Auntie Mae’s Various Ramblings on Life in a Small Town

Ida Mae Nowes

Nubbins Special Correspondent 

I never make New Year’s resolutions, since I don’t like to admit failure. Nevertheless, I’m determined to make a healthy start to the new year. 

I try not to overdo during the holidays, but there was an awful lot of homemade pie around … as well as my friend Pearl’s peppermint bark. My goodness, I have a weakness for that stuff.

Which is why I headed out on a brisk winter afternoon to meet Pearl and my other friends who make up the “Walky-Talkies.” I needed to get in a good walk around town to jiggle off a few pounds, as well as catch up with the others’ stories from the last few weeks.

When I got to the courthouse, Pearl was already there, looking healthy since her bout with cancer two years ago, which pleased me. Roberta was with her. I looked forward to hearing about her visit with her friend Brian’s family. I secretly hoped for a marriage announcement, but I wasn’t holding my breath. Roberta says she’s over marriage since her first husband treated her so badly. Myrtle and Grace arrived together, bundled up and ready to walk. The only person missing was Pepper.

Last month I ran into Pepper at the Fantasy of Trees event in Taylorsville, and she seemed out of sorts. I’ve been wanting to get together with her to find out what’s going on and to ask her about something I witnessed back in November: her embrace with someone clearly not her husband in a car in her driveway. But the last month has flown by, and I haven’t had the chance.

Though the air was cool, it was as crisp as the brown leaves under our feet, and the sky was a piercing azure blue. Myrtle told us how she met up with her three children and their families at her daughter’s house in Asheville. She was worried they might hound her about moving into a senior living facility, which she has no intention of doing, so she took Grace along as backup. Grace doesn’t have much family, so she was happy to oblige, and fortunately the subject never came up.

Roberta said she enjoyed being with Brian’s family in Virginia and didn’t mention anything about a proposal. Oh, well. Pearl always has a Norman Rockwell-type holiday with the whole family getting along and the turkey never too dry, and this year was no exception. I’m always a teensy bit jealous when I hear about it, but I decided she deserves it for heaven’s sake, with all she’s been through.

I told them about Merl and me visiting both sets of families but also having some time to ourselves, which was sweet. I told them I’m worried about my mother-in-law, Floreen, who is 91. We’ve been with her to the doctor’s office several times recently, though no one is quite sure what’s the matter. Floreen doesn’t seem too concerned about it, calling it “a simple case of old age,” but it’s hard not to worry.

“What about Pepper?” asked Pearl finally. “Has anyone seen her?” There was an uncomfortable silence, which I finally broke by telling them about my experience running into her in Taylorsville. I didn’t mention the driveway incident. I didn’t want to accidentally start any rumors. But Roberta reassured me that I was not the only one with these types of concerns by shaking her head and saying, “I’ve had a few conversations with her lately, and she’s definitely got some things she’s dealing with.” She shook her head some more. “It’s that age-old issue that haunts everybody at one time or another….”

As she was saying this, I nodded my head in agreement, knowing exactly what word was going to come out of her mouth next, so I joined in saying, “Sex!” Except Roberta didn’t say “sex.” She said “money.” Everyone looked at me, and I said, “I … um … I meant to say ‘money.’”

Roberta gave me the eye, but moved on, telling us how Pepper was having to work extra hours because her husband’s job had been downsized due to the economy.

“Why didn’t she tell us?” demanded Pearl. “We would have helped her out.”

“I don’t know,” said Roberta. “Shame maybe? But of course that’s crazy.”

“We should do something for her!” said Myrtle. “I know! How about a ‘girl’s weekend’ away? We could all chip in and she could be our guest.”

“Great idea!” we all said, and started making plans.

Later on, after everyone had left for home except Roberta, she stopped me in my tracks and asked, “Okay, Ida Mae, why did you say ‘sex’ instead of ‘money’ back there? You know something you’re not telling. Spill it.” I can never keep anything from Roberta, so I told her sheepishly about seeing Pepper in her driveway hugging a strange man.

Roberta pondered this a minute then said, “When was this?”

“Way back in early November, I think.”

“I’m pretty sure that was when her brother Martin was in town to help her out. That must have been him.”

“Oh,” was all I could say, relieved and a bit ashamed of myself. 

Oh, the misery we heap upon ourselves with the stories we make up in our heads. I firmly resolve never to do that again!