Jane's namesake

Looking at my calender today I realized that Jane's namesake, my mother's sister, would have had a birthday this week. I am so happy that she was able to see Mary Austin and know that she knew Jane Harris before any of us did. (Click to read the story of why we named Jane after her). Jane Harris certainly looks like her father but she acts like myself and an "Austin". One good example is that she calls Mary Austin "tit-ta". Now, I am sure many toddlers learning to speak say "tit-ta" for sister but the first time I heard Jane Harris say it I nearly fainted. You see, "tit-ta" was what my Aunt Jane called my mother. Aunt Jane was the baby with my mother being about 12 years older than her. One of my most favorite stories of the two of them happened when Jane was a toddler and calling my mother "tit-ta". My mother was in junior high. Remember that stage of trying to be cool and impress everyone? The paperboy had come to collect his money from their mother, aka Great-Mimi. Mom thought she would be "cool" and back the car up "just a little" with Jane in the backseat. Unfortunately she somehow mistook the gas and brake pedals and shot off towards the street. The car landed in a ditch; Great-Mimi skinned her knees from hanging on to the door handle and subsequent dragging, and the paperboy decided that his money was not that important and ran away. From then on whenever they were going anywhere, Jane would ask "oh, is tit-ta goin' drive". I am not sure why but every time I hear or even think about this story I cannot control the laughter. So, Happy Birthday Aunt Jane and "no, tit-ta is not driving!"