by Marsha Seekins
My grandmother was a voracious reader; she always had a book in her hand or by her side. My mother wound up with her book collection, which I helped pack when my parents downsized - eighty-five boxes of books, at 20-30 books per box. Some of these were my parents', but most were "my Ninny's" library. Historical fiction, biographies, Southern fiction, murder mysteries, and steamy romances - I labeled more than one box "Danielle Steele". We shared a love for Ferroll Sams, Ken Follett, John Grisham, and James Patterson's Alex Cross series.
Ninny came by her love for books naturally. She was raised by her grandmother and aunt in Fitzgerald, Georgia. Her two aunts were responsible for opening a Carnegie Library in 1915, with Aunt Louise serving as the first librarian. So, she spent lots and lots of time among the bookshelves. My husband and I visited the old library (now a cultural center) last summer. The original quarter-sawn oak librarian's desk is still in place. I could imagine my grandmother, as a child, sitting in a corner surrounded by a pile of books - Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna, Alice in Wonderland, or even The Wizard of Oz.
Summer vacations often meant time spent with my grandparents in Valdosta. My Ninny was an early riser, and I would often join her for coffee in the kitchen in the mornings, my cup filled with sugary milk, and enough coffee to turn the liquid the color of my grandfather's khaki pants. We read lots of books together - worn out Golden Books, Mother Goose, and Winnie the Pooh. I would still rather hold a real honest-to-God printed hardback book than listen to a recording, but there is something to be said for passing time on a drive with a good audiobook.
I would often borrow books from her many stacks when visiting. I noticed, in some books, there would be the initials "NMF" written in her unmistakable small handwriting inside the front cover. After seeing it several times, I finally asked what it meant. "Not My Favorite." This was the most unkind thing she would say about a book, even if she hated it.
In 1986, the year I graduated from college, Hallmark artist Jon Wagner created "Maxine" for their Shoebox Greetings card line. This was "back in the day," when I was a frequent shopper in the local Hallmark shop, purchasing greeting cards to stay in touch with far-flung family and friends the old fashioned way. That Christmas, I bought Ninny the first Maxine Christmas ornament of many, which was followed over the years by Maxine cards, bookends, puzzles, etc. Maxine was funny, smart, opinionated and spoke her mind - just like my grandmother.
A few weeks ago, during the first round of COVID cleaning, I came across an envelope addressed to me in the familiar tiny handwriting of "my Ninny". It was not postmarked, and there was no date on the note...just "Friday", though the context of the note an addresses would suggest she sent it to me in mid-2002. Along with the following note, in the envelope was a very well-worn Maxine bookmark which read "Books take you exciting places...without the threat of losing your luggage." The note read...
Dearest "Lite Brite",
I have a rather sad, big favor to ask of you. Maxine has been my faithful companion for so long that she has finally become the victim of all the unavoidable fates of old age and just "gave up the ghost." I feel that she deserves nice final closure as her work has kept her so confined. Feel she deserves more than the "Tri-State Crematory" so am asking that you cremate her and scatter her ashes onto the "Marshes of Winton Drive." I am so glad she has a clone for no other bookmark could replace her. Hope this won't be too sad an experience for you and will so appreciate your taking care of these final rites
- Love always, "Your Crazy Ninny"
Explanatory notes:
1 - She called me her Lite Brite because it was my favorite toy as a child. Rumor has it that there was a handful of colorful Lite Brite pegs in her coffin when she was buried in 2004.
2 - Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Georgia, was discovered in Feb 2002 to have been scattering hundreds of corpses around their property for years instead of cremating them. Yuck.
3 - We lived on the marsh in Brunswick, Georgia
- Georgia-born poet Sidney Lanier wrote "The Marshes of Glynn" about this area. Nin was a big fan of Sidney Lanier and even owned a small desk that used to belong to him.
4 - I would typically buy her bookmarks in "twos" as she would sometimes be reading more than one book at a time.
Obviously, I couldn't bring myself to "torch" Maxine, or to dispose of her in any other way. So, I tucked her away for safekeeping all those many years ago. Finding the bookmark and reading the note brought happy tears to my eyes, as it so very well captures Ninny's personality. I can just see her mischievous smile and the twinkle in her brown eyes. Maxine is now back on the job, holding my place in The Tao of Pooh.
I was so very fortunate to know all four of my grandparents well into my adult years. My Ninny passed away in March of 2004 when I was 39. I think about her and miss her every single day. She was such a wonderfully positive influence in my life, way beyond instilling a love of the written word. She made me believe I could do anything I set my mind to.
I wish each of you a Happy Mother's Day and hope that you will take a moment to remember the mothers in your life that are no longer with us, and to reach out to those that are. If you are a Mother, I encourage you to write a note to your children or grandchildren, for them to read now and tuck away to read later in life, as a bookmark in their memory.
My grandmother was a voracious reader; she always had a book in her hand or by her side. My mother wound up with her book collection, which I helped pack when my parents downsized - eighty-five boxes of books, at 20-30 books per box. Some of these were my parents', but most were "my Ninny's" library. Historical fiction, biographies, Southern fiction, murder mysteries, and steamy romances - I labeled more than one box "Danielle Steele". We shared a love for Ferroll Sams, Ken Follett, John Grisham, and James Patterson's Alex Cross series.
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| Ninny's Aunts and the Bookmobile photo credit: Brian Brown |
Summer vacations often meant time spent with my grandparents in Valdosta. My Ninny was an early riser, and I would often join her for coffee in the kitchen in the mornings, my cup filled with sugary milk, and enough coffee to turn the liquid the color of my grandfather's khaki pants. We read lots of books together - worn out Golden Books, Mother Goose, and Winnie the Pooh. I would still rather hold a real honest-to-God printed hardback book than listen to a recording, but there is something to be said for passing time on a drive with a good audiobook.
I would often borrow books from her many stacks when visiting. I noticed, in some books, there would be the initials "NMF" written in her unmistakable small handwriting inside the front cover. After seeing it several times, I finally asked what it meant. "Not My Favorite." This was the most unkind thing she would say about a book, even if she hated it.
In 1986, the year I graduated from college, Hallmark artist Jon Wagner created "Maxine" for their Shoebox Greetings card line. This was "back in the day," when I was a frequent shopper in the local Hallmark shop, purchasing greeting cards to stay in touch with far-flung family and friends the old fashioned way. That Christmas, I bought Ninny the first Maxine Christmas ornament of many, which was followed over the years by Maxine cards, bookends, puzzles, etc. Maxine was funny, smart, opinionated and spoke her mind - just like my grandmother.A few weeks ago, during the first round of COVID cleaning, I came across an envelope addressed to me in the familiar tiny handwriting of "my Ninny". It was not postmarked, and there was no date on the note...just "Friday", though the context of the note an addresses would suggest she sent it to me in mid-2002. Along with the following note, in the envelope was a very well-worn Maxine bookmark which read "Books take you exciting places...without the threat of losing your luggage." The note read...
Dearest "Lite Brite",
I have a rather sad, big favor to ask of you. Maxine has been my faithful companion for so long that she has finally become the victim of all the unavoidable fates of old age and just "gave up the ghost." I feel that she deserves nice final closure as her work has kept her so confined. Feel she deserves more than the "Tri-State Crematory" so am asking that you cremate her and scatter her ashes onto the "Marshes of Winton Drive." I am so glad she has a clone for no other bookmark could replace her. Hope this won't be too sad an experience for you and will so appreciate your taking care of these final rites
- Love always, "Your Crazy Ninny"
Explanatory notes:
1 - She called me her Lite Brite because it was my favorite toy as a child. Rumor has it that there was a handful of colorful Lite Brite pegs in her coffin when she was buried in 2004.
2 - Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Georgia, was discovered in Feb 2002 to have been scattering hundreds of corpses around their property for years instead of cremating them. Yuck.
3 - We lived on the marsh in Brunswick, Georgia
4 - I would typically buy her bookmarks in "twos" as she would sometimes be reading more than one book at a time.
Obviously, I couldn't bring myself to "torch" Maxine, or to dispose of her in any other way. So, I tucked her away for safekeeping all those many years ago. Finding the bookmark and reading the note brought happy tears to my eyes, as it so very well captures Ninny's personality. I can just see her mischievous smile and the twinkle in her brown eyes. Maxine is now back on the job, holding my place in The Tao of Pooh.
I was so very fortunate to know all four of my grandparents well into my adult years. My Ninny passed away in March of 2004 when I was 39. I think about her and miss her every single day. She was such a wonderfully positive influence in my life, way beyond instilling a love of the written word. She made me believe I could do anything I set my mind to.I wish each of you a Happy Mother's Day and hope that you will take a moment to remember the mothers in your life that are no longer with us, and to reach out to those that are. If you are a Mother, I encourage you to write a note to your children or grandchildren, for them to read now and tuck away to read later in life, as a bookmark in their memory.
What a touching tribute to a beautiful and fun soul-kindred spirits on Nordum Rd. Very very touching- thank you for writing this and for sharing the wisdom of your childhood lessons.
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