Grammy

     Today is the anniversary of Grandma Selby's death in 1963.  Her maiden name was Catherine Marion Morehead.  She first married my grandfather James J. Hogan in 1925.

     The marriage lasted until James J.'s death in 1934.

     Here are a few things that will bring Grammy to mind:  fresh baked white bread, Wrigley's Spearmint Gum (1/2 a stick); and a pint of ice cream (mostly for her). 

     She lived at 97 Hatch St. in St. Paul in what was referred to as the "North End".  She was able to grow violets in her porch (4 season) window where her chair was.  It is the place I can visualize best from my childhood. 
     When she opened her purse, it smelled like Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. She would often offer half a stick. 
     When we lived on Jefferson, she would come over every Wednesday and make bread for us.  I remember watching her and her breasts would bobble around as she beat the batter.  There was no recipe--all in the head and hands.  She used the water from boiled potatoes to make it.  Usually there were regular loaves and then buns.  I loved the buns--especially the crusty edges. It was all good!
     If you stayed over with her, you might be sent on a trip to the corner store.  The mission was to buy a pint of ice cream.  She would open the package, take a knife and slice off about a 1 inch slab.  Then the rest would go in a bowl.  Both were covered with chocolate syrup and sometimes peanuts.  She got the bowl! The couch where she watched TV (As the World Turns, for sure!), sunk down on each end.  The right side as you sat on it was Uncle Jimmy's side and the left was Grammy's.  We got to sit in the middle or lie on the rug to watch TV.

      On birthdays, she usually sent a card in the mail.  It was a big deal--getting mail was quite a treat!  In addition there was usually a dollar or two in the card as well.

      In this picture are Maggie Burns, Grandma Selby, Mary Kay (me--Solemn Holy Communion), Ma (Ann Burns) and Mom. This is 1960.
     In my family tree, Grammy's line is the longest.  Her ancestor, Alexander Moorhead, served in the Revolutionary War.  Her brother put together a family tree because he wanted to belong to the Sons of the American Revolution. I am slowly documenting the information.  Her Moorhead/Morehead line goes like this:  Catherine-->Wilbert O.-->John Brown-->Nathan-->Alexander--Alexander-->Samuel Moorhead.
   
More Grammy stories later.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.  May she rest in peace.  Amen.