Champion: a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else. Example– Champion of human rights, etc…

Everyone needs a champion in their life from time to time. They make life just a little easier. For me, my Champion is and has always been my sister, Mildred. She has been an ever-present strength and guide throughout our adult lives and perhaps as well even when we were youngsters growing up in our family home. Mildred is my protector. She is the person I can count on to rally against anything and anyone that may harm me. She appears to effortlessly transition to this role at the drop of a hat. Kind and sweet in her demeanor, Mildred can and WILL become the most rabid animal you may ever encounter, if she believes you are inclined to hurt me. Don’t let her gentle spirit and sweet face fool you, she can and will draw blood if she feels inclined. While only about 6 years younger than me, she is practically my Mom in many senses. She nurtures, protects, mentors, offers wise advice, and occasionally corrects me when (on VERY rare occasions) I’m wrong. My Champion, Mildred.

Well, to be honest Mildred is not her real name. It is the nickname our Grandfather and I gave her MANY years ago. It’s, in fact, ONE of her nicknames. In conversations among our closest family, she may be called Mildred, Queenie, Sister, Sissy, Sassy, Vester 2, Flora 2, Her FULL Legal name (I won’t call that out here), or a multitude of other names that she may or may not have earned over the past decades. Each name intended to celebrate a part of my sister. No matter what you call her, Mildred (or Mil as I sometimes call her) is my Sister. I am forever grateful for her and what she does for me every day. I love my Mildred.

There is a little controversy about how precisely she got that nickname. My memory is that my Grandfather and I were sitting on his front porch playing with his cats sometime in 1975. A LOOOOOONG Time ago. My Mom was VERY pregnant with my sister and due most any day. Grandpa and I sat and talked as grandpa’s and grandson’s often do. He in his mid-seventies and me about 6 years old. We chatted about everything and nothing that day. It is a memory I have and one that of treasure. I believe he was excited about the prospect of having a new grandchild very soon. I was happy to be able to spend time with him. Grandpa lived in the house next door. To say that he was a very consistent and ever-present figure in my life would be very accurate. Our routine was very much predictable. We raked leaves, picked up pecans, worked on his cars, went fishing, played with his cats, and generally went about our lives each day as a seventy something year old gentleman and his 6-year-old sidekick might do. This day, however, the idea of giving my sister a name was definitely on his mind. We pondered many options and finally decided that Mildred would be her name. Why Mildred, might you ask? Well here goes, at least as far as I can recall. (We never even considered that Mom might have a boy)

Grandpa was born in 1900. He survived several World Wars, epidemics, stock market crashes, and The Great Depression. He was a simple Man. He had no formal education after High Schol. In fact, I’m pretty certain he didn’t even finish high school. In his early years, times were especially tough. He hunted rabbits for food and did what any young Man might do to support his family. He actually worked at the Ice House and was the young Man that delivered ice to the households in town back then. Remember, this was in the 1910’s in rural SE Alabama. There was no refrigeration without those big blocks of ice that he delivered. Maybe he met a sweet young girl named Mildred when he was delivering ice? Something to ponder. Mildred isn’t a Family Name and I never recall ANY other member of our family talk about any other Mildred, ever.

Now, a little history about Grandpa. Grandpa was a dapper young man in his early years. It was evident from family photos that he caught the eye of many a young Lady. I’m sure he had lots to offer and I’m also sure he was very decisive in what and who he wanted as a mate. He had a firm but gentle attitude. As far as the name Mildred is concerned, here is what I recall. If you are reading this and disagree with how I describe my memory, please don’t come at me. This is how I remember this moment. After all, I was a child of about 6 years of age. My memory of the moment has been somewhat translated into a more mature dialogue. While the words I use to describe the moment today may not have been his exact words, the emotions are still as I recall. As I remember, Grandpa said Mildred was the perfect name for a perfect young Lady. He said all Mildreds were sweet and kind and had pretty hair and beautiful eyes. I’ll toss out that he probably said that they all loved their grandpa and always made Grandpa proud. Now that I reflect, I wonder where his Mildred ended up. So yes, I believe Grandpa knew a young lady named Mildred in his early years. I’m pretty sure he was smitten with her and I’m pretty sure this was a sore spot with my Grandmother. It was evident that he had some pretty sweet memories of A Mildred and I’m also pretty sure he wanted his Granddaughter to have qualities similar to THE Mildred he once knew. Being a Proud Grandpa, I’m sure he was a little biased about his Grandchildren, but I believe he JUST KNEW this next Granddaughter would live up to the name. And I suppose she did.

So, soon after this day, Mildred arrived into the world and quickly took over our lives. She became the center of attention. Our day was focused on her needs, not mine. Mildred got all the attention, rightly so. She became the apple of our grandpa’s eye. She took my place on the porch, and they played with the cats. They raked leaves and picked up pecans and they went for drives around town where, I’m certain he showed her off to all his old friends. He was a very proud Grandpa. One fact that I can recall now after nearly 50 years is this, he NEVER went anywhere without his Gentleman’s Hat. It was part of him. He protected it and made sure no-one else would handle it and ruin its’ crease or soil it. Well, no one except my sister, Mildred. She was allowed to wear his hat.

So, in time, Mildred and Grandpa became inseparable. And I wasn’t too upset. (Jealous perhaps, a Little) After all, what are Big BROTHERS supposed to do? I stepped aside and retired as Grandpa’s favorite and allowed my successor to take her rightful place. I had a world to conquer, and she had a Grandpa to raise. And that’s what we did.

So, today is my day to celebrate my Mildred. She is and will forever be my Champion. If you don’t have a Mildred in your life, go get one. They aren’t easy to come by, but when you do find one you need to keep her as long as possible. If you do have a Mildred in your life, tell them what they mean to you. I’m pretty sure my Mildred will read this very soon. Mildreds are priceless. I love my Mildred.

Thank you, once again, for spending a little of your time with me today. Like, Share and Subscribe, if you will. I enjoy reading all your comments. Best of wishes for you all. See you soon.