Eula Lee... Kitchen Talk

We used to get so irritated
preparing to go to Evanston...
A neighborhood about 25 miles
away from where we lived.
But we knew there would be some
chocolate chip cookies there,
soft batch, in the cookie jar on the counter,
near the sink... so we would get ready!
It was always a Saturday,
when my mom would pack my
younger sister and I up
in the maroon Oldsmobile sedan
and we rode in the velvety back seat,
feeling as though we were going
on a real road trip out of town.
Watching the clouds float by the windows,
as we gazed into the sky...
the only view we had at that age of 8 and 9...
we often fell asleep on the journey.
Dreaming about the cakes we would make,
from scratch,
if we decided to spend the night!
And what about the soft scrambled eggs
that were always so fluffy,
(push push then flip when you can)...
I remember those instructions well!
The smell of crispy bacon
sizzling in the cast iron skillet,
was like an appetizer to the tasty breakfast
we were going to devour!
We knew we were there though,
when we felt the elevation
UP the steep hill
of Evanston Avenue!
Our eyes opened wide... we're here!
Then mom would turn up into the narrow hill
of a driveway, and press the gas slowly,
so as not to scrape the bottom back side of the car...
about five quick fast pedal to the floor pushes,
and we were at Granma's!
These have to be two of the infamous
seven hills in Cincinnati.
No one used her front door though,
unless you were a stranger.
Then you would climb the five concrete steps
to ring the door bell that, didn't work for a while,
but Granma didn't care because,
like I said, no one who KNEW her
used the front door!
My sister and I would hurry
and take off our seat belts
and race down the side of the house
in the plateau of the driveway...
lined with flowers of every color,
on one side and vegetables
ranging from peppers, to peas
and tomatoes on the other.
There were little baby lizards
in the garden as well,
but you had to be really paying attention
to see them...
My sister and I discovered them
one summer while playing with the water hose
attached to the pipe near a rose bush...
Almost to the back, I'm in the lead
and we turn the corner,
up the 6 concrete steps
to the brown metal screen door with the plexiglass screen
for the winter and the drop down effect
with the normal screen for the summer
days when the air could be off,
and the door opened
The brown wooden door painted
white with oak wood trim
is shut tight, but not for long...
I won so I get to open the door...
would she be reading the paper and sipping green tea,
or cleaning greens to make some wholesome eats!
Sitting in front of the bahamian calendar on the wall,
near the pantry door...
I twist the knob and bump the door with my hip
as hard as I could and bam, Hi Grandma!
This redbone silver hair cherokee blood angel,
stood 5'6, bow legged as a wish-bone,
eyez lit up like a fireworks when she saw us!
Heavy in the middle from baring three big boys,
We run into the kitchen where Grandma is standing
over the stove preparing some green beans and
steamed white rice. In the oven
she has some porkshops that she is cooking
in the bottom broiler of her gas stove
She smiles and says,
(well look who the cat drug in)...
then she puts her fork in the tray
sittin in the middle of the stove
and grabs the towel on the counter,
wipes her hands clean and reaches out
to embrace me and mi sister at the same time.
Oh what I would give to go back
and embrace my Grandma right now...
In that sacred place where so many memories were made...
But that place is no longer hers,
no longer ours
no more access granted through the back door
Nope someone else owns that place now
See it was sold
When she went to live at
Taylor's Pointe
A home for the elderly and disabled
Though closer to the addresses of
most family members
NOT 34280 Evanston Avenue
Grandma was in a room, shared with another
Moved in late summer of 2017
I, know she didn't want to go
but the nurse aides assigned to her at home,
Were not sufficient enough, I guess
To take care of her while she lived alone
Why couldn't we find someone to live in
Or why couldn't she go live with my sister?
She offered
Plans were made to make it happen
Then,
We were told she had been checked in
House paid for
Yeah it needed some work
But, all the money paid out to the Taylor's Pointe
Couldn't we have had the renovations done?
Nonetheless, here we are
Going to visit now
in a building
In a non private room
where my Grandma would never leave
I know she hated it,
Wanted to go back to 3480
I would, she had a whole house
with a kitchen filled with our memories
Two and half years,
She stayed there
Mainly confined to a chair
Had to be assisted out of the bed each morning
Others combed and brushed her hair
Which continued to get shorter and shorter
As her days there got longer
and she began to suffer
From accidental falls
and loss of the desire to live
I hid from her the fall of 2018
See I was pregnant, again
(number 6)
But she knew anyway
My Grandma was spiritually in tune
With the Most High God
So even when I showed up with lil Ryia
She scolded me and said
(Don't never do that again)!
I won't Granma,
I won't stay away
I love you, I jes didn't, you know
You know me...
And I embraced her, she embraced the baby and
That year followed 2019
My children and I were there almost twice a week
Chillin for hours
Loving and spending time
with Eula Lee
We had an impromptu dinner
on Christmas that year
Not everyone showed up, that should have
But the love amongst those of us there
was real!
Made her favorite dishes,
mac and cheese, green bean casserole
Pulled turkey, hers chopped up
so she could swallow
Candied yams and a bit of ham
just for her...
See now me and mine don't eat pork,
she told us we were silly...
mashed potatoes
and some cranberry sauce
baked rolls and of course gravy
The meal of Royals
We took her outside
it was unseasonably warm that day
75 degrees on Christmas in Cincinnati
Took lots of pictures
Memories of our last holiday
Nu year starts and its time to
plan her 100th Birthday
I contact mi Uncle to see if he's interested
and he accepts with glee!
Didn't know this would be
the biggest event since her move
Didn't know so many would show up
To celebrate mi Grandma Eula
February 15th came
and the nursing home cafeteria
was turned into a Gala
Decorations from Party City
and a cake designed...
to die for
from Walmart
A picture of her face at 18
side by side from one when she was like 70
Folks from all eras of her lyfe
came to celebrate her
See she was a special ed teacher,
and an important figure in the AME
Let alone her genuine character
and her love for most everyone.
She was so beautiful
on her Century born day
My Grandma, wore a tiara
with 100 on it
and she was dressed in royal purple
decorated with flowers.
That jes made her glow!
Exhausted from the festivities,
She retired to her room and took rest.
I returned the next day
To share pictures and to chat
Didn't know that the next 30 days
was all we had left.
See Covid invaded Amerikkka in
January 2020
So the country shut down like
March 13th
Couldn't see my Grandma after that kuz
nursing homes restricted visitors
So I went to see her the night before
they shut down
and stayed as long as I could
before I had to leave
I wanted to take her with me
But I didn't have authority
I knew I would never see her again
I knew she felt the same way
I took her some Chic Fil-A and some
matcha green tea with almond milk
from Starbucks
She devoured the chicken and
drank the hot tea with a straw (I like it hot)
As we watched the news and listened
to how bad it was getting in the world
Masks were not yet assigned
But the broadcasters promised
things would get worse
'Years before there'll be a vaccine' (huh)
This is why we have to quarantine
This would be so much easier to handle
if Grandma was still at 34-80
Evanston Avenue
on two of the seven hills of Cincinnati
See, she got sick with Pneumonia a week later
had surgery
had to be incubated
Came out of her coma
breathed on her own
At the hospital
for a couple more days
I called her and saw her face on mi phone
She smiled
But I saw it in her eyes
Though she had come out untouched by COVID
She saw Grandpa when she was sleeping, I'm sure
and it wouldn't be long before she returned to him
Returned to Taylors Pointe, private room now
because of her vulnerability in the pandemic
We sent telegrams by email,
the workers printed them out
to show her
pictures of what we was doing
Continued to facetime for a couple weeks
Then Sunday morning, April 26
jes clocked in at work
about 4:50
I got a call from my peeps
Grandma had passed away quietly
in her sleep.
And as I said,
This would be so much easier to handle
if she didn't have to be left alone
All by herself in that home
And instead been in her own...
3480 Evanston Avenue,
on two of the seven hills in Cincinnati...
In the kitchen
with our memories
Kitchen Talk...
(thatz it)
(I know I'm messed up a bit.)
Written by Amber Nicolle