Introducing Punch
Punch is Edna Mae Jones Evans. Mother. MawMaw. Aunt Punch.
My grandfather Charlie Jones had a nickname for practically everyone in the family. The story goes that as the fourth child, having used some of the favorite family names, Charlie and Malindy had to get a little creative with Mother’s name. You may not be familiar with ‘punchboards.’ Back in the day, punchboards were a little like playing the lottery. To boost business, a store might offer chances to win something like candy, money, or Parker pens, etc. in exchange for a penny, nickel, or dime. Unfortunately, there is no one really to ask any more about the exact circumstances. I always thought maybe one of my grandparents picked two numbers and the tiny rolls of paper revealed “Edna” and “Mae.” After recent research, I have my doubts. Maybe they used the name they had chosen for her to determine which holes they would choose on the punchboard. Maybe they won something – we will never know. The only thing I know for sure is that her nickname Punch was related to a punchboard. At any rate, little Edna Mae was called ‘Punch’ for nearly a century. So, I feel compelled to keep it alive by labeling Mother’s section of this blog THE PUNCH LINE.
1 thought on “Intro to Punch”
I never realized Geneva was older than Edna. I always thought Edna was older. I never knew the little girls. I always knew them as my grandmother and my great aunt. I always thought they had the same smile.