After several days in D.C., I was retrieved by my parents and aunt and uncle for a few days with them in Virginia. “You should know we live in a prison,” Aunt Winnie advised me. “Really? Is your new place in one of those gated communities?” I asked. “Yes, but but that’s not why we live in a prison,” she replied.
It was a rather warm day in D.C., so entering their air conditioned car felt very nice. Mia Mamma, Aunt Winnie and I sat in the back – Aunt Winnie was in the middle near the air conditioning vents. “I would have had you sit here, but you have on a dress and I wouldn’t want the cold air to blow up your skirt. Besides, I like cold. I have a hot crotch,” Aunt Winnie said and giggled.
We arrived to their community and I learned she wasn’t kidding about the prison. They live right next to, and on the former farm land of, the Lorton Reformatory (also known as the Occoquan Workhouse or Lorton Correctional Complex). This was actually a huge D.C. prison (approximately 1,200 acres) and in 1917 they housed approximately 168 women, the majority of whom were part of the National Women’s Party – true suffragists. I found all of this to be rather interesting. Especially considering most, if not all, of my knowledge of suffragists came from Mrs. Winifred Banks when she sang Sister Suffragettes in the Disney classic Mary Poppins.
Once we were situated – with our dinner on paper plates, in our pajamas, and watching TV – Aunt Winnie (no correlation to Mrs. Winifred Banks, outside of having a great name) invited me to help her with some floral arrangements. “Do you want to go down to the church with me later this week and steal some flowers for the centerpieces?” Aunt Winnie appears to have embraced the prisoner mentality – which I love – and, as a result, didn’t just steal flowers, she stole the show.