A Lady in Defiance
Nov 8, 20101 min
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER FOR FOLKLORE UPDATES: @heatherfblanton.com // Send submissions to gowest36@gmail.com
Both of my stories have to do with what I call my grandmothers. Before
the grandkids were born, my extended family would go to the beach every
summer. One year they all drew nicknames out of a hat just for fun.
They were silly names like Noo-Noo and such. My grandmother pulled out
Moo-Moo, and it just kind of stuck. I was the first grandchild on that
side, and from the time I was born she wasn’t known as Grandma or Mama,
just Moo-Moo. Now everyone refers to her as such, and though she
doesn’t greatly appreciate it, it’s just a fun piece of family
folklore. We often give her gag gifts that have to do with cows to add
to the fun.
My other grandmother has a different story. My brother
and I are the youngest grandkids on my dad’s side by over ten years.
So all of my older cousins grew up and still call my grandmother
Grammie, but when I was little I guess I could not say it. I started
calling her Bay one day, and that’s what my brother and I have always
called her. My cousins don’t understand it, but it’s just what we know
her as. Whenever I am talking about my grandmothers, people look at me
funny, but to me Moo-Moo and Bay are just their names!
— Mandy Tompkins