Slice of Life: Grandma's Remedy

Today as I sat with our writing group, I noticed a plant sitting on the table - an aloe plant.  That plant triggered a few memories of my grandma's healing magic.  

When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time at my grandma's house.  She had a great location between the park and the pool with the ice cream shop just around the corner.  Paradise!  Not only did she have a great location, but she was a lot of fun.  She was hip and cool for a grandma.  She knew what music was hot.  She stayed up past midnight and slept in until late into the morning.  When I stayed at her house, we'd stay up all night playing cards and watching television.

While Grandma was hip and cool and fun, she had some crazy ideas about first aid and health treatments.  According to her, Vick's Vapor Rub was the only treatment for colds.  Seven-Up over crushed ice was the only way to settle a stomach (might be true).  When we would fall and scrape a knee or cut an elbow, we tried to not tell her because we knew what it meant...mercurochrome or merthiolate.  They were both red liquids painted onto the cut.  Ouch!  One of them was incredibly painful and I always hoped when I saw the red stick she was using the gentler version.  

Grandma had one remedy I loved:  her aloe plant.  She had an aloe plant she kept in her kitchen.  I was fascinated by it.  Any time we would burn ourselves on something, she would tear off a piece of that plant and rub it on immediately.  When she did this, I never got a blister and the pain was gone instantly.  Magic!  

In my days with Grandma she told me a lot of stories, taught me a lot of games, and passed along many tips for solving problems.  To this day, I count the secrets of the aloe plant as one of the best do-it-yourself remedies she ever shared.  Grandma could heal about anything, but I'm not sure it was her do-it-yourself remedies that did it.  I am quite sure Grandma healed everything with her hug, a kiss, and a little cookie. 

Today I am joining the Slice of Life Challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers.  I apologize for the lack of links, but we are out of data so I have to post from my phone.  I will be back to add links.  In the meantime, stop by twowritingteachers.com.