A long time ago someone told me "they used to call you 'Mae Alice's girl.'" While I cannot recall who told me or when, I've always felt proud of that title. Mae Alice is the heartbeat of my world. She is a Jesus-loving, scripture-quoting woman. She's accidentally hilarious. She's someone who will help any and everyone. Her kindness is unconditional. She laughs at her own jokes, and I'm talking fits of laughter. She has coined many words and phrases that only her family members understand. She sings. Her loved ones have been fortunate enough to see her dance. She is generous. She's a collector of all sorts of odd things that she always managed to find a home. She's friendly. She can, will, and does talk to anyone. She enjoys Walker Texas Ranger and In the Heat of the Night. She prays. When I say she is a praying woman, believe me; she is a praying woman! Even without much formal education, she is a smart, innovative, and resourceful individual. She is the mother of nine. She loves her family. She is loved by her family and community. She is one of the loves of my life, and I am grateful to be her granddaughter. It is and will always be an honor for anyone, presently or in the past, to think of me as "Mae Alice's girl." Happy 80th Birthday to my sugar dumpling pie! May she continue to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
