Grandma Brooks has represented many stories in my life. She was a “doozie” and she didn’t even know it.

But back to my new cousin. It all started with an email, a very polite email. I could almost hear the politeness of Mona’s voice through the words typed.  She explained that she found me on Ancestry and that we must meet.

And then, I received a phone call from a mutual cousin. Mae asked, “Are you sitting down?”

I suppose being discovered on Ancestry is not unusual, but in this case what is unusual is our mutual grandma, Grandma Brooks.

And so conversations recently ran between Mona, Mae and myself until the first meet date was confirmed — Saturday, Jan. 10.

Hey, that’s today, and I do believe our mutual grandma had something to do with it all. Although she passed 25-plus years ago, she is still a big part of my life.

Because the new cousin lives near Memphis and our mutual cousins live near Mobile, it was just for certain everyone would meet for this first time at my house, located right in the center. I have offered to make lunch.

Last week I sent Hubs for a haircut, invited our beautiful granddaughter and the four year old twin boys, for entertainment, in case things get dull (haha) and there is a lull in conversation. (haha).

And you probably well know, I’ve had Hubs cleaning house. I do declare one day I will see the TV show “Hoarders” rolling into my driveway because he will make a good case study, for sure.

Oh, and KayKay, the spoiled-rotten, ten pounds of terror, Maltese …well, she will have a spa-day. Yeah, since she bit my cleaning lady, it is best to keep her busy outside of the house.

Maybe one day she will behave and can be part of having company at our house, but not yet.

So, I think I am all set.

For some reason I am known as the family historian. Yeah, I know it all. I was one of those little kids that at five years of age, I followed Grandma Brooks around the house asking. “Tell me about old times.”

But old times were not fun for her. She was widowed at age 26 and left with four small children during the Great Depression.

She had rather tell me current events, like a phone call with Cousin Elsie McWilliams. (Yes, Jimmie Rodger’s sister-in-law was Grandma Brooks’ cousin).

I remember her throaty voice.

“I watered my begonia’s this morning,” she would say with a giggle.

I never knew my grandmother as a gardener, except for the one large pot of begonias, which sat on her front porch. Yes, that was as far as her green-thumb activities allowed.

At the time the begonia was a favorite pot plant for elderly ladies, not too much care involved, but beautiful, colorful blooms. I am sure my grandma never knew the source of the plant, what country derived, etc., and probably didn’t care.

However I am a curious-type, so I googled. I learned in 1690 a French botanist created the plant and named it in honor of the person who funded his efforts, Michel Begon.

Now you know, but my grandma only watered.

The watering begonias activities report was part of her weekly telephone call. I can see her now sitting next to the small telephone table situated in the hallway, next to the kitchen, talking away to family and friends as she offered advice and medical remedies. Oh and she shared recipes as well.

Grandma had a calling list:

Once a week and you were important.

Once every other week and you were sort of important.

Once a month was just a check-in.

I am proud to report that I was once a week.

The conversation went something like this: “How is everyone? Did the baby get over his cough? I watered my begonia this morning.”

Then there would be family news: “Cousin Betty Lou broke her toe. Oh, such howling as she did and it was only a broke toe.”

Note: I broke my toe recently and yes, I howled. I am thankful Grandma wasn’t around to hear me.

I lost her in May 1985. It was a deep hurt, and I still miss the weekly phone calls. She was 89 and the Lord took her away suddenly. I am thankful she didn’t have to suffer.

I stopped to see her at the hospital that last time. She had fallen and broken her leg. During that same night, she passed away, probably heart attack, they said. She was clear minded and attuned to everything going on during our last visit.

The visit was chit/chatty as usual. I am happy we didn’t know it was the last. I held her hand. She was worried about the swing-bed, while she recovered. I assured her the facility would be fine, that she would enjoy nice meals served to her — no cooking and no cleaning. But still, she wanted to go home.

But through it all, she asked about my family. I remember she shared a little advice about sending my boys to swimming lessons. “Now you watch those babies.”

And then I left, headed home to cook supper. The call came early the next morning. I was devastated, still am in a way.

This summer I plan to have a pot of begonias on my front porch. You know they are favorites for elderly ladies, so they say. As I water, I will think of the many years ago there was another elderly lady who watered hers. It is comforting.

Yes, I will tell my new cousin about the begonia’s. Maybe she will buy a pot for her front porch.

Anne McKee is a Mississippi historian. See her website: http://www.annemckeestoryteller.com