st joe

From Beaumont to St Joe. We arrived late Tues night. Grandma is a night owl, so she was up waiting.

March 14 - A Typical St Joe Day:

Woke up. Had coffee. Suzy talked to us while we had coffee. Mostly about what Wynn eats. Worked out. While I was running, Mr John and Mrs Vada Lynn Gates dropped by to visit Grandma. They got to know my grandparents at my brothers and my sporting events in high school. They fell in love with them as everyone does who meets them. They continue to visit regularly whenever they are near st joe.

Took jeep down the street to get washed. When I dropped it off, Eugene said "You miss tut's granddaughter?" I love this place. I love being known as mrs tut's granddaughter. I told him I am, and he said he would drop the car off when he got finished.

Walked over to see the yard of the month and picked lettuce and green onions with Val. Back to grandma's for boiled shrimp and fresh salad for lunch.

Grandma asked me to go to the bank for her. She handed me a check to cash. No signature on the back. No id. Just a check made out to cash. I asked her about it, and she said "They will cash it." I pulled up to the teller window and told the teller I was cashing a check for my grandmother. She looked at the check. turned it over and saw that it wasn't signed. She reluctantly asked me to sign my name on the back. I did and sent it back to her. She still wasn't quite sure about cashing it, so she asked if I know Mrs Patricia. I told her I do. A few seconds later, Mrs Patricia was at the window telling me she knew someone was visiting Mrs Tut because she saw a Yukon in the drive-way earlier. I told her that was not mine but others' that think she is great came by. After her asking how my brother, Jim, is and telling me stories about her grandson, I left the bank with grandma's money.

Grandma, Val, and I had an afternoon cup of coffee while visiting and looking at magazines. Wynn spent 2 hours on the phone with at&t fixing the internet. The doorbell rang. At the door stood a black man with an armload of mustard greens. After Grandma asking about his wife and many thanks, Val told me that he lives across the street and has a fabulous garden. His wife recently had cataract surgery in Las Vegas. Grandma called to check on her and say she was glad they were home. This kind man brought her greens.

And that is how a day goes here. Although I was raised in a familiar setting, living in Atlanta, I sometimes forget the small town feel. It's awesome to be reminded.

-bn