Monday, February 23, 2009

STORMS

2-22-09...STORMS

I used to be afraid of storms. Seems the lightening and wind never bothered me, it was the thunder. But I think what scared me the most was the storm cellar my parents took us to when it was storming. They would bundle Norman and I up and carry us up to the corner house to the closest storm cellar. I can still feel the bouncing as my Daddy ran with me. I don't think Norman minded it much he just didn't like to be woke up. Daddy and Mama would wear rubber boots because that old cellar always got water in the floor. It sat there and got stinky. The smell in there was almost as scary to me as anything. Well not quiet. There were frogs and lizards, and who knows what else down it that dark old hole. The door was pulled up and there were about six steps straight down. Mama and Daddy carried us down there real fast like and someone would shut that big old door behind us. The sound of the door slamming down was so frightening to me. It crashed down and then bounced a few times while the tin on it would clank and clang. There would be a whoosh and my ears always popped. Someone usually had a coal oil lantern for light. But that thing cast eerie shadows on everything and I'd clinch my eyes shut so tight it hurt.
On each side of the small room were concrete benches built in where we all sat. Once I touched the wall behind me and it felt slimy and cold. I jumped almost out of Daddy's lap and shrieked. The thunder sound in there was deafening and Daddy would hold his hands over my ears. Daddy told me many times, "Honey that is just God laughing as he rolls a potato wagon over Heaven". Of course I trusted God and I believed my Daddy, but I just hated that darned ol' cellar.
There were others in there who were adults including my Mama, who were probably more scared than I was. It was mostly the sounds, smells, and critters, that I was more scared of.
One night a woman said, "Oh my goodness, I'm so afraid something will land on the door and we can't get out". Now let me tell you from then on I did everything possible to not have to go in that cellar. I was scared out of my skin. "Will it Daddy, will we get trapped in here"? "No Clydene", he always said. When they thought the storm was over someone would peek out the door and check. Sometimes they would say "It's OK" but sometimes they would close the door with another clang and we'd be there for a while longer.
I said many times "Lets don't go there anymore" but we did of course. It wouldn't have taken much wind I suspect to blow our house down on top of us but I wasn't told that little bit of info. For obvious reasons.
Well I never got over hating that storm cellar and I vowed that when I was old enough to be my own boss I'd never set a foot in one of them durned things again. And By Golly I haven't. Nope! I love storms and if it is daylight I watch them. If it is dark I go to sleep listening to the rain on the roof, and listening to the thunder and seeing the lightening flash in the windows. And I recall My Mama and Daddy wanting to protect us the best they knew how. When it is storming my Heart over flows with love and gratitude for my wonderful, loving Parents. YEP! I've been so Blessed!!!!

RUNNING THROUGH THE DIAMONDS

2-22-09...RUNNING THROUGH THE DIAMONDS

When I took Moses out this morning just at daybreak I saw a beautiful scene. There was a big frost on the ground. The sun was rising and as I looked across the yard it was like a million sparkling diamonds, rubies, emeralds etc. All colors and sparkling so brightly it almost hurt my eyes. Wow! Such a sight that I have very rarely seen with the sun just the right angle on the ground. Made me remember another time in my youth when I beheld a sight like this.
I was moody one morning and sooo! Grouchy no one could stand me. In fact I could hardly stand myself. I was 13 and not a kid anymore but certainly not as grown up as I thought I was. You know, 13 going on 25? That was me. Nothing or no one suited me. I had never felt this way before with urges and wants I didn't understand. I had been looking at some catalogs and magazines and seeing so many frilly things that I had never seen before. All I had ever yearned for was a Coke and a Snicker candy bar. I didn't always get those but it never had bothered me like I was bothered now. Thing was, I didn't even know what it was I wanted. Just something I didn't and couldn't have. Aint that always the way it is? Daddy told me many times, "Clydene if you don't know what you want then you probably just want to want and don't need anything". Well to me that sounded stupid but of course I didn't tell Daddy that.
It was cold that morning and it was Saturday. Brenda was gone somewhere with Auntie and I couldn't go cause I had just got over the flu. Don't think it was really called flu then. I couldn't go outside for the same reason and I was not happy at all. I showed Mama a picture in a magazine of a beautiful lady. She had a fur coat on and had jewelry from her hair to her hands. It was pink and the picture said, Dressed to party in her (can't remember the name of the company) pink diamonds. "This is what I want Mama, all these diamonds, aint they pretty"? "Yes Clydene they are very pretty but come here and let me show you something prettier." Mama opened the wooden door and told me to look out the screen. I looked and there was the sun shining on the frost just like this morning with all the sparkling colors of the rainbow. "Oh Mama that's just frost' I said. I couldn't see how Mama thought that was prettier than pink diamonds. "Clydene just look, God has decorated the whole outdoors just for you, Why, you could run through the diamonds out there". Well Mama said it and before she could say another word here I went. I was running through the diamonds in my socks with no coat or hat and I loved it. I ran around in that colorful, sparkling yard and shouted, "Look at me Mama, I'm running in the jewels". My mood was lifted instantly but Mama said "Come on in now Clydene before you get sick again". I went inside and got clean socks and my shoes on and Mama gave me a cup of coffee to warm me up. Yep! I have been drinking coffee since I was a kid and I do love my coffee. Mama was sure I'd take a 'back set' and get sick again but I didn't. God gave me diamonds to run through and I did it. I thought about running through the jewels this morning but thought better of it. I can't run very well any more anyway. NOPE!!!