L to R: Mary “Molly” Woods Little holds Sydney Medora Little, William Woods, William”Bill” Woodworth Little

I don’t know how often it happens that one year is the mirror image of another, but I do know that during this year, 2020, the days and dates are exactly as they were the year of my birth, 1936.  So it is, that this very day, Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, marks the 84th anniversary of my christening.

I was six weeks and two days old.  The big event took place at the home of my paternal grandparents in Boston, near Newton, Massachusetts where I lived with my mom and dad.  My great-grandfather, Rev. William Woods, a retired Methodist minister, did the honors.  I don’t remember a thing about it and neither does anyone else now living.  I’m glad I have the photos.

Big-Bumpa — that’s what I would call my great-grandfather; my grandfather  was Bumpa, of course — was 92 years old.  He lived up in an attic apartment of my grandparents’ home and I remember him very well, indeed.  He lived to be 97 and one of my toddler delights was to visit him on Sundays.

Sydney and William Woods (Big Bumpa)

He would be sitting in his rocking chair, singing hymns in his wonderfully deep voice (“a preacher’s voice” the family said) but when I appeared he would stop his singing and tell me nursery rhymes, instead. The one I’ve never forgotten went like this:

There was a man in our town,
And he was wondrous wise,
He jumped into a bramble bush,
And scratched out both his eyes.
And when he saw his eyes were out,
With all his might and main,
He jumped into the bramble bush,
And scratched them in again.

Oh, and did I say that Big-Bumpa had a British accent, having been born in Diss, Norfolk County, England in 1844?  Somehow, that hearty voice plus his big hug and delighted laughter made the scary feeling in my tummy go away — but I still have a clear memory of the rhyme and of my magnificent Big Bumpa, even though we moved West when I was only three.

I wish everyone a Happy Easter — with all my might and main!