A Senior Recalls Her Love Life: Interview with Anonymous Mary

This is a dear interview to me, the woman I'm talking to is a close friend of my grandmothers, and has always enjoyed talking about the old days. Women are able to have these intimate talks, despite the age differences. I won't forget any of the talks I had with her. She has had a stroke and can't do much, but her mind it perfectly sharp. She says she forgets her age, but we know she is joking. She was 88 at the time of the interview. This took place in the nursing home....I took video of her also, she has since passed away.

me: "Hello Mary"

Mary: "Hello honey"

me: "You mind if I ask you the questions we talked about?"

Mary: "No honey....... go ahead"

me: "How old are you Mary?"

Mary: "88"

me: "You were girlhood friends with my granny, what was that like?"

Mary: "We went to school together in Capron; use to go to dances together....... on double dates. The boys chased your grandmother..... and I chased after the boys"

*laughter*

me: "Did ya catch any of them"

Mary: "I caught one....... married him too"

me: "How old were you when you met him"

Mary: " Oh my... we were in church together when we were young, I was 8 or 9, he use to pull my hair in class"

me: "Were you a virgin when you got married"

Mary: "Oh my yes honey, I didn't know anything when I got married"

me: "What was your honeymoon night like, do you remember?"

Mary: "Yes a bit... Edwin was plowing in the field up until close to the wedding... he always worked hard, even as a boy. We spent the night in a hotel in town, that was the best we could do at the time. We had a new quilt with us my momma had made; I still have it somewhere..... Edwin was so handsome all dressed up.....oh he wasn't really all that handsome, but I liked him alright"

me: "And you only had one lover your whole life?"

Mary: "Oh yes honey...Edwin may have had another one, but I never did"

me: "Did you ever take a bath together?"

Mary: "Oh heavens no... he never saw me naked"

(**OK this is where I almost choked on my own tongue!**)

me: "He never saw you naked?"

Mary: "Lord no... I always got dressed in private"

Me: " Well what about during ... well you know!?"

Mary: "I Had my nightgown on "

me: "Mary... how long was you married?!"

Mary: "72 years"