Behind every successful man stands a woman

According to an old saying, “Behind every successful man there stands a woman” And I am here to tell you that at one time that woman would often be wearing an apron….”What is an apron?” 

I hear you ask…Therein lies a story.  What a versatile tool, and yes, I know most of you know what an apron is and many of you regularly use them. 

I recently received a piece from a friend about “Grandma’s Apron” and it stirred my memories of my own Grandmother. Her daughter, my aunt, was a school teacher and she and her husband were successful ranchers. 

Somehow, this seemed to make her a little bit “Snooty” especially around her own kinfolk. I say all of this to let you know why it was expected of us when in her company to call her Mother and my “Grandmama” GRANDMOTHER! But we were brazen little rats and we knew we could hide behind Grandmama’s flowing apron while she clucked at her daughter saying “Well…well now.” 

So, one thing an apron was useful for was instant and absolute protection. Grandmama always wore her apron from daylight to dark…unless she was going to church, to town for shopping, or if company came to the house. 

The preacher would never catch her wearing an apron, though I am sure he made a valiant effort, probably even with a prayer on his lips and the Lord’s steadfast leadership! 

This apron was put on at start of day, being freshly washed and dried from the clothesline, always starched and ironed, and would usually not come off until just before her nightgown went on.  

She would use it as a container to carry eggs straight from the hen’s nest, vegetables or fruit fresh picked from her ample garden, a bouquet of fresh picked flowers, kindling for the wood cookstove, or three new kittens found at the barn. 

She would put a scoop of milo maize in it as she scattered that chicken feed across the pen, shoo the flies from a pail of milk while she turned the milk-pen calf in to finish the milking job, then she would  fill it with wiggly baby chicks that she moved to a safer place. 

Back in the kitchen, it became a potholder as she took a skillet from the stove, or just to wipe a furrowed brow because that gave her time to pause and reflect upon her day. 

If she knew that company was coming she would wipe the dust from every piece of furniture in the sitting room. And when it came to children, her rules required each child to wear an apron while they “helped” her do her chores. 

Why she had treasures in her pockets that could tempt any child and she would wipe tears from your eyes, rub instant healing on a scraped knee, or clean your runny nose with the hem of that apron.  

A lot of today’s housekeepers would probably faint dead away or at least be aghast at the thought of all the germs that apron carried and spread to Lord knows where.  

But I will tell it to you straight, having been exposed; all I ever caught from that magnificent apron was a world of Grandmama’s love! 

Grandmama’s Love

From the early days of history,

When who-flung-the- chunk hit our shore,

It’s been a shore’nuff  mystery,

‘bout what made our country pure.

Some says it was our gumption,

Or the largeness of our heart,

An’ others say we had presumption,

An’ that was just a start.

But oe’r the years I have pondered,

An’ give it some  good’eal of thought, 

Tho much of that was squandered,

Strayin’ from what I’d been taught.

Shore I knew our leadership was strong,

With a stout belief in God,

An’ our purpose could see no wrong,

As we scattered ‘crost this sod.

But the hardships that came upon us,

Strengthened character an’ backbone,

We faced it all without a fuss,

God’s strength tamed the unknown.

But the truth, as I have found it,

Purt near narrows it all down,

So this fact to you I submit,

To ponder an’ ease yore frown.

There’s only one thing that I surmise,

Was instrumental from day one,

I figger it’ll be no surprise,

That this is how the West was won.

Shore an’ there was tools aplenty,

For any job within yore quest,

But I’ll up an wager a twenty,

You’ll not guess what won the West!

So here’s a subtle hint or two,

That should land you near the truth,

Tho some will need an extra clue,

Let’s see who’s the better sleuth.

This tool went to work at first light,

And never quit ‘til day was done,

It would stop a stain, put flies to flight,

Wipe dust from furniture or gun.

It kept a hand from being burned,

Carried eggs an’ wiped a nose,

Was a safe hiding place we learned,

From any danger that arose.

Tote baby chicks or kindling wood,

Or maybe a bouquet of fresh flowers,

So many uses understood,

‘Cuz Grandmama knew its powers.

Rub feel-good on a scraped knee,

Spread love as she wiped a tear,

wipe her brow neath shade of tree,

Or wrap us up to take away our fear.

 A tool perfect for any chore,

Yes, useful in every way,

Then she would hang it on the door,

As she knelt to pray at end o day.

Of all the tools that came along,

It’s hard to figger which was best,

I’d say the evidence was strong,

Grandmama’s love and her apron won the west!

Ol’ Jim Cathey

Thanks for the memories, Grandmama  

God Bless you and God Bless America