09.30.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:26 am by Administrator
So I finally got my grandmother’s blueberry pie recipe (see entry from 9/7). Well, sort of. She’s a great cook although she begs to differ, but getting recipes from her is truly like pulling teeth. She may be pushing 97, but it’s been this way for awhile. She’s always been able to cook the best of everything: amazing cornbread dressing, delicious pound cake, wonderful salmon croquettes, but trying to repeat the masterpieces is a whole different story. I wish I could find a way to get every one of her recipes. Besides the fact there are 3,000 miles between us, I don’t think she has that much patience. When I bring up the fact I need one of her recipes, she tries to deflect:
“Look, I have a cookbook I’m going to send you.”
“But Grandmother,” I protest. “I don’t want one of your cookbooks, I want one of your recipes. Like I need your blueberry pie recipe.”
“Blueberry pie?”
“Yes, what do you put in it?”
“Baby, you can use whatever you have,” she insists.
“Well, I mean besides blueberries, what do you use?”
“You put some sugar in it,” she says.
“How much?”
“I don’t know, baby.”
“Would it be a cup or half a cup?”
“Baby, your grandmother doesn’t know.”
Did I leave out she never measures anything? That’s when you know somebody can cook. Well, now that I have the ingredients and no correct measurements, I guess I’ll just have to take my chances. We’ll see how it turns out…
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09.23.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:12 pm by Administrator
My little nephew, Christopher, turned seven last weekend. I miss him and my two nieces (his sisters) terribly. Thank God for the telephone to bridge the long distance. They live in Georgia, a good drive from the house that my great-grandfather, Dr. John Henry Jordan, built. The three of them, like my siblings and I, have all played in the house, eaten family meals at the dining room table, and sat and relaxed in the rocking chairs on the front porch. However, at my nephew and nieces’ young ages, there is no way they could fully appreciate the history that lurks in every corner and crevice of the old house, echoing from the very earth they’ve stood on when admiring the flowers in the front yard. My great-grandfather would be so proud if he could see them now. For me, writing about his life is more than a solitary effort. It is my duty to my family to keep his accomplishments and achievements alive. My prayer is that his story will help inspire all those who hear about it. Hopefully, when Christopher gets old enough, he’ll be inspired too.
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09.15.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:22 am by Administrator
Ninety-seven years. That is how long it’s been since my great-grandfather died. That day, Saturday, September 14, 1912, started out as a routine one. My great-grandfather, Dr. John Henry Jordan, was notified at his home that a patient was sick. It required a house call. Not unusual for him, but there was nothing typical about what happened next. While on his way to the house call, his car stalled. When he stepped out of it to check the gas tank, as the story has been passed down in my family for generations, a passerby lit a match. It ignited the gasoline’s fumes and subsequently engulfed my great-grandfather in flames. It is hard to imagine. It’s like a horror movie.
My great-grandfather was said to be in good shape. People think that’s what kept him from dying right away. He lived for nearly 30 hours after the accident. I can’t fathom the agony my great-grandmother and my grandfather , who was only 11 at the time, must have endured during those last, heart-wrenching hours. I know my grandfather vividly remembered his father taking his last breath. As if he knew it was coming, my great-grandfather apparently called my grandfather to his side at the very end to give him one, last hug goodbye, my grandfather recalled when he was alive.
What a horrible way to die. And John Henry Jordan was so young, only 42 years old. I just hope his legacy will live on for generations, so that his death will not have been in vain. For now, I pay tribute to him by remembering. I love you, great-granddaddy.
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09.07.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:54 pm by Administrator
Say anything and everything you want at all times. Sounds easy, but is it really? My grandmother is good at it. Of course, at 96 1/2 years of age, I guess it’s hard not to be. I can definitely learn from her. There’s so much wisdom in older people. There are other things I hope to pick up from her too like her outstanding culinary skills. Just thinking about her Brunswick stew makes my mouth water (even though I don’t eat red meat anymore!). We recently talked about some of her recipes. I’m trying to collect them.
Bringing up recipes moved her, in a roundabout way, to give me advice about men, particularly a husband (she loves to bring up that subject). That part of the conversation went something like this:
“You’re asking me for all these recipes. You must be getting ready for a husband…”
“Well, I…”
Of course, she didn’t let me finish responding before she continued.
“Just don’t let other women be nicer to him…”
“Okay, Grandmother.”
“Don’t be flirting around with other folk…”
“Grandmother…”
“Let everybody know he’s your husband.”
“All right…”
My grandmother is hilarious, but I’m sure her advice will come in handy one day. In the meantime, I think I need to call her back. I forgot to ask her how to make her blueberry pie.
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