Stop and Sip The Roses

by CHRISTINE JOHNSON

photo by HATTIE FOOTE

The month of May is upon us, and there are endless things to celebrate: mothers, our military, the beginning of summer, and the end of another school year. And judging by the amount of rain we have had on the island, April showers will certainly bring May flowers!

May is providing me with a vast amount of reflection this year. As a mother myself, I understand the hard work, love, and dedication it takes to be a good mom. But my looking back stems from older and wiser people in my life. I have an incredible mom who overcame many obstacles to raise me, guide me, and provide the most loving home. A grandmother whom I am named after and whose house I spent endless hours of my childhood with the happiest of memories, love, and laughter. She passed away at the age of 100, and I miss our conversations and the gift of her handwritten letters. I recently lost another grandmother. She was just two months shy of 103 years old. Attending her funeral, I was able to hear stories from others who knew her and completed the picture of the strong woman she was in an era where women were almost solely obligated to be wives and mothers.

She was both of those things. After losing her devoted husband, she raised her only son alone. She worked at the same job for 70 years, managing a business worthy of respect. Not only did she excel at work, but she also dealt with sensitive issues like racism and division with Southern grace and strength.

What a life she lived — the things she witnessed, the decades she lived through, and the incredible son she raised. I cannot remember a time when she wasn’t perfectly dressed, with salon hair and her sweet Southern voice, followed by a warm hug.

My ultimate reflection is how lucky my family is to have had her in our lives for so long. How special it is for the great grandchildren to spend their entire lives with her. It is rare, in fact, for them to have had both of their grandmothers for a lifetime.

I am going to have to steal a line from another grandmother who I respect and work with. “The Grandmother I Always Wanted” seems like a fitting commentary for the mothers and grandmothers who are a sacred part of our lives and a dedication to all of them who have graced us with their love and wisdom. While it is never easy to lose someone you have spent decades with, that time is a true love letter in the framework of our lives.

As we gather for Mother’s Day, save room for the perfect cocktail to complement the great food and loving family at your table. Cheers to all the people we call mothers and grandmothers.

HIBISCUS ROSE SPRITZ

INGREDIENTS

1.5 ounces rose gin

0.5 ounces lime juice

0.5 ounces honey

Hibiscus sparkling water

Ice

Wine glass

MIXOLOGY

Pour ice in the wine glass

Add rose gin

Add lime juice

Add honey

Top off with Hibiscus sparkling water to fill the glass

Decorate with an orange slice and a small flower