WHY MAMA!
Uncle, (let’s call him) Billy, lived most of his adult life in the state of Florida. During his youth, there was no such thing as extended travel for most folks. About the most that anyone could hope for was an occasional trip to the county seat; therefore, Uncle Billy had never seen the mountains of western North Carolina.
He was in his early 80′s when he came for a visit with two sisters who lived next door to our home. My brother and I decided that we would drive him, our Daddy, and another uncle, Thomas, (not his real name), to the mountains for a day.
No one seemed to mind that the car was somewhat crowded with the five of us inside. The anticipation of the trip was such that it foreshadowed our discomfort. During the first leg of the trip everyone was content with small-talk and generalization on anything from politics to the weather.
It was not until we reached the foot-hills that the conversation changed to a certain degree. As we made our way up the twisting mountain roads, an air of expectation was apparent. Uncle Billy was seated in the front seat with Uncle Thomas in back. When the road became steeper and the curves more pronounced; Uncle Billy could be heard to mutter, “My, My!” At about the same time, Uncle Thomas would emit a loud “S-U-S-S-I-S-T!”
The thrill of winding around the sharp turns seemed to increase with each mile and the sounds of “My, My” and “S-u-s-s-i-s-t,” became more frequent. Just before reaching the pinnacle, all that could be heard from the crowded car was, “MY, MY” and “S-U-S-S-I-S-T” respectively.
Finally climbing the steep winding roads and into the parking area at Mount Mitchel, North Carolina, everyone settled down and enjoyed the beauty of the hill country. Descending the mountain on the same winding road, brought about more “My, My’s and S-u-s-s-i-t’s.” For many months afterward, this trip was a source of many conversations between Uncle Billy and Uncle Thomas.
Daddy, on the other hand, was more or less acclimated to the rolling hills of western North Carolina because here was where he spent much of his leisure time.
Uncle Billy talked about this trip many times before his death. Along with this story, he would relate one of his favorites about a woman and her daughter boarding a train at a small depot in western Florida.
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According to Uncle Billy; “The woman was suffering from stomach pains as she attempted to step into the train. Her daughter was right behind her when the woman suddenly passed some gas. Embarrassed, the daughter said in a loud voice, ‘WHY MAMA!’ The remark caused such a stir among the local inhabitants that the town was eventually named Why Mama, Florida.”
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Neither me nor my brother ever knew if this was a true story. We, however, had been trained from early childhood to never doubt the veracity of our elders; therefore, we believed our Uncle Billy. After all, hadn’t he spent most of his adulthood in the great state of Florida? It would be almost akin to blasphemy to question him.
Even though Uncle Billy was well into his late 80′s, during subsequent visits, he still retained that wonderful sense of humor.
Today, when my brother and I are together; and any unusual event occurs, the response from one will surely be to say, “My, My,” and the other will answer with, “S-u-s-s-i-s-t.”
As you can readily see, a lot of Uncle Billy has rubbed off on us.
Demijon
Think about it: Very few people really know ‘how to be old.’ Dj.
