17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, July 15, 1912: We went up to Oakes’ this evening. I played crouquet with the other players, but such playing as I did was rather shocking. If I didn’t get a game I did get a sore eye, which resulted from tossing a mallet in the air and trying to catch it with my hands. Needless to say it first came in contact with my eye and second with my hand.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Ouch! Sounds like Grandma was showing off or fooling around. Was she bored while she waited for her turn?
I bet the embarrassment when the mallet hit her eye was worse than the pain. I can almost imagine what her sister Ruth might have said. 🙂
I love that she threw the mallet up in the air and attempted to catch it–what an unladylike thing to do – she obviously had spirit!
My children also comment on how much spirit she had. I think that find it amazing that someone a hundred years ago was a fun, quirky person.
Ow that has to have hurt but agree perhaps it hurt her pride more.
I wonder if it came down hard enough to give her a black eye.
Hi. Playing croquet can get you in all sorts of trouble, but is is so much fun! Jane
It is a fun game! I can remember lots of spirited croquet games with relatives when I was young.
This may have been a painful blog, but I loved reading it! It makes here sound very human and real. Just heard that our son is going to have a croquet tournament before his wedding. I will try to keep the mallet under control. 🙂
It’s cool how some of the old games are coming back. A croquet tournament sounds like a lot of fun.
She seems to have a good sense of humor and did not let it deter her from having fun..I hope so anyway…;) Patty
She seems pretty resilient. 🙂
I really enjoyed seeing this playful side of your grandmother … but that has to have hurt! Love the Winslow graphic as well.
I think that Winslow painted the picture a little before this time period (mid-1800s); but I like it so much I just had to include it.