Lunch with Gwen

I may have mentioned before that Grandmother Holden never learned to drive. She worked a full time job at what we referred to as the knitting mill-a.k.a. Genesco-in Florence, a long way from Center Hill, especially for someone who didn't drive. She got up early in the mornings and walked downhill to the edge of the driveway to catch a bus to work. I don't think she ever considered driving as something she needed to know how to do.

Grandmother did not consider her inability to drive a handicap at all and for someone who didn't drive, she sure got around. She always went to work, she never missed church, and her Saturday trips to town were almost as sacred to her as going to church. She relied on Momma and Aunt Betty for transportation to places like Kent's Dollar Store, TG&Y, or Kmart.

 A trip to town usually meant lunch out and that was my favorite part of the Saturday outings. My love for shopping was topped only by my love for food. It was a real treat to have a burger and fries instead of the usual beans, potatoes, garden grown vegetables, and cornbread. It was during one of these outings that we decided to have lunch at McDonald's.

Aunt Betty was the chauffeur that sunny Saturday, but I had somehow convinced Grandmother to take me with them even though Momma stayed at home. Grandmother was a reasonable woman and understood the value of my opinions as she shopped for whatever she happened to need, so she was happy to invite me to join her. Yes, that is exactly how it happened. There were no tears, screaming and begging.

We pulled into McDonald's and immediately the other grandkids and I began discussing what we would order. Hamburger or cheeseburger, fries of course, and an icy cold Coca-Cola.  We had all made our decision, when a tiny voice from the backseat declared, "I'm not very hungry today. I'll just have a cheeseburger, fries, apple pie, milkshake and a coke". A rather large order coming from someone who couldn't even reach the counter at McDonald's. That was a proud moment for me, as her older cousin, because I knew she had been watching and learning the ropes from the very best, ME! It was a valiant but amateur attempt on her part to get some of everything on the then-skimpy McDonald's menu, but unfortunately it didn't work for her. Hahaha, she should have bypassed her momma and went straight to Grandmother.

Now, you may be wondering just where this is going or if there is anything of value to be gained from reading this post. My response would be: only if you haven't yet realised the value of female persuasion. If you can't drive and don't want to....get someone to drive you where you want to go. If you want to go to town with grandmother, tears work wonders. And finally, if you are the youngest cousin in the car and you want that apple pie and milkshake, take notes from the older and wiser cousin, who is happily chowing down on a burger and looking forward to a shopping trip when she could have been sitting at home.