I had something growing up that most people don’t have: a Mamaw Girdle.

Actually, her name was Myrtle and she was my great-grandmother. I don’t know why I called her Girdle. The only thing I can think of is that it rhymed with Myrtle. My family didn’t correct me and other people began calling her Girdle as well. So I really believed that was her name.

While I was growing up, my family generally went 4 places: church, the grocery store, Mynatt’s funeral home and Sears. One fateful day we were in the unmentionables section of Sears where my mamaw Girdle bought a girdle.

While Mamaw Girdle was paying for it, I said, “Wow! That underwear has the same name as mamaw!”

I remember the lady at the register giving a strange look. My mother kept shushing me. But I was still very confused. Why did Mamaw Girdle’s mother name her after underwear? What was wrong with her?

Much to Mamaw Girdle’s chagrin, I kept singing “Mamaw Girdle bought a girdle. Mamaw Girdle bought a girdle,” as we walked through Sears.

Again, my mom tried to shush me, but I kept on singing. Finally, she leaned down and said, “Will you be quiet? Girdle isn’t Mamaw’s real name anyway. It’s Myrtle!”

I was floored. After my shock wore off, I asked my mom why I wasn’t told that before. She said they thought it was so cute when I was smaller.

But Mamaw Girdle didn’t end that day in Sears. For years after that, people felt the need to bring up Mamaw “Girdle” to me. It didn’t matter if we were at the grocery store, church or the funeral home. I heard it. Each time I cringed.

After I got a little older, I thought, “So what?” I was just a little kid when I called Mamaw that. From that point on, I didn’t let it upset me anymore. Do you know what happened? People stopped bringing it up. I guess it wasn’t fun anymore since they couldn’t embarrass me.

Embarrassing moments are a part of being human. Don’t let them define you. Don’t let others use them to control you. Allow yourself the freedom to move on.

My new attitude freed me up to be able to look back on that time in my life and smile. One of my fondest childhood memories is sitting with Mamaw Girdle in choir on Sunday nights. Naturally, she sat with the choir ladies who were mamaws too.

When I called her “Mamaw Girdle,” all the choir ladies laughed. At the time, I didn’t realize why they were laughing and I didn’t mind for it was such a sweet laughter. Then Mamaw and all the other choir ladies would pat and love on me.

In my mind and my heart, I can still see those ladies. Let me tell you, they had class. Some of them wore the little white gloves. Some wore strands of beads or pearls or they had on brooches or pins. Most of them had on clip-on earrings. Beautiful scarves draped around some of them.

What really caught my attention was their bright red lipstick and rouge. Their hair was always fixed with every strand in place. Sometimes the color was a little off though. And they always smelled of wonderful perfume.

I wrote a poem about these special ladies. It was one of the first ones I wrote and one of the first pieces I had published. I hope you enjoy it.

I Can Still See

When I close my eyes, I can still see
The sweet choir ladies sitting around me

I always felt safe and secure in that place
For I saw a smile on each pleasant face

Gray, white, and sometimes blue colored hair they wore
It is a shame that I will see them no more

We were in a small country church that was painted white
Without a microphone, we sang with a might

A few notes were missed here and there
But we were still blessed with God’s care

With my great grandmother, I would sit beside on that old pew
Too bad I didn’t realize those precious years would be so few

If I could, I would go back and capture those times so dear
Of those memories, I wish my daughter could see and hear

But my daughter will have her own good memories from the start
As for me, these memories will forever be stored in my heart