Anne Minerva Gill Knight
As she had her higher birthdays, reporters put her picture in the paper. She was so pretty and friendly. They wanted a story to go with her picture. Then I started writing them down. "Them Old Tales" as Ludie calls them, I've always wanted to hear more of them.
Mama's last 8 days----Remembered by Anne Louise Knight Moore
(I choose to not remember her 'bad days' and her many sicknesses.)
October 31, 1998 - A volunteer friend asked me, if Mama might want to wear a clown suit on Halloween. I told her, "Sure, we both dress up and wear a mask, every year." I helped her put it on. She grinned and said, "If I had known it was 'britches', I wouldn't have worn it." Wild colored hair, a red ball on her nose, and big black glasses. Using her walker she went into every room on her hall, in the nursing home. No one recognized her. She had a lot of fun--- later she handed out candy to kids.
Monday, there were no planned activities. Mama stood by her bed and used her scissors to cut a two yard piece of pink doubleknit into 1-1/2 inch strips. She needed the strips, to start braiding for another heart shaped rug. She had given away well over 100.
November 3, 1998, Tuesday, Mama was still 101 years old. I drove her to the poles and she voted Democrat, like she had--- ever since 1917. That was the year when she 'turned 21', and the first year that women got to vote.
Wednesday, November 4, she had a birthday party, and she became 102 years old. Her party was at the volunteer friends house, 7 friends for dinner, and then gifts.
Saturday, November 7, 1998. She got up, dressed and walked to the dining room and ate. There were no planned activities, so she lay down, and 'breathed funny', no pain.
9 AM, My brother Stanley was with her--- we were to have her family party that day. She was tired and laying down, with oxygen. She kept asking when I was coming. I got there and we both went to her bedside, to see what 'profound thing' she would tell us. "I have my bingo money pinned to my panties, you get it and keep it." We giggled.
12 PM, she read the story about her voting, and saw her picture in the Hood County News. I was pointing to the words with my finger. She did not have her glasses on.
5 pm, She was laying down, her eyes closed, she was so tired. Julia, a favorite Great-Granddaughter, thought she was asleep and lightly kissed her on the forehead. Mama opened her eyes and reached up and hugged her and said, "Oh Julia, I'm so glad that you come to see me today."
8 PM, My Mama told me, "You go on home. I'll get a good nights sleep tonight, and I’ll be all right tomorrow." Stanley and Jackie stayed with her.
November 8, 1998, It was 'just a little past midnight', on Sunday morning. Stanley was with her. Her body quit using oxygen, she had no pain. She just didn't breathe any more and she drifted away.
-102 years and 4 days-
On the door of her room, I printed a little sign---like she had said many times. “I'll be swinging on the Pearly Gate, waiting for you." She never knew that she was a 'Protagonist'--- The center piece of a story.
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ANNE
When the chaff of life is melted away
And the gold is plain to see,
It is Anne of Palo Pinto county
Singing her songs and flying free.
She is the twilights that linger,
The raindrops falling on thirsty sod,
The whisper of mornings tiny wings
And the daughter of land and God.
Kindreds rise up and call her blessed
This keeper of the old ways with a smile,
This climber of her every mountain
And the walker of her extra mile.
May her footprints remain long on the land
That nurtured her childhood and youthful ways,
May her grace remain a lighthouse
For all who face the trying days.
May she race to yonder hill
And catch the sun on the rise.
may she see once more the Brazos
And hold tight the memories…flowing by.
By Leon Sutherland
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Copyright © 2004-2005 by Anne Louise Moore - All rights reserved.