Sunday, May 9, 2010

MAY AND DECEMBER

Every precocious little girl should have an old lady for a friend. Adults are much more interesting than children. Adults know about the world. Adults know great big words, and use them without affectation. For a child who is easily bored with childish things, an older woman can be the friend that changes life forever.

My lady friend was named Mrs. Mason. She lived next door with her irascible husband Kermit, their two adultish children, and lots and lots of books. Mrs. Mason (I was absolutely NOT allowed to call her Rebecca) had a college education, a charming lack of commitment to keeping house, and a real LIBRARY. In our house, that room was called a “rec” room, and it had our TV in it. At the Masons, the television was in the living room, and the big room on the first floor was full of books.

I went over to the Masons' house just about every day after school. I was always welcome. I followed Mrs. Mason around, watching her make supper, plant seeds, or we just sat and talked. We talked about adult things, like politics and the neighbors. I gave my opinion, and she listened. Mrs. Mason was a terrible cook, and so when she wanted to make something good, she always asked for my help. We would make a treat, and go downstairs to the library while we waited for it to bake. Mrs. Mason would bring the laundry into the library and do some ironing, while I browsed through the books, looking for a good one. I could borrow any book I wanted to. Some of the books I read from Mrs. Mason’s library included “The Thirteen Clocks,” which scared the daylights out of me; “The Complete Works of Rabelais,” which luckily had some illustrations that gave a rough idea of the goings on; and “Wuthering Heights,” which Mrs. Mason and I both LOVED, and which we discussed at length.

I was an eccentric child, and reveled in my friendship with the Mason family. None of them minded my constant presence, and all gave me the respect that most adults reserve for each other and rarely grant to kids. Apparently, the Masons were also eccentrics, but I didn’t realize that. I thought all next door neighbors dried their own herbs, dabbled in oil painting, let all the dishes sit in the sink to wash “tomorrow,” and listened to classical music on the stereo full blast.

My Mother worried that I was an annoyance next door, and she tried her best to interest me in more age appropriate pursuits, like the Girl Scouts, roller skating, and dancing lessons, but I remained steadfastly devoted to Mrs. Mason. Finally, my mother gave up, and Mrs. Mason and I continued being best chums. We experimented in making our own ink out of flowers, which didn’t work. We grew cactuses. We painted faces on rocks, and placed them artfully in the garden. But more than anything, we talked about books.

When I went to high school, I saw less and less of Mrs. Mason, who seemed very understanding. We were still very friendly, but I just ran out of spare time. However, until I got married and moved away, I made the trip next door once in awhile.

I am now at about the same age that Mrs. Mason was when we met. I don’t have a “library” in my house, but I wish I did. I am a bit eccentric. I actually HAVE dried some herbs successfully. I sometimes let the dishes sit in the sink for awhile.

But I don’t have a seven year old best friend.

27 comments:

  1. Then you need to go GET ONE. You sounds like you'd be a wonderful best friend to a seven year old. You can move here in four years if you'd like.

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  2. You were so very lucky to have such an eccentric older friend as a child. As an adult, I did meet someone who was in her late 80s, named Sarah Poore who became a very good friend. She loved to say that when she met her husband Oscar, she married and was taken to the Poore house. :)

    She swam in the senior Olympics - and won gold medals twice!

    She died four years ago, and I will always remember her.

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  3. Alex, I would love to have your little one for a friend. I am not a good person with babies, as my daughters will attest (I was fine with THEM, but not with others) but I think kids are so interesting. I wish I knew Mrs. Poore. m

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  4. This is so sweet! It sounds like the basis for a book or something! I'm sure Mrs. Mason got a big kick out of you. May you find a 7-year-old friend soon!

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  5. What a fantastic neighbor. I'm with Jenners. This sounds like a MG book waiting to be written.

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  6. I agree. My 'old lady' (and I mean old, she was 90) was called Mrs. Mallone. She'd make us toffee and in return we'd run messages and, in the winter, clear the snow from her path.

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  7. Whoops wrong button.

    Such a shame that so many of todays young seem to have no respect for their elders and that so many older people have such a huge mistrust of the young.

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  8. Lovely post. I think we all wish for special friends like these.

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  9. I am so glad that I am not the only one who had an older lady for a best friend. I don't have the confidence to write a book. I wish I did!

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  10. I couldn't resist your Twitter challenge to come and visit. Even though I've been here before, so I really shouldn't count as someone who's never seen your blog before.

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  11. I was a borderline annoyance to my neighbors growing up too. ANdI learned so much from those experiences.

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  12. Aw, this makes me think of one of my best friend's moms. I still take my little guy over to hang out with her when I get the chance. Although, I did hang out with her daughter quite a bit too...

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  13. Obviously, this friendship was important to you. Just think what you could offer to another little girl in need of support and understanding. You can't just wait for the little girl to knock on your door -- GO find her! There must be an organization in your area that matches up mentors and children.

    Go! Make that friend! She is waiting!

    Pretty All True

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  14. This is a great idea. Thanks from all of you. I will look into the big sister idea. Mrs. Mason would have liked that. molly

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  15. Molly, definitely check out Big Brothers/Big Sisters, you would have a great time with some of the children. Maybe even check out some of the local Foster organizations, they may need some people to take a child or two out for some recreation!

    Great post, reminds me of my Italian neighbors. Pizzelles, Pizza, and Sinatra.

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  16. Great story! Sounds like there might be a lot of stuff from that time that you could use in your blog now:)

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  17. Awwww! My mama always said I was born a 40-year-old, so maybe that's why I got along with adults so well. Hoping you can pay it forward to some lucky little girl neighbor!

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  18. What a sweet story ... I had a Mrs. Lunsford who lived next to me. I stopped by her house often when I was an early teenager. She was so sweet to me and always made me something good to eat. I was so shy then and she always encouraged me. Hope you find your young person... I think she'd find a great "Mrs. Mason" in you! ;0)

    Tweeting this for Tweet Me Tuesday! Thanks for linking up!

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  19. Love it! I'm glad to know my approach to dish-doing is not unusual. Ok, maybe in line with being eccentric. I can live with that. The dishes do seem to enjoy marinating a while before washing.

    It's funny how old souls do find each other.

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  20. A 7-year-old reading Rabelais? Lusty stuff.
    All little girls (and boys) should have older generations around them to sponge up the experience and knowledge.

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  21. Thanks for all of these wonderful comments. And I am so glad many of you had your own "Mrs. Mason's!"

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  22. I had a few "neighbors" throughout my childhood like this. I say it that way because well...we lived so far out in the country (most of the time) there weren't really many close neighbors. You are so right though, everyone needs one. It makes a world of difference and I hope to one day be the kind of person that someone looks back on with fond memories. ;-)

    Tweeting it out for Tweet Me Tuesday thanks for linking up!!

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  23. What a wonderful experience for a child. My grandma was that person for me. When my mom was working so much I hardly got to see her, my grandma made me feel at home. She taught me things that my mom either didn't think to teach me or didn't have time for. Grandma's house was a safe place for a child who desperately needed that haven. We all need that.

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  24. I've always had an older friend or two as well. What wonderful times we had together. Generations need to reconnect. It is not natural for all the older people to be separated from the younger folks. We all need each other. Thanks for the beautiful reminder. :o)

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  25. Hi Molly! Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. Hey, congratulations on winning 2nd place in the Erma Bombeck writing contest! That is terrific!! :)And, in my book you are now officially famous. I loved this story about Mrs. Mason.

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  26. Oh, Molly, if only we lived next door to you! My son is six...I somehow think you and he would be the most wonderful of friends :-D

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