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LIFE WITH
THE QUEEN
Caroline
Harkleroad February 8, 2011
Yes, I call
her The Queen. Today marks my second anniversary hanging out at
634 Wesley Drive, watching Queen Klein juggle family events, a
rockin' social calendar, weekly hair appointments, endless games of
bridge and poker, countless phone calls to and from her mega big
extended family, cooking the famous family recipes, and sharing vivid
and rollicking memories of her long and lush life. A Queen wears only
the right jewelry with the right clothes. A proper handbag must match
each outfit to a tee. Hair is fixed perfectly and makeup is
flawlessly applied even when absolutely nothing is happening.
Grapefruit must be purchased with exactly the right rind and bread
must have exactly the right softness. Pecans are a staple. Homemade
pies are delivered to sick friends. Medicine is a nuisance and highly
scorned. Kindness is paramount. Generosity overflows. I
love working with Winnie Glover Boone Klein, aka The Queen.
(She occasionally calls me Slave so I think we're even).
DRIVING MISS WINNIE
Our driving
issue begins in the garage. It takes all of my courage and great
intensity to back the monster mobile out of the tiny opening. At
least that's the way I see it. It takes me about 10 minutes just to
get the car out, moving the car back and forth numerous times to line
it up just exactly right, then I sneak out at a snail's pace,
watching both of those big mirrors squeek past the doorframe. I am
exhausted by the time I hit the driveway. She is already impatient.
I've learned to get the car out while she is still getting dressed. I
can only deal with one of them at a time.
We've been
lost in Clinton, S.C., Savannah, Newnan, Rome, Spring Island, and
Thomasville. I've totally missed the Newnan exit about 5 times and
went 20 miles the wrong way outside of Rome. We've even been on a
lonely two -laner on the way to nowhere in the looming darkness with
an empty gas needle.. No signs. No people. Abandoned trailer parks.
Happily we decided to enjoy the meadows and forest and assumed we
would arrive somewhere sometime. We did. But it was unsettling. This
is how we travel.
And I have a
chronic habit of gazing around and taking in the scenery everywhere I
go and it makes Winnie crazy. We purchased a GPS, confidant that the
cute little gizmo would help. Feeling excited and safe we named her
"Echo" but I still get lost so Echo mostly just screams
"Recalculate" which makes Winnie even crazier.
To make
matters worse, we spend our drive time playing the Jotto word game
which Winnie has had 70 (yes, seventy!) years to prefect and I am a
rank beginner. As I struggle to drive AND remember all the twists and
turns of the alphabet, she sits smugly in her seat doing nothing but
scheming. Then I'm the one going crazy. She can be a really wicked Dame.
She has yelled
" Step on It!" or " Green light&ldots;Go!" at
every traffic light in the state of Georgia. It hasn't helped one
bit. She has NEVER ONCE thought I took the most efficient route. No
matter what streets I choose to take, she is convinced I've make
terrible decisions. "Well, I would never have gone this way. Why
are you on Piedmont? We'll never get there."
No one told me
it would be this way. Dan Boone is a big fat liar.
THE KITCHEN
My life in the
kitchen started with all of her strange utensils. It began innocently
enough with her drawers, kind of like getting out of the
garage. My first week of work I took it upon myself to organize the
overstuffed room which could not hold one more toothpick. What does
she do with all this stuff? I wondered. So&ldots;.out came not one
but two card tables and I piled EVERYTHING from every drawer in a
heap about 5 feet tall. After 3 days of effort, I left a small pile
of throw aways. They looked ancient and obsolete to me and I saw no
need for any of them. Lordy! Lordy! These were THE treasures, the
bees knees of cookery! I sure got my come-uppance. What got thrown
away? Yep, two knives.
In spite of
what you may think, Winnie really doesn't like food. I could list on
one hand what she likes to eat and it would take a hole to China to
throw in what she doesn't like. She plays a good food game but she is
picky,picky,picky. She does not like anything store bought. She does
not like anything frozen. She eats leftovers only under duress. Corn?
Only on the cob. Cornbread? Not too sweet. Worcheshire? Never.
Microwave bacon? Yuk. A thick hearty soup? Mostly the
liquid&ldots;just kill the other stuff. Veggies? Naw.
Add that to
the fact that I can't cook worth a flip (just ask my children) and
you end up with kitchen confusion all the time. What to buy? What to
prepare? In what quantity? I'm the one who cooked a hen in the TOP of
the pan (yes, as opposed to the bottom of the pan) and thought milk
toast should look like French toast and not mush in a cup. She won't
admit it but she's a terrific cook so we've developed a great system.
I read the recipe, measure the ingredients and stand back and watch
her work her magic.
Our lowest
point, though, was making sausage balls without the sausage. And,
hard as this is to admit, we BOTH didn't even notice. She mixed
everything up and I rolled the zillion little balls. Scary, eh?
I've learned a
lot from her and can now (almost) make, mint/chocolate icing, peeled
grapefruit, and homemade mac and cheese. I'm also a rolo whiz.
Just don't ask
how many pans we have burned this year. We spend a ridiculous amount
of time scrubbing charred black crusty gunk from the mouth of Paul Revere.
GAMES, PUZZLES
AND WORDS
I cannot add
or subtract. I cannot multiply. Without a calculator, I'm dead on the
vine. A string of D minus's from grade 1 - 12 verifies this.( The
teachers were too kind to fail me) So wouldn't you know that I'm
currently working for a math whiz who can figure the cost of
something down to the darn decimal point IN HER HEAD. I am in awe! If
it has a digit, she's got it totally together. From card points to
the cost of a tank of gas to the number of oz in ten pints, the
numbers just jump out of her brain. This makes for some interesting
conversations! But we love our words and have great fun together
almost daily with the crossword puzzle. We can handle Monday, almost
complete Tuesday, Wednesday takes us half a day, and by Thursday the
half finished puzzle ends up in the trashcan. We're a great combo - I
know the pop singers from the 80s and she knows farming terms from
the 30s. A good generational team.
I grew up in a
board game family - Parcheesi was King and checkers was a favorite
-but we weren't much for cards. Now I have learned to love Onze and
Bolivia, thanks to the Queen for her deft instructions.
WINNIE'S FRIENDS
My admiration
for women of the older generation has grown leaps and bounds since
I've started hanging out in Winnie's world. This has been a wonderful
learning curve for me. These women are fun, snappy, classy, filled
with laughter and enthusiasm. They joke a lot about their own
limitations and frailties so I have named them The BLD Society (the
blind, the lame and the deaf). You haven't lived until you have
hoisted a BLD into a deep, swirling hot tub or settled one of them
into a rocking, weaving boat or overheard the intense counting of
coins after a bridge game. Total take: 15 cents. Total time counting:
40 minutes.
As I left work
yesterday, Winnie was sick with epizulits and looking forward to
having some spondulics at dusk. Don't you know these words? She
was signing Valentine cards backwards, wearing her hot pink and blue
hippo socks, and working Sudoku. You get the picture. She's pretty cool.
2010 Family Reunion
What a great
reunion we had on October 23rd this year. We had close to 150
folks show up. Click here to see
some of the pictures. There are some by Carol Glover and a few family
groups taken by Susan Glover Logan. Still awaiting more from
Susan as well as Brad Thatcher and Caroline Boone Alford.
Glover DNA Project
Caroline sent
me this link. Other Glover genealogists are putting together a
program that is DNA based to trace the ancestry roots of each Glover
clan. It seems like an intriguing prospect to add to the hard work
begun and maintained by Caroline and Aunt Winnie. Check it out. http://dgmweb.net/genealogy/DNA/G/GloverDNA.shtml
Mother
(Mrs. Nat Glover) found the original Newspaper writeup about Howard
and Fannie's wedding - Click
here to see it.
AND... a
precious 1923 picture of Nat and Winnie - Click
here
Family Cookbook
(Mary) Caroline
(Boone) Alford has spent
the last 15 years compiling her favorite family recipes - some 418
pages of mouthwatering delights! Barnes and Noble Bookstores may put
it in their southern stores as a regional interest book.
The title is
Southern Cooking with Caroline. It has a lot of helpful information
for beginning cooks, and all the steps are numbered for easy use.
Knowing Caroline's family I can personally guarantee that this book
is the only one you will need.
You can order
it from her website at:
http://southerncookingwithcaroline.com
and she does
accept payments via Paypal.
Do you have any old pictures you would like to
have scanned and perhaps published on this site for others to share
and enjoy? We will scan them for you. Just let us know. |
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Clifford (Gandy) Glover
12/10/1947 - 4/24/2011
Click
here for a photo of Gandy
at
the 2010 family reunion |
Mr. Clifford
B. “Gandy” Glover III, 63, died Sunday, April 24, 2011 at
his home in Newnan, Georgia. Gandy was born December 10, 1947 in
Newnan to Clifford Banks Glover, Jr. & Inez Taylor Glover. His
father preceded him in death.
Gandy was a
member of Central Baptist Church, a former two-term mayor of Newnan
(1986 - 1994), and a member of Kiwanis. He graduated from the
University of Georgia and was a real estate agent in Coweta County
for over 37 years, during which he became a lifetime member of the
Million Dollar Club. Gandy was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he
was certified as Master Captain by the U.S. Coast Guard. Gandy loved
being outdoors and around wildlife, and he especially loved Newnan
and the Chattahoochee River.
The memorial
service is Tuesday, April 26, at 2 p.m. at Central Baptist Church
with Dr. Joel Richardson officiating. The visitation was Monday,
April 25, between 6 - 8 p.m. at McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory,
38 Jackson St, Newnan (770-253-45850). Condolences can be
expressed online at: www.mckoon.com .
Survivors
include mother, Inez Taylor Glover; daughter, Becky Glover; brothers,
S. Taylor Glover (Shearon), Peter L. Glover (Helen); and nephews,
Frank Glover, Christopher Glover and Preston Glover. In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Central Baptist
Church, 14 West Broad Street, Newnan, Georgia 30263. |
The
following tribute to Gandy was front page on the Newnan Times Herald
Former Newnan
mayor and local businessman Clifford B. “Gandy” Glover, III
was found dead at his home Sunday morning.
Glover was
found by his mother around noon at his home on Temple Avenue,
according to Chief Douglas L. “Buster” Meadows of the
Newnan Police Department.
Funeral
arrangements will be announced later by McKoon Funeral Home.
A native of
Newnan, Glover, in his sixties, was a two-term mayor of Newnan. He
was a longtime resident of Newnan’s College Temple historic district.
An avid hunter
and fisherman, he once shot and killed a wild hog that weighed more
than 800 pounds. He was certified as Master Captain by the U.S. Coast
Guard. He was a Realtor with Josey, Young & Brady Realty, LLC.
Glover is the
son of the late Clifford Glover Jr. and Inez Glover, of Newnan. He is
also survived by two brothers, Taylor and Peter.
“He did
things for the community and he loved Newnan,” said Chief
Meadows. “Gandy was just Gandy, and he didn’t put on airs.”
More Pics
from the 2010 Reunion from Brad Thatcher
Brad is a
great photographer and got many really great closeups and some family
groupings. Click here to see these.
Thanks Brad!
Grannie
Fannie's Antiques and Collectibles.
What's in a
Name? Newnan's newest Antique Shop opened up on April 20th at
the corner of Greenville and Spring - the old Lee-King #2
location. My bride, Carol Jackson Glover is the primary
partner. Check out her website http://granniefannies.com
Aunt
Margaret is a real party Animal!
Three in a row.
Aunt Margaret's
pre-100th birthday party
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Several ladies
from Central Baptist "kidnapped" Aunt Margaret and treated
her to one of her favorite meals - Pizza! She celebrated
turning 100 on December 30th 2010. |
Then her 100th birthday party
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Left to Right: Bill, Harriett, Howard and John. The party was held at
family favorite - Sprayberry's BBQ - seems we had close to 30
brother, cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces... in attendance. |
And Finally, the
Church Choir celebrates her many years in the Choir - along with
"Pie" Burson and Bill Williams.
Demopolis
Alabama Roots
Gandy and
Taylor (Clifford Banks Glover III and Sanford Taylor Glover) recorded
a fact-finding excursion to Demopolis several yeas ago. This is
a funny video packed with facts that would have been lost - their
investigative skills far exceed their videography skills. Click
Here to view the 35 minute video.
Also, TJ
Glover (Tom Junior's son) just recently made a similar trip. He found
and recorded some great pics of ancestrial graves. And for those of
you who remember his granddaddy Tom, you will appreciate his sense of
humor as he recounts the process. Click
Here.
Aural History
Cousin Cliff
Glover recorded these prior to his death. Two great stories of his
growing up in Newnan, and his service in World War II. Those of us
who knew him will appreciate his deep melodic voice as well as the
occasional laughter. We are fortunate to have this bit of recorded history.
Found these
videos that Dad (Dr. Nat Glover) took of the family. The video below
is of Granny, Pop, Mary and Frances around 1947. The baby is me with
Mom (Bobbie Glover). To see other movies, click on the
"playlist" button below twice and chose the movie to watch.
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