I can’t tell you why I suddenly thought of Emmy Lou. Her image just came to me and it seemed important to remember her. I could picture her petite frame, her coal black curly hair, her laugh, but sadly I could not recall her face. I wanted to, if only to pay respect to this lady who had brought so much joy to my family so many years ago.
Her name was Emmy Lou and she was Momma’s girlfriend. Momma didn’t have many girlfriends so Emmy Lou was special.
I like to think of the evenings I was allowed to spend with Emmy Lou. Her house was as petite as she was and her decorating as eclectic as her personality. I remembered she liked to collect things, nothing of particular value, just things that seemed to have caught her fancy. It was as if she couldn’t resist bringing home the misfit, chipped or broken things. Maybe that was how she thought of Momma and us, taking us in and giving us a place in her life, a place of value.
I loved her tea cup collection, it was my favorite. Not one cup or saucer matched, but that didn’t seem to matter to Emmy Lou who displayed them as if they were priceless pieces of art. On those nights when I was allowed to touch them, I could imagine myself sipping tea in a big fancy house, little finger cocked all prim and proper.
Emmy Lou also owned an enormous amount of costume jewelry and fancy dresses and many pairs of high heeled shoes. She indulged me by letting me try on any piece of jewelry. I would load up with bracelets and necklaces and make believe I was in a splendid palace about to make a grand entrance.
The most special memories of Emmy Lou were the times she would come for dinner. Momma and Emmy Lou would be in the kitchen cooking up a storm. We would be all excited because there was lots of laughter coming from the kitchen. Since Momma didn’t laugh often, it made us happy. They were southern women so the food reflected their heritage; fried chicken , green beans, ham, biscuits and gravy. It was a feast to our eyes and a delight to our tummies. .
There would be laughter and chatter, something that seldom occurred at our dinner table when Papa was home. Emmy Lou would share with us the funniest of stories and Momma would lean back in her chair, toss her head back, and belly laugh. I loved those moments; Momma looked so young and there would be that rare moment when I felt as if I caught a glimpse into what she must have looked like as a young girl. Only Emmy Lou could make her laugh so heartily.
When supper was over we would help clear the table and dry the dishes without any complaints because we knew the best was yet to come.
Momma would take out a record and when she placed the needle down on the well worn vinyl Emmy Lou would magically appear in her red dancing shoes. She would waltz, do the two step, the Charleston, and other dances we had no name for. We would clap our hands and yell for more and Emmy Lou was always willing to accommodate our demands. She would pull us from our seats one by one and dance with us. We, of course knew nothing of the steps but it didn’t matter, we were delighted to imitate Emmy Lou. She had such a gift for making you feel so special that you were never embarrassed to make a fool of yourself.
We hated when the evening ended. Emmy Lou would hug and kiss us good-bye, promising to return soon. Once the door closed behind her such an emptiness came upon us. It was as if a bright light had gone dim, and indeed it had. A pall fell over the house and we would slowly climb the stairs, glancing over our shoulder at a dining room that only minutes before had seemed so alive, but now was dark with only Emmy Lou’s Evening in Paris perfume lingering in the air.
I saw others whisper to Momma about Emmy Lou. I never knew what was said, just the fact that it had to be whispered told me it was probably not kind. Momma never commented, she just stared straight ahead. I admired that about Momma, she was a good and loyal friend.
Now as an adult I know that Emmy Lou had indeed led a colorful life. I learned that Emmy Lou frequented the local taverns, where it was said she partook in alcohol and danced into the wee hours of the morning, and that she had many men friends. All very scandalous in a small town where everyone knew everyone’s business and judging others behavior seemed to be an occupation.
Suddenly it came to me, not the face, that would probably never reappear. It came to me why I so wanted to remember Emmy Lou. It was because this woman of scandalous behavior brought so much joy into the lives of a family that was desperate for laughter, love and gaiety. It came at no cost; nothing was required of us, we weren’t judged, we were just loved by a woman we deemed to be an angel in red shoes, who danced into our very dark lives and made us happy.
Momma was a good Christian woman and I know she would have seen Emmy Lou as one of God’s children. She would have shared the Gospel with Emmy Lou. She would have prayed for her everyday. Momma believed in planting the seed and letting God do the rest.
I remember as children we always included her in our prayers. We would thank God for sending us an angel by the name of Emmy Lou. And then we would ask Him to please send her back soon. And He always did.
In thinking of her now, I am still touched by her kindness to Momma and us. I will always believe because of that kindness and unconditional love for us she was an unfinished project of God’s; one he was working on through Momma, and we know “with God all things are possible.”
It is said that when you get to heaven God will ask “ Did you bring anyone with you?” I know Momma will be able to say, “Emmy Lou and her red dancing shoes.”
“ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in it various forms.” 1 Peter 4:8-10
Her name was Emmy Lou and she was Momma’s girlfriend. Momma didn’t have many girlfriends so Emmy Lou was special.
I like to think of the evenings I was allowed to spend with Emmy Lou. Her house was as petite as she was and her decorating as eclectic as her personality. I remembered she liked to collect things, nothing of particular value, just things that seemed to have caught her fancy. It was as if she couldn’t resist bringing home the misfit, chipped or broken things. Maybe that was how she thought of Momma and us, taking us in and giving us a place in her life, a place of value.
I loved her tea cup collection, it was my favorite. Not one cup or saucer matched, but that didn’t seem to matter to Emmy Lou who displayed them as if they were priceless pieces of art. On those nights when I was allowed to touch them, I could imagine myself sipping tea in a big fancy house, little finger cocked all prim and proper.
Emmy Lou also owned an enormous amount of costume jewelry and fancy dresses and many pairs of high heeled shoes. She indulged me by letting me try on any piece of jewelry. I would load up with bracelets and necklaces and make believe I was in a splendid palace about to make a grand entrance.
The most special memories of Emmy Lou were the times she would come for dinner. Momma and Emmy Lou would be in the kitchen cooking up a storm. We would be all excited because there was lots of laughter coming from the kitchen. Since Momma didn’t laugh often, it made us happy. They were southern women so the food reflected their heritage; fried chicken , green beans, ham, biscuits and gravy. It was a feast to our eyes and a delight to our tummies. .
There would be laughter and chatter, something that seldom occurred at our dinner table when Papa was home. Emmy Lou would share with us the funniest of stories and Momma would lean back in her chair, toss her head back, and belly laugh. I loved those moments; Momma looked so young and there would be that rare moment when I felt as if I caught a glimpse into what she must have looked like as a young girl. Only Emmy Lou could make her laugh so heartily.
When supper was over we would help clear the table and dry the dishes without any complaints because we knew the best was yet to come.
Momma would take out a record and when she placed the needle down on the well worn vinyl Emmy Lou would magically appear in her red dancing shoes. She would waltz, do the two step, the Charleston, and other dances we had no name for. We would clap our hands and yell for more and Emmy Lou was always willing to accommodate our demands. She would pull us from our seats one by one and dance with us. We, of course knew nothing of the steps but it didn’t matter, we were delighted to imitate Emmy Lou. She had such a gift for making you feel so special that you were never embarrassed to make a fool of yourself.
We hated when the evening ended. Emmy Lou would hug and kiss us good-bye, promising to return soon. Once the door closed behind her such an emptiness came upon us. It was as if a bright light had gone dim, and indeed it had. A pall fell over the house and we would slowly climb the stairs, glancing over our shoulder at a dining room that only minutes before had seemed so alive, but now was dark with only Emmy Lou’s Evening in Paris perfume lingering in the air.
I saw others whisper to Momma about Emmy Lou. I never knew what was said, just the fact that it had to be whispered told me it was probably not kind. Momma never commented, she just stared straight ahead. I admired that about Momma, she was a good and loyal friend.
Now as an adult I know that Emmy Lou had indeed led a colorful life. I learned that Emmy Lou frequented the local taverns, where it was said she partook in alcohol and danced into the wee hours of the morning, and that she had many men friends. All very scandalous in a small town where everyone knew everyone’s business and judging others behavior seemed to be an occupation.
Suddenly it came to me, not the face, that would probably never reappear. It came to me why I so wanted to remember Emmy Lou. It was because this woman of scandalous behavior brought so much joy into the lives of a family that was desperate for laughter, love and gaiety. It came at no cost; nothing was required of us, we weren’t judged, we were just loved by a woman we deemed to be an angel in red shoes, who danced into our very dark lives and made us happy.
Momma was a good Christian woman and I know she would have seen Emmy Lou as one of God’s children. She would have shared the Gospel with Emmy Lou. She would have prayed for her everyday. Momma believed in planting the seed and letting God do the rest.
I remember as children we always included her in our prayers. We would thank God for sending us an angel by the name of Emmy Lou. And then we would ask Him to please send her back soon. And He always did.
In thinking of her now, I am still touched by her kindness to Momma and us. I will always believe because of that kindness and unconditional love for us she was an unfinished project of God’s; one he was working on through Momma, and we know “with God all things are possible.”
It is said that when you get to heaven God will ask “ Did you bring anyone with you?” I know Momma will be able to say, “Emmy Lou and her red dancing shoes.”
“ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in it various forms.” 1 Peter 4:8-10
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