I speak her name: Kathleen Hogan Smith
Today I'm remembering my grandmother, who would have celebrated her 113th birthday today. Affectionately known as Grammie K in the 21st century, Gram lived to be 103 years old! What an amazing life she led. Gram was the first girl in her family who didn't have to knit her own socks before being allowed to go to school (her store-bought socks were ordered from Halifax). When she did go to school, she didn't stay. One of her older brothers had contracted tuberculosis in World War I and was recuperating at home. He told his sister that if she cried, they would send her home. If they sent her home, they could play away the day! Much to her brother's delight and her sisters' chagrin, Kathleen complied with his instruction. Kathleen's two sisters closest to her in age (Kathleen was twelfth of thirteen children, there were LOTS of brothers and sisters!) were asked by the school to comfort her and encourage her to stop crying. But she wouldn't stop. Home she went ...