When I stopped by the Branson Candy Kitchen to visit Grandmother and Aunt Macy, it was a hot, clear Ozarks summer day threatening to reach 100 degrees again. Summer is the grand-daughter of Macy and the great-grand daughter of my grandmother.
Summer
Aunt Macy said “Summer, you remember your cousin, don’t you? This here is Patsy Kay, your cousin.”
“Hello Cousin”, Summer said. And then my cutest little cousin ran out the back door.
Grandmother and Auntie kept making pecan pralines while I sat in the company chair watching and talking. Every now and then, I was the beneficiary of an imperfect handmade praline.
You can’t sell the ugly ones. Everyone wants a beautiful praline. Yes, I ate the ugly pralines, the things you do for family…
Summer ran in the door with a hand full of Nekked Ladies and thrust them at me. “Surprise! Here cousin. Flowers for you!”
Oh! Thank you, Summer.
What are they cousin?
I’m sitting right in front of MY grandmother and I am not about to tell this cute little three year old that those flowers are called Naked Ladies.
You know the answer to that, Summer. You told me when you walked in the door: Surprise! They are Surprise Lilies.
Surprise lilies easily multiply creating more bulbs to share.
You mean Nekked Ladies?, said Grandma. We all burst into little girl giggles.
And so, sweet Summer, every year when these bold lilies pop up, I’ll always think of you. One more thing, Thank you for the Surprise Lilies.
