Weave the Web

Three years ago, we realized that Dang was losing her ability to remember things.  At one point, hoping to get some of the family lore before it was too late, my Mom asked her how my grandfather’s family, The Websters, had come to Canada.  Dang looked her in the eye and said, “Don’t be ridiculous, your father never lived in Canada!”  And yet, every time I saw her, she would recount in detail the perfect game Don Larson pitched in the World Series.  She was at that game – my grandmother was at the only perfect game ever to be pitched in a World Series.  She may have forgotten where her husband came from, but she never forgot that game!  And I will never forget her for that.

 

I remember as a small child, she and I would sit on the floor and see how high we could make the blocks stand on each other before they toppled.

 

I remember whenever we visited her in Florida, she would always make peanut butter and Cornflakes treats for us – I could always count on them being in her kitchen.

 

I remember fishing for crabs off the seawall in Florida.

 

I remember Michael and Allison’s wedding.  My Mom put me in charge of Dang and her best friend, Mrs. Devere.  When these two ladies found out there was an open bar, Dang kept saying, “It’s an open bar, Bobbie; it’s an open bar!”  I spent much of the wedding going back and forth to and from the bar.  Mrs. Devere borrowed one of Dang’s cigarettes – she always smoked unfiltered Camels- and when Mrs. Devere went to light it, she burned the end of her nose and sputtered, “Beverly, how do you smoke these short things?”

 

I remember - There was never a dull moment when Dang was around.