Thursday, April 16, 2009

She died from "Fright"

I've been trying to spend some time with my Grandma to go through her old photos so I can get started on her heritage album. This is one of my favorite things to do. Learning about my heritage and preserving family members' legacies.

So, I was at her house yesterday afternoon and have to share this story with you. My Grandma is the funniest woman you all will never meet. She doesn't try to be. It's just natural.

In going through her old photos we came upon a photo of my Great Great Grandfather. My Grandmother's father's father. I started asking questions about her father's parents and here is what she told me:

G: Well, you know, he was raised by his father (in Italy) because his mother died when he was a baby.

Me: (writing all this information down in my notebook....fascinated) How did she die?

G: A milk snake.

Me: Huh?

G: Yeah, a milk snake scared her to death.

Me: Huh?

G: Well, you know, back then they didn't have finished floors...they were poor and slept on the dirt. She was nursing the baby on the ground and fell asleep. She woke up to a 'milk snake' drinking her milk and she died of fright.

Now, I obviously don't believe a word of this but she totally does. I was laughing hysterically while she told this story and she was just looking at me like "what the hell's so funny....it's a true story". So this will be the story that will go in the heritage album that will forever preserve this family's legacy.

Let it be known that my dear dear Great Great Grandmother died because a 'milk snake' latched on to her lactating tit and scared her to death....literally.....

This is why I'm trying to preserve this families legacy now....while I'm still alive....cuz there's no telling what kind of ridiculous stories will be passed down to my own family about my life...... or death.

8 comments:

Kate said...

That's awesome. My question, though, is that if it truly was a snake that scared her to death, did someone witness the actual fright and subsequent death, or was the snake still latched on when they found her? ROFLMAO

Ashley said...

I'd be scared to death, too! Hehe! Love the good ole' family stories!

Marni's Organized Mess said...

That's great. I love old people's minds. or lack of? ha!

WeaselMomma said...

That is a classic. I must say that would freak me out to wake up to.

Tara R. said...

That is an awesome story! It's a great idea to write down all these family stories.

common mom said...

Oh how I love hearing the family lore!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Dana said...

such a great story!! thanks so much for sharing...

PS - stop by my blog, I'm having a great giveaway!!

Anonymous said...

You are a very smart person!