May 1st
My name is Annabelle. Most ponies call me Granny Smith. I can’t remember the last time somepony called me by my first time, but it sure sounded sweet on the tongues of my beaus when I was in my tender years. Hah! How long ago was that!
I’m 91 years old. A Winter foal, born when the Timberwolves breed their own. My Ma always said I had sap in my veins instead of blood, once she heard me roar. Haha!
I never kept a diary before. Never had time. But I thought to myself, it’s time to start keepin track of things now that I’m a great-granmother. Thank Celestia I lived long, hale, and hearty so I could see this day! Applejack’s choice of beau still ain’t sittin well with me, but she’s old enough now to make her own decisions.
Little foal came early, just like her Mama. We used to joke that Applejack came a few weeks early because her Ma couldn’t stand the kickin anymore. Applejack was born screaming and fully alive, but her own little one was born dead. Still can’t believe Flim managed to bring her back to life, breathing into her and slappin her til she cried out, fully alive. I don’t give that colt enough credit, that’s for sure. He’s got the touch. Meanin, he’ll be a good daddy.
We’ve had a lot of... I’ll call them ‘guests’, since I’m bein polite, now. That showmare and Flim’s brother have been dropping over more often than I can count. Trixie, her name is. Always has that gaudy ring on her horn every time, too, and makes a real point of bringin it up in conversation, especially when she’s around Applejack. I’m no fool. I know she’s tryin to get under my granddaughter’s hide by reminding her she ain’t engaged yet. Bless her heart, Applejack hasn’t taken the bait, but I can see her eye twitchin something fierce when she turns around. I wonder how long it’ll take everypony to realize why Trixie keeps runnin to the bathroom. Do they see how bloated her belly is, and how her teats are stickin out? Nah, of course they don’t. I’ll keep that information to myself for now... but it sure will be funny once they figure it out!
Shoot! Forgot all about getting dinner ready. I’ll write again soon.
May 15
My name is Annabelle. I’m 91 years old, born in the Winter. That means I’m almost halfway to 92, and I can’t let myself forget I ain’t a yearling no more. I’d lose my own head if it weren’t attached to my neck, that’s what Ma always told me.
Applejack and Flim have finally gotten round to getting little Hez appointments at the clinic. She’s pushin five months and still can’t walk right. I been helpin out when I can---I grab one of her ears in my muzzle and help pull her back up when she falls. I still remember, clear as day, sittin “Little Macky” on my knee and helpin him when he got stuck on a ‘trouble word’ (that’s what his speech therapist called them). He’d try sayin “My name is Little Macky” and he’d get stuck on “little”---he’d just keep goin ‘li-li-li-li-litt-t-t-t-tti’--- so I’d train him to say ‘big’ instead. That’s how he got his name, now. Sometimes I think how funny it is that we hadta take out an extra lean on the back forty just to get him that therapy, and now getting him to speak is like pullin teeth. At least he can speak when he wants to, and when he wants to, he sure does say some truly memorable stuff. Just yesterday I saw him bouncing little Hez around and getting her to say “Uncle Mac”. Well, she ain’t there yet, she still says “Unca”, but she’s learnin more and more every day. Watchin her figure out this world gives me a real pang, it does---makes me realize how precious what little time I got left is.
Gotta go, again, to make the dinner. Trixie and Flim are comin over. Again. I suppose I gotta get used to them.
June 1
My name is Annabelle, and I’m a Winter foal from 91 years ago. Today my horoscope read “You will face struggles in the upcoming weeks” and I sure as spit ain’t happy about that, because it came true. In a way. Well, I’m a Sagittarius. We’re known for bein optimistic, but this is tryin me.
I made the mistake of letting Trixie alone in the kitchen, and the next thing I knew, it was on fire. I won’t go into details, but there was a lotta screamin and hollerin before Mac ran in with a bucket of water in his teeth. Then that damn mare came runnin at me as if she were meanin to smack me, but Applejack held her back. I always had my suspicions, but now I know for sure Trixie is a few apples short of a bushel. She said the fire was MY fault! She said I’d left laundry in the stove, and that’s what started it. I told her straight-up that was ridiculous. Not only do I know how to do my chores well enough, thank you very much, but aside from that, I hadn’t done the laundry in over a month---Flim took on that job when he came to stay--- but she just kept pointing her hoof at me. Then somepony found the detergent spilled in the laundry room, and that got Trixie goin again. She hadta be dragged out, Applejack clawin at her face! Sweet Celestia! Now, I’m more than happy to see our extended family grow, but if that mare’s gonna be in it, I might wanna start takin antacids.
Then came the yearly physical. Good thing I ain’t still knockin my boots like I used to, because that means no Pap smear, hah! But this time I had to do a written test, for some reason. I figured the doc needed to update my information or something, but I don’t really trust this new sawbones. A real shame my old doc retired so long ago; he never made me do stuff like this.
Time to go. Dinner again... but this time, we’re goin to a restaurant since Trixie ruined the kitchen. Hah!
June 10
My name is Annabelle, 91, winter
This was Flim’s birthday, and he told me his brother had to come too. He seemed confused when I asked him why? What are the odds two brother would have the same birthday? Maybe their parents had ‘scheduled lovin’ dates’ like me and Wax Apple used to. Hahaha! I can’t believe I wrote that! Been years. My husband mighta been a real jackass in the day, but come Luna’s moon, he got real friendly with his hooves all over me... and horizontal, if you catch my drift.
Almost forgot! What a night it turned out to be! Applejack surprised us all when she pulled out a velvet box and asked Flim to wed her. Damn stupid stallion fainted dead away! He bashed his head something good, and that got us all a round on the house. Maybe that’s why I’m feelin a mite off tonight. Haven’t had a stiff drink like that in ages! Well, he said yes. So now I gotta wash the mothballs offa my formal dress, cause I’m gonna be goin to a wedding soon! Poor Hez was born illigetimate, but now her parents are gonna be official. Celestia, I’m cryin and I didn’t notice! I’m so happy for her.
I can’t even remember why I had my reservations about him in the first place. He’s a pure gentlecolt. Gotta say, I am surprised, since I pegged him as the swishy type at first.
June 20
My name is Annabelle, I’m 91 born in the Winter.
Big Mac walked me to and from the doc’s today. Some follow-up from my physical. These newfangled machines sure are something else! I had to lie back and wait as a big metal bell-shaped thing passed over me. It was over faster than I could believe---reminds me of some colts from my tender years, hahaha!---and then I waited with a magazine while Mac stayed with the doctor. Well, bless his heart, he’s just as a mushy type as his sire. He came out all teary-eyed. Walked me back home like the good proper gentlecolt I raised him to be, takin my elbow the whole time. He sure has a sensitive soul, that one. But he didn’t breathe a word about what the sawbones said to him. Just as well. I don’t wanna know if somethins goin wrong with me!
That said---got a new medication to take now, but I’ll just add it to the pile. Good thing I ain’t the type who has a hard time gulpin em all down.
Little Hez has been walkin pretty well now! Applejack and Flam sit at opposite ends of the hall and they let her run back and forth between them. It’s so cute. Bless me, Celestia, that I lived long enough to be a great-grandmother.
July 2
My name is Annabelle born in the winter and I’m in my eighties
I had a hard time putting my mane up in a bun today. It all just kept falling out. Applejack lent me a helping hoof, and now it’s all piled up on my head, like it should be. I might be losing some hair, but that’s normal for a mare my age.
I got right turned around in the market today. I couldn’t find the beekeepers, and I got really upset, since it’s nearly Spring and I need the bees for Zap Apple Jam. I was almost about to file a complaint when this nice young ~~gentlecolt offered to escort m~~
Oh, Celestia! I feel like a right fool, now. She was actually a mare, but she sure fooled me when I first laid eyes on her! Tomcolts, these days! Back in my day, we’d make sure she had her mane all rolled up and curled, and dusted some blush on her cheeks, because otherwise she’d look like a beaverlicker! Shoot, that’s awful. I shouldn’t write about this nice gal like that.
I told her I just got turned a bit around, and she said she’d help me back home. Nice girl, even though I sure had my suspicions that she was on the other side of a swingin barn door, if you catch my drift. She even asked me to say “Hi” to Applejack for her, and, well, this is the strangest thing. When I introduced myself and asked what her name was, she looked at me like I’d sprouted a new head. I don’t wanna sound like a racist by saying that all pegasi look alike to me, because she sure didn’t---I never seen someone with a mane in the colours like she had---but I couldn’t place her face for the life of me. I waved her off and made sure to tell Applejack “Hi” for her, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she had some impure intentions for my granddaughter. I respect them fillyfoolers, sure I do, but she was lookin at me so strange.
July 30
My name is Annabelle and I was born in cold weather I’m in my eities.
I ain’t proud of this. Applejack told me I can’t foalsit no more. Hez poked her hoof into a honeycomb, and now she’s stung all over. Flim was screamin at me that it was my fault since I was supposed to be watchin her, but I swear on my life I was havin a nap. The two a them shoulda been on her. I’m not happy about it. I’m sure that colt talked Applejack into believin it was my fault, and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. I can’t place why I had my doubts about him right now, but that boy ain’t right.
It breaks my heart. Poor Applejack is getting real attached to him, and before you know it, they’ll be married. He’ll propose sooner or later, but I swear he ain’t all good in the head or the heart. He can’t even keep his own daughter safe. Maybe Applejack is just lookin for some comfort, and I don’t blame her, really---it tore her up when her Ma died. Three years ago today.
August 4
My name is Annabelle.
I’m sure now that somepony’s playin tricks on me, and I’m pretty sure it’s that awful Trixie. Came home from the store only to find we already had six packs of toilet paper! Why would they send me out to buy some TP if we already had tht much? I know she thinks she’s funny, playin pranks on an old mare. Hardy har har. Then she yelled at me for putting it away. What’s wrong with putting something in the freezer? It keeps better.
Gotta go, dinner. I forgot to buy macaroni, but I’m sure we have some in the pantry.
Sept thre
My name is Annabelle
Hez is learnin a bunch of new words and I can’t wait for her Grammaw and Grampaw to come home and see her. It’s been awhile. I can’t remember where they went but they be comin home soon.
Sept thidy
My name is Annabelle. Born in winter.
Hurt my hock joint something fierce, so now I gotta stay in the hospital. Little Macky cried when he saw me.
It hurts to write so I gotta write later.
Oct five
My name is Annabelle
I was born in the winter when the timberwolfs were howlin.
Applejack came to visit today. The flowers she brought were nice but she seemed like she wasn’t all there. Started cryin when I asked when her Ma would show up. I been waitin on her for a few weeks and she ain’t showed. I hope my son will come soon, it’s so boring in here
Desember
My name is anabel.
Today is my birthday.
My son hasn’t come yet but I know he will. Mac has grown so much. Applejack brought a little filly to see me. She (AJ, not the filly) has a new shiny necklace, and she is happy and sad at the same time.
Janury.
My name is anabel.
I’m so lucky to get so many visitors. My grandchildren come with their loves. It’s nice. But they say my son won’t come but I forget why.
Wax Apple comes sometimes. He kisses me on the cheek, just like he used to.
He looks so young.
He calls me Annabelle.
Author's Note
Sorry about the downer. I recently lost a family member to Alzheimer's, and I'm in the process of losing another one. I'm not sure if this will count as canon to the "Stepping Stones" series, but I felt the need to write it.
Thanks for reading.
