Interesting Little Tidbit

Today I went to visit my mom. Here is what she told me about her childhood.

She was raised on a farm in Sarah Ann, West Virginia. I already knew that. Here's what I didn't know. She mentioned her grandma, Betty Hatfield. I asked her who's mom it was because she has always told me that she didn't know who her grandparents were. It turns out that Betty Hatfield was not her actual grandmother. Betty Hatfield was a little, old, neighbor lady who lived on the farm next door.

She was too old to be left alone so that on Saturdays when her daughter Ocie Browning needed to go to the store she would call my Granny and ask if my mom (she was between 10 and 14 years old at the time) could come over and stay with her mom, Betty. Mommy loved Betty and would run the whole way to her house so they could spend the afternoon together. When Betty asked her, "Who's your grandma?" Mommy told her she didn't have a grandma. Betty told her, "Yes, you do. I'm your grandma."

Betty Hatfield was Devil Anse Hatfield's daughter. Devil Anse Hatfield was the leader of the Hatfield clan in the Hatfield and McCoy feud. Betty would tell mommy, " You musn't ever let anybody say anything bad about my daddy." (meaning Devil Anse) One day a show came on the television about the feud and Betty made her turn it off until the show was over. She wasn't mean about it, she just didn't want to hear anybody say anything bad about her daddy - which is understandable.

So that is the story of my mommy's grandma.

My Sister was the first girl in little league in Logan County

Rhonda was the first in little league in Logan, WV. For all I know she was the first in the state. She was so far superior to the rest of us that we weren't any competion for her. Of course I take full credit for her athletic ability. We showed absolutely no mercy to the little kids who played with us in the back yard. Absolutely "no do overs". (unless an was around to force the point anyway).

The second in little league was Liz Hainer (she lived about 1/2 mile from us and was Rhonda's best friend) and the third was Sis. Sis lived next door and was even younger than Rhonda.

At first Rhonda was relegated to the minors (because she was a ). She was actually good enough to be an Allstar. Finally the last place team in the league got so desperate for a good player that they drafted her. She was one of 3 players in the entire league who could throw a ball from the centerfield fence to homeplate without a bounce. She was also of one of 3 players (different group) who could hit a homerun over the centerfield fence! Stealing bases was not a problem for her either. The was just good.

I drove her to her first game. At first I sat in the bleachers listening to people ask in amazement "Is that a !". (I guess the long brown hair to her waist gave it away) Then the comments started (negative and positive) about a in little league. Finally I had to stand up and announce, "Yes that IS a . She's my sister and I am proud of her". Things calmed down after that. After they saw how she played the criticisms ended immediately. The parents were glad to have such an asset to their team!