Handed down generation to generation
generations of "open door" policy - going back as far as family history tells, there was always an open door, chair to pull up to the table and food at supper if someone was in need. Even if we didn't have much, it could be shared.
for example: Mom, Grandma and I were traveling through Arkansas to meet the kinfolk and for Grandma and Mom to visit old places where they grew up. We drove up to a cousin's house in Arkansas and Mom told the older woman and man that we were lost and a little hungry. Grandma, Mom and me in a car loaded with suitcases and with California plates.
"Why, come on up, you're welcome to supper and we've a spare bed and the girl can sleep on the sofa."
Grandma started laughing and the woman jumped about a foot in the air.
"Maude Ilyar Carr, you get on out here! I'd know that laugh anywhere!" they hadn't seen each other since their early 20s.
They were going to take in three lost tourists from California because that's what Southerners did, especially in the 1960s and before. Especially mountain Southerners.
Another time I remember was after Mom threw Harley out. She couldn't work, he hadn't paid the mortgage in months and we had nothing. Some friends dropped by and Mom invited them to dinner, of course, beans and potatoes. They ate and stayed for a bit and then said they were going out to get some beer and would be back.
They wrote a hot check and brought back a month's worth of groceries. They had figured out that Mom was offering them the last bit of food we had.
Christmas Eve dinner that year was beands and potatoes and the presents came from Toys for Tots and it's one of the Christmas' I remember because Mom tried very hard to make it special.
All of our friends knew they could come to our house for help. We didn't have much but Mom could stretch a pound of hamburger 4 different ways. Our stepdad Chuck never knew how many kids were going to be in the house when he came in off the truck. Many, many times it was our cousin David added to the mix.
David and Serena immediately offered room after we lost Mom and we explained that the house was paid in full, we only had to worry about the taxes. It was one of the last generous things Mom could do, use part of her settlement to get a house so Jackie and I wouldn't end up homeless (especially me since Jackie was employed at the time). Another generous step was hiding old savings bonds that Jackie had entrusted with Mom. Mom told us the bonds had all been cashed in when Jackie cashed some in to help with bills around the house. Mom lied - there were still some bonds and more money stashed than we knew about for emergencies.
That's our family - open doors to friends and family and extended family.
for example: Mom, Grandma and I were traveling through Arkansas to meet the kinfolk and for Grandma and Mom to visit old places where they grew up. We drove up to a cousin's house in Arkansas and Mom told the older woman and man that we were lost and a little hungry. Grandma, Mom and me in a car loaded with suitcases and with California plates.
"Why, come on up, you're welcome to supper and we've a spare bed and the girl can sleep on the sofa."
Grandma started laughing and the woman jumped about a foot in the air.
"Maude Ilyar Carr, you get on out here! I'd know that laugh anywhere!" they hadn't seen each other since their early 20s.
They were going to take in three lost tourists from California because that's what Southerners did, especially in the 1960s and before. Especially mountain Southerners.
Another time I remember was after Mom threw Harley out. She couldn't work, he hadn't paid the mortgage in months and we had nothing. Some friends dropped by and Mom invited them to dinner, of course, beans and potatoes. They ate and stayed for a bit and then said they were going out to get some beer and would be back.
They wrote a hot check and brought back a month's worth of groceries. They had figured out that Mom was offering them the last bit of food we had.
Christmas Eve dinner that year was beands and potatoes and the presents came from Toys for Tots and it's one of the Christmas' I remember because Mom tried very hard to make it special.
All of our friends knew they could come to our house for help. We didn't have much but Mom could stretch a pound of hamburger 4 different ways. Our stepdad Chuck never knew how many kids were going to be in the house when he came in off the truck. Many, many times it was our cousin David added to the mix.
David and Serena immediately offered room after we lost Mom and we explained that the house was paid in full, we only had to worry about the taxes. It was one of the last generous things Mom could do, use part of her settlement to get a house so Jackie and I wouldn't end up homeless (especially me since Jackie was employed at the time). Another generous step was hiding old savings bonds that Jackie had entrusted with Mom. Mom told us the bonds had all been cashed in when Jackie cashed some in to help with bills around the house. Mom lied - there were still some bonds and more money stashed than we knew about for emergencies.
That's our family - open doors to friends and family and extended family.
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