By Frances Bryce, August 29, 2020 — The tree that we did not plant but the roots have been established long before we had a branch on it. I remember my great grandmother who lived in the south, far from where we lived — my mother, father, and seven of us. Five boys and two girls. I remembered my grandfather [as] not being like the ones I dreamed about or the ones I wish had been mine. He was what I called “stingy.” He owned land on which he grew vegetables and animals (pigs & hogs) for food. There was a smokehouse where the hogs were stored and preserved after slaughter. I remember my step-grandmother having to give my mother, his daughter, meat from the smokehouse, unable to let him (my grandfather) know. Not the most prized portion (ham) but shoulder from the smokehouse. I couldn’t understand a parent not sharing with their child. A family tree contains roots that sometimes do not produce the fruit we wish.
