Aunt Minnie and the Chicken

When I was younger during the summer,  my cousin Cathy and I spent  a week at each other's houses.  It was my turn to go to the farm and the week was always so much fun.  The only place we were banned from was the barn.  We would play house on the ledge across the road, we would explore the old abandoned house down the road, or we would spend countless hours playing rummy at Aunt Minnie's kitchen table.  When Aunt Minnie wasn't planning or preparing meals, she was cleaning the house, and in her spare time she sewed.  Some say I get my sense of humor and out look on life from her.  We were alike in many ways.  Some of her favorite quotes were: " When people ask you how you are, just say 'fine' because they don't really care anyway!"  Another quote about getting women to the Christian Mother's meetings, " feed 'em, make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, and a door prize doesn't hurt."  She had a handle on human nature.... 
One such visit to the farm is one I will never forget as long as I live.  It's the 'Chicken Story'.  My cousins have heard it many times, and now I'm going to share it with you.

Aunt Minnie was not much of a driver, and after she moved the garage off its foundation trying to get the car in it, Uncle Archie resigned to the fact that he would take here wherever she needed to go.  My cousins' attended summer religion class two or three mornings a week.  The church was about a half mile from the farm.  It was haying season and Uncle Archie didn't have the time to stop what he was doing to take Jimmy and Cathy to the church.  On the mornings of religion class, Uncle Archie had the old green Studebaker parked in the yard.  All three of us kids piled in the car and off to the church we flew.  Aunt Minnie mastered keeping the car between the ditches, and  made it to the church without incident.  Even at six I knew enough to be scared!! She dropped my cousins off at church and we  again flew home.  When she sped around the corner to make it in the drive way, there was a chicken in the way.  She didn't even slow down, that poor chicken didn't have a chance.  She killed it dead.  I was horrified and remember it like it was yesterday.  After the car quit rocking when she slammed it in park, we got out; she scooped up the dead chicken and  brought its lifeless carcass in the house, boiled some water, cleaned it and put it in the refrigerator.    Later in the morning again I was put in the car, for a return trip to the church to pick up my cousins.   

We spent the afternoon playing, and when it was time for dinner, Uncle Archie lead the prayer, and Aunt Minnie served us a great big chicken dinner.  Needless to say, all I could eat were the mashed potatoes and gravy.  

She was one hellofa woman!!!   I miss you, your antics, and most of all your wisdom.  I will always love you Aunt Minnie.

Aunt Minnie is in the red dress, standing next to my mom (green dress) the
old Studebaker is on the left.

And that is the way it is........................................