Driveway at the River
Baby David, my mother's mother, Mamie Clarke Maury (Mimi)
, my father's mother, Irene Steele Denton, whom my siblings and I called "Irene," unlike her other (well-behaved, respectful) grandchildren who called her "Grandmother." Flanked by Terry and me. The picture was taken in Fall of 1984 or Spring of 1985. Looks like Fall. I was just thinking of one of the times Irene visited us in Virginia when I was about 8 or so. First of all, she was the only visitor to arrive by train which was exciting and left me with a lifelong desire to ride on a train, in a cabin with a little bed that folded down from the wall. I thought that was the most clever invention. During her visit, she tried to give me a $5 bill as a gift. I demurely declined and she offered it again and I said "oh, no, I couldn't" again. She offered once more and I said, "No, really." She insisted a couple more times and, just as I was planning to give in, she stopped asking. I had refused one time too many. I couldn't believe my tactical error. Of course, I wanted, and intended to accept, the $5 all along but didn't want to seem greedy. I decided, then and there, that playing hard to get wasn't for me! Mimi visited maybe even a little more often than did Irene. I remember once, probably in the 60's, when my mom told us, en route to the airport, not to tell Mimi that one of my brother's had a beard and long hair. He was off , safely concealed, at school and Mom wasn't anxious to let her well-bred mother know exactly how out of control her uncouth little brood had become! Of course, it was the first thing out of Mary's mouth as soon as she saw Mimi! I don't remember Mimi having a negative reaction. She probably knew my mom had her hands full up there in Virginia. Which is certainly why Mimi always parted with the reminder to be sure and help my mother. Which, of course, I didn't. I continued to be a wonderful source of pleasure and joy for my mom... climbing out of my bedroom window, scaling the dogwood tree, and slinking around the dark streets of King's Grant with all manner of inappropriate friends. In the end, it was alright. Mom got a lot of laughs, all in retrospect, at the troubles we caused her. 
, my father's mother, Irene Steele Denton, whom my siblings and I called "Irene," unlike her other (well-behaved, respectful) grandchildren who called her "Grandmother." Flanked by Terry and me. The picture was taken in Fall of 1984 or Spring of 1985. Looks like Fall. I was just thinking of one of the times Irene visited us in Virginia when I was about 8 or so. First of all, she was the only visitor to arrive by train which was exciting and left me with a lifelong desire to ride on a train, in a cabin with a little bed that folded down from the wall. I thought that was the most clever invention. During her visit, she tried to give me a $5 bill as a gift. I demurely declined and she offered it again and I said "oh, no, I couldn't" again. She offered once more and I said, "No, really." She insisted a couple more times and, just as I was planning to give in, she stopped asking. I had refused one time too many. I couldn't believe my tactical error. Of course, I wanted, and intended to accept, the $5 all along but didn't want to seem greedy. I decided, then and there, that playing hard to get wasn't for me! Mimi visited maybe even a little more often than did Irene. I remember once, probably in the 60's, when my mom told us, en route to the airport, not to tell Mimi that one of my brother's had a beard and long hair. He was off , safely concealed, at school and Mom wasn't anxious to let her well-bred mother know exactly how out of control her uncouth little brood had become! Of course, it was the first thing out of Mary's mouth as soon as she saw Mimi! I don't remember Mimi having a negative reaction. She probably knew my mom had her hands full up there in Virginia. Which is certainly why Mimi always parted with the reminder to be sure and help my mother. Which, of course, I didn't. I continued to be a wonderful source of pleasure and joy for my mom... climbing out of my bedroom window, scaling the dogwood tree, and slinking around the dark streets of King's Grant with all manner of inappropriate friends. In the end, it was alright. Mom got a lot of laughs, all in retrospect, at the troubles we caused her. 
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