When I grew up in Kentucky, Grandma lived with us. I have fond memories of her setting out under the shade tree reading the newspaper in her old rocker. I think the rocker was at one time her sisters. But for most of my life it belonged to Grandma.

I remember Grandma would set out in the sun with her sweater on and read the paper. One day I was playing in the front yard and there set Grandma. She was reading with a magnifying glass because her sight wasn't real good. All at once her paper caught fire. I guess sunshine, newspaper, and magnifying glasses don't mix.

Grandma died in 1963 but my memories of her didn't. Last year I was at my mom's for Thanksgiving. While I was looking in the old barn, I saw the old rocker that my grandma used to sit in. I loaded it up and brought it home with me. The rockers were broke off and the bottom was ragged and some of the rounds were broke.

After talking with my sister and some other research, I stripped off the paint from the rocker, replaced broken rounds, put on new rockers, and caned the bottom and back.

I spent about seventy dollars on that old chair and about 20 hours work. When I got it all tightened up and the new finish on it, boy, it looked like new.

The rocking chair almost got thrown away but now it looks new. I wouldn't take anything for it, because Grandma's chair could live on for another 100 years.