Grannie's Apron

    

     There was a recent post on Face Book about "Aprons" that jogged a memory from long ago. There was a time when most women were mothers and housewives, there was a time when all women owned one or more aprons that they wore while doing housework and cooking, feeding the chickens, shelling beans or working in the yard.

     Aprons came in different sizes and colors, some were short and had a clothe belt that tied around the waist, others had a bibb with a clothe strap that went around the neck and a belt that tied around the waist. Some were augmented with lace and ruffled collars and sleeves; they were made from rough textured feed /seed sacks that previously held food for the livestock or flour and corn meal for cooking. They were plain and unadorned with patterns, or they were brightly colored with designs of flowers. Whatever their appearance they had one main function and that was to protect the wearer and her clothing from stains and burns.

      Aprons had many uses besides protecting clothing, wrap a portion around the hot handle of a pot or skillet and it protected you from burning your fingers, a little dust on a table could easily be wiped away with a handful of apron or spilled milk or coffee could be quickly sponged up. Most aprons also had pockets in the bibb or the skirt portion, small pockets or large, one or two pockets or more and they held all manner of utensils used in the day-to-day routines.

     My mother and both grandmothers had several aprons either being worn, hanging on a hook in the kitchen or drying on the clothesline after being washed. They used them every day and when one did finally wear out, they would quickly make another. There was one thing that I remember most about their aprons that was common with all mothers, grandmothers and aunts. Their pockets contained a feminine handkerchief, usually plain but sometimes dainty, or a wash clothe.

     These handkerchiefs had several uses, they could wipe the runny nose of a young child, be held tight against your nose as you were told to blow your nose, wipe sweat from a brow or food from mouths. They could wrap cut fingers until a band aid could be applied and wipe the dirty faces of young boys. After each use it was returned to the pocket for future use. Many was the time that I had my face wiped with grannie's handkerchief whether there was any dirt or not was questionable but according to grannies, little boy's faces were always dirty. The process of cleaning a dirty face was kind of unique, if there was water around granny would moisten the kerchief and rub the dirt vigorously until removed but if you were outside she would spit into the handkerchief and then rub the dirt away. 

     Many was the time I blew my runny nose into granny's handkerchief or had my face cleaned with a spit laden handkerchief. Were there germs? Probably so but I doubt any germ would be brave enough to make a grandchild sick  but I survived as did most kids from that generation.

     Memories come from many places, and I constantly look for them even though they seem insignificant, they are all important but this one is a little special.