TRIBULATION - AUNT MILLY’S BUM KNEE

The following, to the best of my memory, is an account by my Great-Aunt Milly Greenfield as told to me on a recent visit to her farm on Buffalo Creek, Randolph County, West Virginia.

“You know how it is with arthritis.  It can hit right out of the blue just something awful sometimes.  But like all trials in this life, arthritis is a challenge bestowed by God.  As we all know, the Good Lord tests each of us in our own way.  Anyway, coming out of the church after the wedding, such a pretty wedding except that dress was all wrong for a girl carrying that much weight.  Well, anyway, I didn’t think I could make it to my car but I held onto the rail along the walk - ramp really, for those poor folks in wheelchairs.   My Cousin Lilly yelled and asked me if I needed help and I said, ‘Just leave me be.  No, and hush, I don’t need no help.’  Well, right then my left knee give out.  No feeling at all in my leg all of a sudden.  I swear I couldn’t find the ground with my foot to save me.  So there I was, clutching onto that rail with one hand and my cane in the other.  Thank God for the kind folks who had the good sense to put that rail in there. 
Then, all at once, I was just lifted up, right straight up, by this young feller.  He smiled at me and I just about fell again - not ‘cause of my knee, but ‘cause his smile hit me like the power of prayer on a real good meetin’ night.  So I was kinda hanging there like a rag doll, his strong hands on my shoulders, when I heard Cousin Lily saying, ‘That’s Johnny, my son-in-law and I got another one just like him if you need more help.’  
Well, I just about fainted from embarrassment.  Lolly-gaggin‘ like a young fancy girl at this handsome fellow a-holdin‘ me up.  I sputtered some, saying I was okay and all but he insisted on helping me on over to my car and I went right ahead and let him.  Let him keep holding me up and guiding me like until I was settled into my seat.
I figured my man, Russell, he wouldn’t roll over in his grave at me letting my Cousin Lily’s son-in-law help me no matter that I so, oh, so loved the feel of his strong, young hands.
My, oh my.  Well, I do think the Good Lord understands and forgives things like that, don’t you?”
 I told her I did.