Isn't it wonderful to have people in your life who believe in you, no matter what? That is the subject of my blog is today. It's about a person who believed the best in me and for me...always.
I arrived home from college in 1968 to see an evening gown lying on my bed. My mother informed me, "The Rotary Club wants you to represent them in the Miss Hospitality contest. Of course, I told them you'd love to." Naturally Mother was prepared for a fight. I didn't like "pageants" and I was usually " the bridesmaid, never the bride." So when I shrugged my shoulders and said "Ok", she felt she'd won that round. Little did I know she was about to present me with one of the funniest and most heart-warming memories of my life.
The night of the local pageant I drove myself in my VW Beetle to the contest wearing "the" evening gown and made a quick stop at the post office to see if my grades had arrived from college. They had, and I was pleasantly pleased with the marks, so I thought that I had already won. With a "song in my heart" and my decent grades in my gloved hand, I got back in the car and drove to the auditorium. I'm not sure how it happened, but I won the pageant. Finally "the bride"!! Now on to the state contest.
There were 67 young women in the state contest that year. We spent a (surprisingly) action packed, fun-filled week on the coast. The worst part was swimsuit competition. (After watching some of the pageants today, we looked like nuns compared to what they wear now!) My family came down for the festivities and brought my mother's mother (aka: Nannie). The big night approached and everybody was swathed in a cloud of hairspray and perfume, eyelashes mascaraed (is that a word?) and hair that looked like it had been pumped up with a bicycle pump.
(Ok, here comes the great part!) When they announced the winners, they began with third alternate and went up. And oh, yes, one thing you have to know about my grandmother, she was probably the most down to earth, humble person I've ever known. She worked hard and was quietly humorous. I NEVER heard her raise her voice. (Back to story.) Third alternate was announced, second alternate and then first. When the first alternate was announced my grandmother, in the heat of the moment, jumped to her feet and began clapping and announced for all the world, "She's won, she's won, Angela has won!" Well, you guessed it! I did NOT win. While my relatives were trying to calm Nannie, they announced the name of a lovely girl from Starkville as the state's new Miss Hospitality.
What has this got to do with anything? Surely you see the point. Maybe none of the judges thought I was worthy of a crown that night, but my Nannie did. She believed in me and that belief has meant more to me than she will ever know. When times have been tough (and they have been) I have thought of that night and smiled, even laughed at the thought that my demure grandmother was so pumped that she actually got up and clapped and announced that I'd won! In her eyes I HAD won. Thanks, Nannie, for believing in me... oh, btw, she was mad the rest of the trip. Thought the judges were either blind or had been "on the take"....oh, please!
Tomorrow: The Swimming Lesson or It's Time to Become a Woman
16 comments:
love it!!! giggled out loud....what a sweet story!
Thanks! She was the best. YOU know what it's like to have a super grandmother, too!!
Great story, Angela!!! You were definitely blessed to have a family who believed in you!! ...I'll always remember your mom & dad as such sweet, special people. (It's funny. As I sit here, I can still hear her voice & see her vivacious personality.) I didn't have the privilege of knowing your "Nannie," but she must have been a true gem!!
She WAS a gem. She adopted my mother when she was several months old. My grandfather died when Mother was only 12. So Nannie worked the rest of her life. Never had a car, walked to work every day and raised Mother and loved us all dearly! Didn't have much in worldly goods, but had everything else!
Funny, funny. I can see you running into the post office in your evening gown. I love to find the humor in experiences -- it's there if you have the right attitude. Julie
The Post Office saw many things in its day..didn't it, "Anonymous"!?
loved your story..funny...keep them coming..
Oh, Angela, this is simply beautiful! What a tribute to your "Nannie"! Girl, you have such writing style that I know you are doing what you're supposed to be doing! I really connected to the hair being pumped up like by a bicycle pump. Oh, those were the days! I do agree with your grandmother: You have always been a winner!
thanks, Charlene & Cindy. I really had a great time reliving that experience this morning! John kept checking on me to see what was so funny!
I wonder whatever happened to "that lovely girl from Starkville." She never knew that you were actually the winner.
Angela I love this story! I also had two grandmothers that did not have much of "this world's" goods but like yours they had something far more precious! Thanks for sharing. I love the blog!
Pat, she probably owns a condo in NYC...ha! She was beautiful and looked great in her bathing suit... Jane, grandmothers are "da bomb" for sure!
Angela ---I love to read your stories. I too had a Granny who believe in me!! She was such a wonderful person and died only three years ago. It was wonderful to have her in my life and for my son to know and love her also! I have laughed so at this story! And I love the picture of your parents--the way I remember them!
Leigh
Thank you Leigh! All of a sudden all these memories are just coming "out" and one begats another! I loved your parents, too!
Your Nannie sounds a lot like my Nannie. That is a precious story.
Thank you, Step. Your Nannie was certainly "da bomb" like mine!! Love those grannies!!
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