Great Aunt Susie, Cousin Sue’s Grandmother
My cousin Sue from Maryland left a message on our land line the other day. “This is a voice from your past,” she said. Indeed! Sue is a second cousin on the Espy side and, except for her brother Robert who I haven’t seen or heard from in sixty years, I know Sue the least well of all my twelve second cousins. We’ve spent (maybe) a total of ten days in one another’s company.
Mostly, that’s because of proximity or lack thereof. Her father, Otto Finley, was in the navy and the family moved around a bit, finally settling in the D.C. area. It wasn’t until we were both in our ‘middle years’ that Sue and I would see one another periodically at family reunions here in Oysterville. I don’t think I even have a photograph of her but I do have one of her grandmother and she is “the spitting image” my mother always said.
The last time Sue and I visited it was on her turf – literally. Sue is a horse woman and her days, at least then, revolved around her animals. I think they were race horses, though I’m not altogether clear about that. It was a lifestyle totally unfamiliar to me and I loved getting a glimpse. I felt like I was in the middle of a Dick Frances novel.
Espy Cousins 1918
So… I was thrilled to get the call and to hear that she and a friend are wanting to come to Oysterville for a visit on Sunday. I have my fingers crossed that it will happen but I had to leave a message when I returned her call. “Yes! Do come!” I said. “And plan to stay the night!”
I’ve not heard back. Did she even get the message? Will she arrive on Sunday? I wonder how my grandmother managed in those days before telephones. I’m sure she was always prepared for a few more people at dinner. So am I… at least for tomorrow!
I think that ladies of the house, in our grandmothers’ and great-grandmothers’ day had to be prepared to hostess company at the drop of a hat. How exciting! I hope they come!