A Look Back
By Bertha Lazenby Whetstone
I Remember Mama's Bonnet When I recall memories of my childhood, Mama's bonnet is one of the first to come to mind. I don't remember when Mama's bonnet was new, it was worn and frayed the first time I remember seeing it. The bonnet was made from coarse gray material. It was full in the back with a piece of material gathered at the nape that covered her neck, and a wide brim bordered with a narrow ruffle. I like to think that, in its time, it was a grand bonnet. Mama hung it on a peg on the back of the kitchen door, handy to reach it when she went outside. She would take the bonnet from the peg, shake it out, put it on her head, tie the ribbon as gentle as if it was expensive Sunday bonnet.
Mama's bonnet was a symbol of hard times, for there wasn't any money to buy material for another. I like to think of the bonnet as a symbol of hard work, love, and devotion, as she gave unselfishly of her time and energy for her family. I don't know what happened to the old
bonnet, whether it was so worn and tattered that mama discarded it for a new one, or if it was left hanging on the kitchen door for someone to throw away. I have often thought about the bonnet and wished I had it to place in a frame to keep forever, for it was as much apart of mama as her long dresses and aprons.
I can see her now bent over the washtub, scrubbing clothes on the scrub board, her bonnet protecting her head and face from the hot sun or cold wind. I have seen the bonnet used for many things other than protecting her from the elements. A trip to the henhouse would yield a bonnet full of fresh eggs. Nuts of all kinds would fill the old bonnet as we walked through the woods. Once while picking blackberries, I got into a wasp nest. As I was screaming and crying from the stings Mama came running. Pulling off her bonnet, she swatted the wasps until they were gone. Then we walked to the spring, she dipped her bonnet in the cool water and gently touched each wasp sting until they didn't hurt so much. The bonnet was always handy to pull off and swat one of her offspring that didn't want to mind. As she milked, she would use her bonnet to swat a horsefly that was bothering the cow. Free Subscriptions @ w w w. riverregionbo o m . co m The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
May 2022
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