Saturday, June 4, 2011

Storytelling Sunday: My Mom's Best Friend

It's time again for Storytelling Sunday, sponsored by Sian of From High on the Sky. This month, I'm sharing a story from my Houston Memories Series. I based this particular card on this sketch at Die Cut Dreams., which I found with a little help from Jacky.   Now on to the story. . . .
During the summer that my sister and I spent in Houston, Texas, we lived with my Aunt Vera and Uncle Nano, but we often spent time or went on adventures with other aunts, uncles, cousins or family friends.  I remember one particular weekend we went to Galveston,  a beach town about an hour outside of town, with one of my mother's best friends.  My memory is a little hazy. It may have been "Crazy Janie," but I'm pretty sure we went with Ana Laura and her daughter. I remember playing in the sand and catching crabs on a pier.  At the end of the day, three sandy, sunburned girls dozed in the backseat of the big sedan.  There was no air conditioner, but we rolled down all the windows.  A warm, gentle breeze wafting in the windows made for perfect napping weather. 
Before I knew it, the car stopped at an old-fashioned car wash.  We asked Ana Laura if she was planning to wash the car, and she said "No. We're giving y'all a bath. We've got a funeral to go to, and we need to get you cleaned up."  This wasn't the sort of thing we did at home, but out we climbed into the spray of the car wash. Bashfully, we peeled off our suits, washed away all the sand, toweled off and climbed into clean, dry clothes.  
Wide awake now, we began to talk about the funeral. None of us had ever been to one before, and we were full of questions. Ana Laura told us that, it was actually a "rosary, not a funeral." We would pay our respects, say our prayers, and be on our way.  So far, so good.  But then Ana Laura stopped us all in our tracks when she told us that, "Yes, of course, there will be a casket, and we would be able to see the dead body." 
We drove along in silence for a while until the nervous giggles started. "What if he's not really dead?" we asked. "What if he sits up during the service?"   Before long, we had convinced ourselves that it was highly likely that the deceased would sit up and begin talking in the middle of the rosary. And we found the idea hilarious. We created a hundred scenarios of what he might say and how the parishioners would react. We made funny faces and talked in funny voices.  We laughed until tears were rolling down our face and our sides ached.
Of course, the moment we walked into the church, we were quiet and composed.  It was sober and scary, and we knew enough to be respectful.  We sat there. Quietly. And politely.
Until Ana's daughter whispered, "Look, he's starting to sit up." And then the giggles started again.  We did our best to contain ourself, but we just couldn't. And when I looked up, Ana was laughing too.
She gave up on the rosary and took us to get ice cream.  Three sunburned girls in sun dresses, eating ice cream, with one very patient mom smiling and shaking her head. And, in that moment, it was obvious to me why my mom had chosen Ana Laura to be her best friend.

29 comments:

Amy said...

What a hilarious story! I have to say, that is a funny way to be introduced to a rosary service - at least you were all clean! :-)

Tracy said...

Lol, funny story. I love the thought of the bath in the car wash. I wonder what the attendants thought!

Mary B said...

Oh Maria that is so funny

debs14 said...

What an amazing story Rinda! I love every part of it from the the car wash showering to the giggles in the service. Can't wait for another one next month!

helena said...

what a great memory, a lovely chuckle for a Sunday morning

scrappyjacky said...

Amazing story,Rinda....love the idea of a 'children's wash'.Funny how children react to death....when she was little DD1 asked us exactly how many skeletons there would be in heaven!!

Wanda said...

Ana Laura deserves lots of credit for creativity...I would never have thought of using a carwash as a makeshift shower!

Ladkyis said...

Oh what marvellous pictures that conjured in my mind. Fabulous story, thank you

Unknown said...

Thanks for joining us at DCD and following the sketch with this beautiful card.
Chris x

Jimjams said...

Brilliantly told glimpse into a bygone time - I could almost feel the breeze and certainly got the giggles too.

JO SOWERBY said...

such a fun story maria and one which is often not told because we are so afraid of people's reactions to death especially children. in this country many people keep children away from funerals but i feel ur story shows how important it can be for children to understand from an early age,
jo xxxx

Cheri said...

great story! I can totally picture those three little sunburned girls in sundresses trying so hard not to giggle at a funeral.

Becky said...

What a brilliant story! I can just imagine you all sitting in the car driving to the car wash and as for trying not to laugh in the church - an excellent story. Thanks for sharing.

Jane said...

will think of this when I next pass a car wash!

Sian said...

A brilliant story! Truly all the stuff of life is here, as it is with all the very best of tales. And conjured up before my very eyes.

Thank you for your story today Rinda.

furrypig said...

That was a fantastic story I loved it! It reminded me of taking DD to my grandmothers funeral when she was very young. I had taken some paper and crayons to try and entertain her quietly during the service. She managed to produce a special picture for my Dad, her Grandad... a picture of my Nan in her coffin ( I don't think the traditional East London open coffin had helped!)

Miriam said...

What a wonderful story again you really are the master at it! I was there and that body did sit up!

Ginger said...

That was a great story Rinda! I laughed right out loud about the car wash! That would have been a sight to see :)

Anonymous said...

What a great story. I can so imagine the trying not to giggle at the service - it's so hard to stop a giggle let alone 3 little girls trying to do it. Love the idea of you all showering in the car wash. :) Looking forward to next month's story.

Denise said...

That was a lovely story Rinda, had me giggling imagining the giggly girls- that's just the sort of thing children do - and loved the car wash bit :-)

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

Great story, Rinda. I love this series.

Jennifer Grace said...

What a fabulous tale, I love the fact you has a shower in the car wash! Thanks for sharing. x

Melissa said...

What a lovely story about your mom's friend! But, oh my, Houston - in the summer - no air conditioning!! HOT!!! I totally laughed at the picture of bathing at the car wash!

Irene said...

Your stories of Houston visits are enjoyable to read, but this one is really funny. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Rinda, this is a most exquisite story, so beautifully told that I could see each event as it unfolded in vivid colour! Thank you for brightening my day.

Jen said...

Wonderful story Rinda - made me laugh so much at the shower in the carwash! Thanks for sharing! J x

Susanne said...

You told this story wonderfully, Rinda. I was able to visualize all the fun you described so easily. Thanks for sharing.

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

That is such a great story!

Anonymous said...

Fab story!