Lost a real friend

Friday evening, we were in another town celebrating the graduation of one of our six year old friends when the news came that Aunt Una was in the emergency room, and they were going to put her in the hospital. Our names are on the "who to call" list at the nursing home if something goes wrong with Aunt Una. A few minutes later, the call came in as we were heading home that she didn't make it. She went to see her Lord, Friday night.

Aunt Una was the 94-yearold twin sister of my first wife's mother, Uva. They both adopted me after I lost Ma, and there was nothing they wouldn't do for me or I wouldn't do for them, and we all knew it. I was just as much theirs as Betty Jo, Mealie and Sarah.

Uva has been living with us for awhile now and has been a joy in our home and business. She keeps us straight and working at the office.

Una went into the nursing home a few months ago when she decided she couldn't live alone. We offered her our other bedroom, but those twins never would live together but were inseparable during the day. Their daughters didn't learn that at 90 or over, you didn't make many changes. I decided fast that anyone who lives that long and good, doesn't need to be changed. That's why we got along so well.

One of the highlights of my day is to walk a few miles each morning with my oldest daughter, Tammy. We would walk down to the creek and come back by the nursing home and check on Aunt Una, and others. Tammy would call Aunt Una's daughter, Sarah, and we would leave them talking each morning. Una had gotten in tough shape, but on Thursday Mealie carried her to Bingo, strolled outside and to the sing that night. Una seemed to be doing better, although she didn't have but one way to go. She had a good day.

Another fun time was while I was delivering the newspapers each week, I would take Aunt Una some fried chicken livers by the nursing home. Both the twins are "picky" eaters, but we have almost found what each of them liked. They didn't eat alike. Aunt Una loved fried chicken livers. She always said, "You don't need to spend money on me, but they sure are good."

Talking about tough, those two ladies have been tough. In their prime, which has been just a few years ago, they would out-work any three men or women. They are prime examples that work will not kill you. Uva still comes to work most days at the Liberal, and Una helped when Uva would let her.

It's a wonder our whole bunch didn't starve when the twins decided that they were not able to tend a five acre garden. They put up vegetables for all of us and their friends year after year.

I particularly liked the way they gardened. They didn't like anyone other than themselves to be gathering the beans, peas and butterbeans. They were afraid that we would mess up the vines. They would let us gather the corn and shuck it and tell us how to cut squash and okra. The two of them have put up enough vegetables to fill up Colquitt. We've missed the gardens, but none of us have starved.

A lot of people have been blessed by "the twins" over the years, and especially us. Aunt Una will most certainly be missed by all of us, and especially that identical twin sister, Uva, and their 91-yearold brother, Talmadge.

As I said, they have always been tough, and I forgot, sweet. The one that is left is about as tough and sweet as there is. She will miss seeing that sister of hers. There is no doubt they will be together again since they both love the Lord, and that's the main thing.

One of the twins is where she wanted to be. The other one said, "I'll see her again soon."