Although Emma was 2 years older than me, we were inseparable friends (almost sisters) since I had 4 younger brothers and Emma had all older brothers. Emma lived across the street from my parents Hobe and Susie Johnson and Emma the daughter of Maggie and Ezra (pronounced Ezrey) Graves. One day we were playing at Emma's house when she got hungry and decided to get herself something to eat. I watched her move a chair to the kitchen cabinet, open a door and proceed to pull herself up onto the chair by the cabinet doors. The cabinet began to tip and I was across the street before the crashing sound of dishes and jars of jelly, peanut butter and canned goods hit the table (which kept Emma from being crushed). My mother heard the crash but since I had already reached the front yard, she knew I was OK. I later asked Emma about the mess, she said she had peanut butter and jelly all over her. Maggie said "OH MY"! Another time playing upstairs we tripped and knocked over the chamber pot near the stairs. I was home before that finished bouncing down the steps, and being the good friend, left her with that clean-up also.
Emma and I loved to sew and we'd make doll clothes in the summer. Emma never hemmed her dresses and was quick but messy... I of course liked trim and hems and lace. Guess who turned out to be the seamstress? Emma. She later made lined coats, dresses and all sorts of clothes for her family.
Newspapers were turned into caps and then we'd curl strips and sew it on the cap to make "permanents" and wear them to Sophronia's store. Folks passing by about ran off the road looking at us.
Once we decided to experiment with poison ivy, rubbing it all over us and then running into Emma's house and getting in the bathtub to wash it off. I could hardly open my eyes the next day the swelling was so bad, Emma not so allergic as me fared better. Emma's mother, Maggie, was so easy going when we made a great water slide in their tub she never fussed at us. We splashed water everywhere!
We rode bareback on my dad's horse, walked to Sophronia's store and bummed money from my dad or Ezrey for cokes and candy. We'd rather walk to Fairview on Sunday than take offers from folks to ride.
On my 90th birthday Emma came to my party at Valley Grove. What a great time we had revisiting all those memories of wonderful
childhood. What a great friend and blessing.
How I love you Emma.
