Disclaimer:

The story of Christy is owned the Marshall-LeSourd Family. We are in no way seeking profit or credit for her story. This fiction is written for our own amusement only. This story uses themes from the book, CBS series and the PAX movies.

"The Spirit Lives On" 

By Lynda Clifford

Grace had always loved the outdoors.  Her father said it wasn’t natural for a girl to like playing in the dirt, digging up worms, climbing trees.  Her mother would say “hush, George.  Grace is her own person, leave her be.”  She kept up with her older brothers by doing everything they did.  As a young adult she even followed them into the military.  Her father and brothers had all been Navy men but for Grace is was the Marine Corps that stole her heart.  The idea of a military career thrilled her.  The Corps was her life.

It wasn’t until she was about to renew her time that she had second thoughts.  Her mother was diagnosed with cancer and even though she was taking to her treatment well, Grace couldn’t escape her mother’s mortality.  Suddenly she wanted to be closer to home.  At 34 Grace bought a condo just a few miles from her mother in Pennsylvania and took a “job” as a Marine Corps Recruiter.  She even enrolled in some classes at the county college.  Her mother always had wanted her to go to college and Grace thought it would be a good way to make some friends.  She didn’t concentrate too much on her studies that spring and her grades showed it.  Only one class held her attention, “Outdoor Adventures”.  The course covered scuba diving, hiking, camping, and rafting.  Her mother would just smile as Grace would light up over the smallest details she had learned.

That summer she decided to hike the Appalachian Trail.  She decided to start about 200 miles north of the Smokey Mountains National Park.  She and her mother would meet up there two weeks later, spend a few days, and return to Pennsylvania for another course of chemotherapy.

During her hike Grace met some very interesting people.  Hikers from all over the country could be found along the trail.  She quickly learned from them not to stray too far from the marked path, locals didn’t take kindly to Yankee trespassers.  To Grace it seemed like she had traveled back in time nearly 120 years.  She cautiously greeted each person on the trail with a smile and a hello.

Finally she reached her mother in Erwin Tennessee.  The reunion was bitter sweet.  Granny Wilson had passed away at the age of 97.  Granny had had 13 children and had seen all but 4 pass away in her life time.  Two in infancy during the depression, one to war, two to car accidents and four to disease.  Granny’s life had been hard but she always wore a bright smile.  “If’n the Lord was to call me home tuday” she’d say…. “My last daze here won’t be a frownen, dis world is too beautiful to leave so bittah.”  Grace’s mother Kitty had been her youngest.  Kitty had seen what life had done to her mother.

By today’s standards, Granny Wilson had only achieved a fourth grade education.  She took great pride in her work and after years of factory labor had gotten a job in the personnel office of the factory before retiring in her early 70’s.  “Idle hands are the devil’s work.” She’d tell Grace while stitching a quilt piece or knitting a baby sweater.  Granny never seemed to stop or rest.  “I’ll sleep enough when my time has come.” She would announce while picking wild plants for teas and “medicines”.  Grace’s time with her Granny had been more important on her hikes than even Grace had realized.  Grace could identify which plants were safe to eat or use to cook with.  News of Granny’s passing came as quite a shock to her.

Grace drove her mother’s car while Kitty directed her over the mountains into North Carolina.  Granny would be buried next to her husband and parents in the mountains of her youth.  Her Aunt and two Uncles were there to greet them.  All the arrangements had been made and services would be the next day.  Seeing Kitty with her brothers and sister made Grace realize just how important family was and when her own brothers finally arrived with their families Grace relaxed.  “Family is important.” She could hear Granny Wilson say.

That evening everyone met at the local restaurant.  The years seemed to melt away for Kitty and her siblings.  Grace’s nieces and nephews loved hearing how “Granny Kitty” was really named after a cat and how “GeeGee” Wilson said name sounded as good as any she could think of.  Soon it was time for everyone to go there separate ways until services.  The hugs and kisses seemed to last all night.

As Grace drove her mother to the church, Kitty smiled.  They remembered, she thought.  Grace was surprised buy the crowd of people gathered outside to pay their respects.  Granny hadn’t lived here in over 50 years yet it seemed everyone in the county had come.  Grace and her mother had taken their seats up front just as the minister was about to begin the services.

Uncle Jack, Kitty’s oldest living brother, spoke first.  He spoke about his mother’s love.  The love she had for her family, nature and God.  He shared his childhood memories from a son’s perspective.  Grace thought he did a fine job.  Then Grace’s oldest brother spoke.  He too shared stories of his Granny as only a grandson could do.  He spoke about his Granny’s “idol” hands and powerful pride. 

Finally a local man rose to speak.  He didn’t share stories or memories, rather he read letters.  Granny Wilson had known his mother, they had been friends as children and had remained in contact with her and later her son since leaving the mountains.  The first letter wrote of school girl ideals.  Which boy liked which girl and why parents weren’t as smart as they were and how the teacher and the doctor were finally getting hitched.  Granny must have been about 10 when it was written. 

The next letter was from a young mother, full of fear and strength and then next from a woman who had just lost a child to war.  Grace was meeting her Granny for the first time.  Each letter was full of life and everything it held.  Each letter was better then the one before.  Soon came the last letter.

Dear Larry,

Oh wonderful news!  My dear Grace has come home and started college!  Kitty says she’s doing fine but I know she’s never been a “learnen” child but more of a discoveren child.  I’m a hope’n she sticks with it.  I is so glad my youngns got more schooln than me.  Born learners all of them were.  I still remember the first time I saw teacher.  She was a site in her pointy shoes.  Book smart as she was she still had a lot to learn about the mountains and folk.  Guessn weez all gots some things that need learnen and some things we just knowd. 

As Grace listened to her Granny’s words she realized how different her life had been from her Granny’s.  Granny had never traveled more than 100 miles from the shack she had been born in.  All education was important to her and her love and outlook was so positive thru all of her adversities Grace sat stunned and renewed.  At that moment Grace promised herself, her Granny and God that she would get her education and share her knowledge with others.  She would reconsider her personal ideals of marriage and career.  It was than she heard her Granny’s final words.

Soon I’ll be withn your own momma at the Lord’s table.  Rejoining my dear Paul, our babes and so many of our friends.  Rejoice in each day and may God be with you always.

Mountie Wilson.

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