Nini...April 9, 2009, would have been her 65th birthday. She lost her two-year battle with breast cancer on February 20, 2008. She was a special lady and I miss her like crazy! Sisters are just special people; they simply are.
Vernita, Pronunciation: (vern EET ah). A 3-syllable girl's name of Latin origin, means: Spring-like; born in spring; Spring-green; beauty; delight.
Mary Vernita Green was born April 9, 1944 in her grandparents' home in Scotts Hill, TN to Loyal & Ethel Green. (We NEVER called her Mary...we really got the "evil eye" if we dared let that name slip from our tongue!)
She was the second daughter; the middle child. I first met this great gal in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1947. That's where our relationship began. She was my older sister and my childhood playmate; my babysitter; my Saturday-at-the-movies buddy; my chauffeur before I got my driver's license; my buffer between our parents and myself; my traveling band partner; my singing partner; my encourager; my confidante; my "go to" person; my caretaker when I was so ill and spent months in the hospital. She was my friend. I was her "kid" sister.
Nini had such talent. In the high school band, she played the bells and xylophone. In the Stage Band, she played the piano and sang. She also sang in the school's glee club and our church choir. Her voice was so beautiful; tears would come to my eyes when I heard her sing certain songs. One of those songs was Sweet Little Jesus Boy which she would sing at Christmas. And I must not forget to mention she was an accomplished piano player. For years, we three sisters sang on Young America Sings, a weekly radio program broadcast on WMC-AM.
Fortunately, I am one of the recipients of her beautiful cross-stitch creations: Christmas tree ornaments and framed wall art. She also knitted a lovely hairpin lace baby blanket for my baby girl. And Nini was our own family baker! She created many masterpieces for birthdays, graduations, weddings, and "just cause" occasions.
Nini was definitely a bookworm! As far back as I can remember, she always had a book to read. When we were young in the car traveling to our grandparents, when we were older, hanging out at home, the doctor's office, w h e r e v e r, she was reading a book!
She was trustworthy. Anything told to her in private stayed private. She did not gossip nor did she spread rumors. Nini was loyal, sometimes to a fault.
Nini was given to hospitality. She would have the family over to her house several times a year. We would tease her about dinner always being late, but that was okay. It was just important to her that her family got together. Looking back, I realize now what a cost it was to her, not only financially, but in other ways. She was the mediator in our family squabbles which always seemed to surface when we all got together. Even that didn't deter her, though, from doing her best to keep our family somehow connected.
She was a good friend. And she made friends easily and quickly. Vernita had a special charisma about her that just drew others to her. She could be abrupt at times, yes, but you always knew that Nini was a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) gal. She was the same with me as she was with anyone else.
BUT, she could definitely be a spit-fire...also stern. I used to start trembling when she would give me "that look"--the "evil eye". That was when her expression was completely solemn and she would raise one eyebrow and seemed to look right through me. But she also had a great sense of humor. She loved to laugh! As a matter of fact, she was always telling me to lighten up and to develop a sense of humor. To give you an idea, here are a few quotes that I think capture her personality:
And life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
-Grandma Moses
I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
-Winston Churchill
I look at life as a gift of God.
Now that he wants it back
I have no right to complain.
-Joyce Cary
-Grandma Moses
I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
-Winston Churchill
I look at life as a gift of God.
Now that he wants it back
I have no right to complain.
-Joyce Cary
