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Mammaw
Cleo McNutt lived a long wonderful life.
She was nearly eighty-three years old when she died. She was also my great-grandmother, or
Mammaw. Up until her very last days, she was full of life and new ideas.
Mammaw was a great artist, a diehard musician, and was very creative. Her sense of humor and quick wit were part of what made her so original
and unique. When I was younger, I loved to trot on down to Mammaw's to
see what she was up to. Most of the
time, she would be sitting at her table sketching or painting. She would draw me a picture, and then let me paint it.
On the rare occasion that she caught me still for a moment, she would
even draw me. She loved to decorate seashells, or whatever she could find,
with beautiful drawings. Drawing
was only one of the many talents she had. As I grew up, I realized that playing music every Friday
night was like a necessity to Mammaw. She
had her own band, which she called the Elm Street Pickers. Anyone who enjoyed music, or played an instrument, was welcome in her
house. Mammaw played the Autoharp
and the guitar. Her house would always be packed with singers and musicians
from all over. In the summertime,
they sometimes played on the front porch. She
would have the whole neighborhood listening to them play. Mammaw always had some new ideas or trick up her sleeve.
When I would sit on her table with my shoes off, she would draw faces on
my toes. Even when it wasn't Halloween, we would play dress up and she
would take our picture. You could
tell by her house that she was a very creative person. Her house was elaborately and creatively decorated with
colorful objects. It never
surprised us to hear her tell a story or a joke to anyone who came along. On any occasion, she never ceased to be the life of the
party. My Mammaw McNutt was a very special and unique woman.
She knew how to enjoy life to the fullest. There are many times when I wish she were still around.
We all look forward to seeing her again in Heaven, someday, but for now,
her memories will live forever in our hearts. Courtney
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