4-5-09...FAMILY IN 1948Here is my family in 1948. Norman was only a few months old. This is the only family picture we ever had made at a studio by professionals. That was 60 years ago when things were simple and sweet. I remember Mama's dress. It was green. Daddy bought it in Oklahoma where he worked in the coal mines. He came home on weekends and always brought Norman and I something. This time Mama got a new dress also. Daddy wore khaki shirts and pants in a light brown color. My dress was yellow with green trim. Norman also had on yellow.
I cherish this picture. It is a part of my life that I will never forget. When I look at it I see love abounding, unconditional, and wonderful.
Clydene (THOMAS) Overbey
4-4-09...HAIR WASHING DAYWashing your hair might not seem a big deal to you. Well let me tell you about how Mama washed my hair when I was growing up. You just might relate to it. It was a major production.
No water in the house was the first thing that made it difficult, but that wasn't the worse thing.
In the first place my hair was long enough to sit on before it was ever cut the first time. Then it was very curly and frizzy. Mama often said that there were tangles in it that she could never get out. I looked like a walking brier patch going down the road.
The water was drawn from a well. We had a water bucket and I remember it took two buckets full to wash my hair. Water was put in a tea kettle and it wasn't an afternoon tea party kettle. It held about half a bucket of water and had a long spout and and a bail handle. This was warmed on the stove to the right temp. to pour through my hair. That was put in a dishpan. Then a second tea kettle of water was warmed, and a second dishpan was placed on the table beside the other one. Are you following me? Hope so.
Now the fun part came. Well fun was not the word I would really use here. More like a rat drowning. I had to bend my head over the empty dishpan while Mama poured the water over my hair to wet it. Very quickly another tea kettle of water was put on the stove to warm.
Mama poured Halo shampoo in my wet hair and started scrubbing with her long fingers. Oh my gosh. I just knew she was scalping me. Soapy water was running down on my face and neck and in my nose. I knew better but I would always reach up to swipe my face and just sling water everywhere. "Be still Clydene, all the water is going in the floor" Mama would say. "Mama you are drowning me" I would whine. Now I had a wash rag to hold over my eyes to keep soap outta them but it got soaked and dripping. Water ran down my back and off my toes.
When Mama was sure my hair had been scrubbed enough she'd check the teakettle of water on the stove. If it was warm then she'd pour this over my hair slowly and run her fingers through until that was gone. Then I had to bend over the second dishpan of water and she would rinse some more using a glass to dip the water and pour over my hair. She made sure my hair squeaked when she ran her fingers through it and pronounced it clean.
Then came the two towels that it took to dry my hair, and the combing that tried to finish scalping me. I couldn't move till the water in the floor was all mopped up and the floor was dry. Didn't want us tracking the water through the rest of the house don't ya know.
Mama carried the dishpans out and dumped them in the garden then. She scrubbed the dishpans out because they were used to wash dishes.
Now guys, when I washed my hair this morning I got my ring hung in the curls and pulled my hair. This set off a chain reaction of slinging water all over and yelping OH! Even got soap in my eyes in the process. That is what got me thinking of the days Mama washed my hair.
I didn't really know how much work it was then for Mama to wash my hair. God Bless Her!!!!! YEP!
4-1-09...EASTER SUNRISEEaster is coming up. A wonderful time of the year, akin to Christmas. Jesus was born on Christmas and He arose from the tomb on Easter.
It should be a beautiful day to my way of thinking but in my part of the world it very seldom is. This is the time of transition from winter to spring. Things are renewing, coming out of dormancy and bursting forward in new growth. One day cold and dreary, next day sunshiny and springlike. Reminds me of a young boy in between childhood and young manhood. One day he has that soft sweet voice of youth. But as he talks his voice will squeak and struggle. One sentence can change from babyish to squeaky, to gruff. He wants that manly voice but he has to struggle while he is transitioning in between. Young ladies have the same transition period as their bodies change and grow.
When I was a child we always had Sunrise services on a hill above our Church on Easter Sunday. It invariably would be cold and cloudy. Maybe even spitting snow or raining.
This one Easter Morning we were up before sunrise getting ready to go. Of course I was grumbling loudly. It was cold and I wanted to stay in bed. Mama had Norman dressed in his cute little suit with a bow tie. I was dawdling and not being cooperative as usual. I think I was about 5or 6 I'm not sure. I had a new yellow Easter dress and white bonnet of some kind with yellow daisies on it. Mama finally got me all beautiful (she said it I didn't) and sent me out to my Daddy while she got dressed. Even at that age I noticed that Daddy and Mama didn't have new Easter clothes. Didn't think much about that then but it is significant now in my memories.
We arrived on the hill above the Church. The men had erected a huge cross and sat it in the ground with concrete. It faced the East and we stood on the other side to the West. Now all the years I had been there I had not see the sun rise majestically over the cross. I was cold and wanted to go home. We assembled and had opening Prayer. Mama was holding Norman and I was pushed in close to my Daddy. I had a sweater on but still felt cold. Daddy put both arms around me and his warm hands on my arms were like a heater. I was close to my Daddy and I felt the comfort of his heat. I can almost feel Daddies warm loving hands on my arms now.
The sermon was ready to begin. Just as the Pastor said Amen and everyone opened their eyes you could hear the audible sighs and Awwws as the Sun came up over that cross. The cross was silhouetted in the early misty dawn of a new day. Indescribable, Awesome, magnificent. No words match that beautiful sight. Neither can any words describe how standing there close to my Daddy, sheltered from the cold by his body and looking up at my Mama's face as she stood there holding my little brother so handsome in his new suit.
To this day I never see a sunrise that I don't go back to that peaceful sunrise on that little hill above the Church. I get up before dawn every morning now and watch the sunrise. Some mornings there are just clouds and rain but I know the sun is there and it will peek out again soon. And when it does I will do all I can to be there to see it. There is no other hopeful, comfortable feeling that I can imagine that would top it.
3-31-09...JUST A PENNY?A few weeks ago I was in a store. This little boy and his Mom were in front of me with a cart. The little boy dropped something and it rolled back towards me. It was a penny. He turned and was coming back to pick up his penny. What his Mom said curled my toes. "Come on Robbie it is just a penny". I wanted to shout at that young Mother, "Oh honey please don't teach your child that a penny has no value". But of course I couldn't do that. What I did was pick up the penny and hurry after the crying little boy and hand him his penny. "Here honey, save this penny until you get some more then you can buy something". I was afraid the Mom would tell me to mind my own business but when the little boy stopped crying I saw relief on her face and she thanked me.
When I was growing up I dropped my penny down in the toilet one morning. I ran and told my Daddy and he got a shovel and dipped it out for me. A penny meant a lot then and I realize that is not the case now but several pennies will buy a small boy something. I hope that Mother learns so her kids can learn that everything has a value. Oh how I would loved to have been able to tell that Mom something to help her. It just breaks my heart to see how some kids today do not have the advantages I had growing up.
I was taught right. And sometimes that don't count for much with others. I was called Goody two shoes often in school but I stuck to what I was taught. That was how it was because my Mama and Daddy said so. What about that little boy and many others like him. A penny dropped may be a dime, or a quarter next time. I shudder to think.
One day Brenda and I had walked to Parks store. I dropped my nickel on the way and absolutely could not find it. We looked and looked but the nickel was gone. I was upset but Brenda said she would share her nickel with me. Losing a nickel was a big thing with me and I was devastated. I asked God to help me find it.
We walked on to the store and just before we went in the door I spied something sticking out of the rocks. I dug it out and it was a dirty nickel. Now I could have just walked on in the store and spent the nickel. But I didn't. I knew what I had been taught about that. I (reluctantly I must say) took the nickel up to the counter and handed it to Hall Parks and told him I had found it outside. He took the nickel and tossed it down on the counter and went about his business. No Thank You or anything. Just took the nickel. I was hurt and confused. I had done the right thing so why did it hurt so much. I ran out of the store crying. Brenda came too. When we got home we told My Mama about it. She cried too but she told me how proud she was of me because I had done the right thing. When Daddy came home he reinforced what Mama had said. He held me and bragged on me till I was fine and went on my way. Many years later I found out how Mama and Daddy really felt about what Hall Parks had done. I had done the right thing and they were very proud of me. BUT! Hall had done the wrong thing and they were both steamed at him. I also found out that they both told him in no uncertain terms what they thought of what he had done to me. I also remember finding a penny at the store later and Hall Parks gave it back to me and Thanked me and told me I was a good little girl. Did he mean what he said? Heck no (I found that out later too) but my Daddy was standing there and I think he knew he'd better not keep that penny. YEP!
I learned a good lesson from all that. Do what you know is right but don't always expect for others to recognize it. Nope, everyone didn't get the kind of raising I did. I'm sorry for them. YEP!
3-30-09...MY LIFE IN A NUTSHELLMemories are what we draw on to remember people places and times in our life that made us either happy or sad. I choose the happy ones especially on a day when I tend to be sad or down about the things of now. Life was so simple when I was growing up. Probably due mostly to the fact that my Loving Parents took care to make me happy and protected. I just didn't know things were hard. That is a gift my Parents gave me that can never be replaced. That warm, safe, feeling loved, and wonderful youthful feeling. My Parents gave my Brother and I that and I will be forever thankful to them. We had everything we needed and often some of what we wanted.
I am sure that my Mama and Daddy had arguments and little hurts with one another but they were very careful to not let us see that. They always presented a loving peaceful atmosphere for our home.
We lived at the end of a dead end road right beside the rail road tracks. Trains came through and because the crossing was just up the way they blew their mournful whistle right in front of our house. We got used to the sound and usually never paid any attention to it.
In the late 40's and 50's was when I grew up here. Things were so different then. It was 60 + years ago and our world was different and more simple. We made our own fun down there. My Auntie lived right across the Pasture and my cousin Brenda and I had so much fun. In and out of capers.
We didn't know about the harsh realities of life in the world that surrounded us but somehow we were prepared and ready for it when it came.
We were spanked when we needed it and we always seemed to know that we did need it. We were loved, hugged, cuddled, and given a secure feeling even though things were bad.
Daddy worked in a coal mine and was gone all week. He worked hard and the work was dangerous. But he provided for us. We were proud of our Parents no matter what.
My Brother and I were taught love and respect for each other as well as for everyone else around us. Daddy said often, "You are as good as anyone in the world. But you are not better than anyone else".
Our Parents were there for us as long as they were alive. At times now I can feel their presence all around me and I still want to make them proud of me. They gave us a rich life filled with everything we needed to make places for ourselves in this world. We are still simple people. Not much money but we are happy that way. Don't need more than we have. We never wanted what we couldn't have and still don't.
I owe all that I am to those two wonderful people who brought me in to this world and loved me unconditionally. I miss them so badly sometimes that it hurts. Oh how I'd love to have them to talk to sometimes. My best friends in this world.
LOOK MAMA AND DADDY, I DID GOOD!!!
3-28-09...REMEMBER THE CLOTHES LINEDoes anyone remember the clothes line? I'm sure many of you do. If not then you probably wont enjoy this.
I remember first washing the clothes on a wringer washer. Now Mama washed the clothes with a rub board in a iron kettle before we got electricity at our house. I can barely remember that but I know Mama was pregnant with Norman and she had to reach out because her belly wouldn't let her get close to the kettle.
When she finally got the wringer washer I know she was sure she was rich. The wringer washer was hard to use too. Water had to be drawn from the well, heated on the stove, and poured in the washer. Then there were two rinse tubs, one warm, one cold. The cold water had Mrs. Stuarts bluing added to it to help keep the clothes white. The washer was then started and it would agitate the clothes in the home made lye soap that Mama had melted and poured in the water. Now folks if you want clean, fresh smelling, and white clothes, this is the only way to really get them. SOOO! Not possible today. Mama got her hair hung in the wringer one day but thats another story for another time.
After the clothes were wrung out of the bluing water they were carried to the clothes line to be hung to dry. Mama had an apron that Grandma had made especially for hanging clothes. The whole front had a deep pocket to carry the clothes pins. Mama had already took a wet cloth out and walked the length of the three lines washing the line. Some people had fancy plastic but ours were wire. Kinda like barbed wire without the barbs. The washing was done on Monday, always. Why? Heck I don't know, but everybody washed clothes on Monday. YEP!
Now back to the clothes line. Everything was hung in proper style. Meaning, sheets in the front to hide the undies on the middle line. Towels and wash rags were hung by the sheets. Back line was for our colored clothes so the sun wouldn't bleach them out in the hot summer. Shirts were hung by the tail, skirts were hung by the waist. Dresses were on hangers with a clothes pin to hold it on the line. Women and girls undies were never hung by mens and boys undies. Oh Heck No, just wasn't done.
The clothes were watched closely from the kitchen window making sure birds didn't poop on them, (mostly an impossible task) dogs didn't chew on them, and mainly that they stayed on the line. If the wind was blowing you had softer clothes. If the sun was bright (especially in the summer) you had whiter clothes. In the winter they would freeze dry on the line. Yes they really would. A threat of rain? Shoot the clothes had to be hung anyway. If they were dry when rain started you hurried out and brought the clothes in. If not, you waited till rain stopped and they got dry. If it rained too long the clothes were brought in and hung all over the house. You NEVER! Left clothes on the line overnight. Just not an option. Why the neighbors would call you lazy. Can't have that. I really believe that people watched your clothes line to see if you had anything new, holes in your drawers, whether or not you kept your sheets clean, etc. And if you left clothes out overnight some neighbor would come running the next morning to see if someone was sick. They were really concerned, not nosy.
The last thing about hanging your clothes on the clothesline was that wonderful smell they had. No fabric softeners can imitate that smell. It is indescribable. No way to duplicate that smell and no way to describe it unless you have experienced it. I hope you have!
3-27-09...LEARNING TO DRIVEI was sitting in the quiet predawn this morning and started thinking about when I was learning to drive. Oh My Gracious, what a catastrophe that was. I still cringe just thinking about it. Just was a good thing that I had dirt roads to learn on and hardly ever any traffic.
Daddy had let me sit on his lap before my feet would reach the pedals and steer the car. Of course it was a standard transmission. No automatics then. All I really learned that way was steering and Daddy did the most of that. Daddy worked in another state in a coal mine so I asked Mama to let me drive one day. We were going to Parks Store. Just had to go up to the end of our road, turn right and go a very short distance and you were there. The road was wide and straight. Shouldn't be a problem you would think. But with me at the wheel, and Mama, who couldn't drive worth a lick, as my Teacher, It was an accident waiting to happen. Yep!
You could hear me to the next county stripping gears every time I tried to shift. Once I even got it in reverse instead of second gear. People were stepping out of their houses to see what the heck was making all the noise.
Now Mama was a nervous wreck before we got to the corner. She was wringing her hands and saying, "Lord help us, Clydene, Oh my gosh Clydene be careful". I think it had slipped her mind that she was supposed to be showing me what to do. She was just going berserk. We got to the end of that road and it was more slowing down, screeching the gears and getting ready to turn right. Did I say right? Yep should have been right, but I turned left. Yep sure did. "Clydene what are you doin'. Where you goin', Oh my gosh, Lord protect us. You are going the wrong way Clydene, you gotta turn around". Mama was frantic and no use to me right then. Heck fire I knew I had to turn around didn't I? Sure I did. Daddy told her later, "Lucille why didn't you just make Clydene stop and you get under the wheel"? Guess she never thought of that. HE HE Now I loved and do love My Mama with a deep love and I would never have told any of this while she was alive out of respect for her, but she never did get to be a good driver. I'm expecting her to slap my jaws any second right now! Bless Her Heart of gold.
Anyway back to my story. I can't remember being scared, can't remember speaking a word, and by then I wasn't hearing Mama anymore. Isn't that the way it is with the young? Now I feel my skin prickle even thinking about it. I managed to pull in to a wide driveway and get turned around with screeching of gears and jerking both our necks almost off with the sudden stops and the hunching along of the car as I changed gears. Heck fire I was on my way again. Whoppee I'm drivin', Yep just look at me world, I'm drivin'.
I screeched in to Parks store just barely missing the gas tank out front and coming to a stop right next to a fence. Heck, That was good driving wasn't it? Well wasn't it? I figured I was ready to take the highway now. Yep! Course I was set straight on that one real quick like when Mama regained her equilibrium. YEP!
Mama had forgot what she was coming to get at the store but thank goodness she had me with her cause I remembered. OH SURE SHE WAS Lucky.
I went in and got the things Mama needed came back out and got under the wheel to go home. Hall Parks came out of the store and gave me some instructions. Heck, now that I think about it, I never saw Hall drive. He didn't even have a car. I drove the same way home with only one mishap. I drove into a shallow ditch and gunned it right back out and roared on home. Mama was jumpy all evening and she never again let me drive. I was 13 then and I didn't really learn to drive till I was 18 and married. But that is another scary story which I'll tell you later. YEP!
3-24-09...MOUSE IN THE HOUSEA MOUSE IN THE HOUSE!
A few weeks back I saw those tell-tale little signs of a dreaded mouse in my house. Euww, I don't like those little critters. They just give me the creeps. I put out some poison to rid myself of the pesky little things and went about my day. I continued to see the signs so I set a mouse trap under my sink. Now that is a major accomplishment for me. Just as I started to set the thing down it threw and scared the pants off me. That happened several times. After I had done the Watusi around the kitchen and shrieked and hollered I finally got the darn thing set.
During the night I head the pop of the trap as it threw. I went back to sleep thinking. By golly I got that critter now. When I got up the next morning I very cautiously peeked in to the cabinet. The dang trap was no where in sight. Now what in the heck happened to that dang thing, I thought. Heck I'm gonna' hafta' take all this stuff out so I can see where that blamed mouse drug the trap. But my gosh what if I accidentally touch that durn mouse. Oh No, I aint gonna'do that. Heck No I aint puttin' my hand in there. Got the broom and stood back as far as I could and did a few swipes around in there to move things outta' my way. Well heck that aint workin' either. I knew I had to find that thing and get rid of the dead mouse because it would be stinking soon. I looked out the window and there on the deck was a small shovel. Shoot fire, I'll just scoop everything out. I got the shovel and did just that. I found the trap allright but no mouse. Nope! It had thrown the trap, stole the cheese and gone on its way. Dad blamed thing anyway. Well I'm sure not gonna' be outsmarted by a mouse. No siree. Watch out you little critter cause I'm getting mad now. I set three traps in different places having the same problems and doing the twist this time, but I did it finally.
Next morning two were thrown and the cheese was gone. But what got me was the third one. The cheese was gone. That sucker got the cheese without even throwing the trap. Heck fire if I breathe on the dang things they throw.
I regrouped, put the traps outside, and put out more poison discovering that that darn mouse had cleaned the poison up too, Good Grief. I'm feeding that thing!!!
I stopped seeing the droppings for a few days. Well, I guess it got too fat and aint' hungry any more.
One morning I got up way before daylight. I started my coffeepot. I stepped on something in the floor. It was soft and it squeaked so I figured it was Moses toy. It startled me but I went on to the bathroom.
I came back later to get a cup of coffee and there in the floor in plain sight was the dead mouse. I started backing up and at the same time I tried to run forward. I stepped on something that squeaked. It was one of the dog toys but I thought MOUSE!! I jumped up and down and tried to scream. I said tried to scream because no sound was coming out. I was so flustered that I guess I forgot how to scream. I stood right there and wet my pants. YEP SURE DID!! Then I did the watusi, twist, and jitterbug all rolled in to one. I was sliding by now in the wet floor.
Well I got to the bathroom, showered and put on clean clothes. Came back and finally got my coffee, then went to my recliner and sat down. Took me a while to come down out of the twilight zone, but when I did I realized Don hadn't woke up. So he don't know what happened and he aint gonna know. NOPE!
So folks that is my horror story for today. I wasn't going to tell anyone. I told you and I hope you can keep a secret.YEP!
By the way when Don got up he said you got the mouse with the poison. He picked it up and threw it out just like I knew he would. YEP! Problem solved!!!!
3-23-08...OLD ROCKING CHAIRS
There they sit side by side
Grandma ans Grandpas old rocking chairs.
Holding nothing but memories good and bad
lots of laughter and lots of tears.
They are old now, the paint is cracked,
Oh how they squeak when moved.
The memories they hold are a part of my life.
On the floor is the rockers grooves.
I used to sit there on Grandpa's lap
listening to the stories he told.
And in Grandma's lap I ate cookies
she'd baked in the old wood stove.
They rocked together over the years
and took life in its stride.
Then came one day one rocker grew still
and Grandpa was ever more sad.
We went each day even after we grew
with families of our own.
Then the dreaded day came both rockers were still.
My Grandma and Grandpa were gone.
Clydene Overbey 1985
3-23-09...ANTIE JOY AND SHARON
I have another Aunt who I call Auntie. She is Auntie Joy and she is my Mamas sister. She looks a lot like my Mama. Since my Mama passed away Auntie has been my Mama. She will tell me the right thing just the way my Mama did and chastise me if I goof up. Aunties daughter Sharon is one year younger that I am.
Now Sharon and Brenda are not one bit alike. Where I got Brenda in to trouble, Sharon got me lots of spankings and bested me a bunch of times while we were growing up. Her mind was quick and to the point.
I remember one day Sharon picked a bunch of flowers out of our yard. We were not supposed to pick the flowers, I knew that and Sharon knew that. We were not very old but we did know picking the flowers would get us in trouble. Well Sharon picked them and knowing that she would get caught she handed them to me. Yep, I took them and started off toward the house. I figured, Heck fire Sharon picked them I wont get in trouble. Right? Wrong! Mama saw me with the flowers and spanked me. Yep, sure did. I said "I didn't pick em' Sharon did". Well it was straightened out and Sharon got a spanking too but heck fire I got one first.
Then there was the day we each had a banana to eat. We were out under a tree munching on them bananas. Sharon ate hers fast and I still had over half of mine. Sharon said, "Clydene lets play like you ask me if I want a bite of your banana". "OK", I said. "Well ask me if I want a bite of your banana" she said. "OK, Sharon do you want a bite of my banana"? "Yep sure do" she answered. As she was answering the play like became real cause she grabbed my banana and ate it all in one bite.
My Auntie Joy and My Mama both took care of us when they were together just like Mothers do. I remember going to stay at Sharon's in the summer for a few days. It was way out in the country just like where I lived except farther out. I loved to go there and have Aunties Chocolate gravy for breakfast. Yummy! They had it every morning. Auntie would make me a chocolate cake too. Scrumpdidilicious!!! I was watching her one day and noticed her butter was white instead of yellow like ours. Right there I decided I didn't like Aunties white butter and wouldn't eat it . I waited till I got home and asked my Mama how come Aunties butter was white. She said the type of cow Auntie had made the butter white. Heck fire I didn't get that at all. Just wasn't a gonna eat that ol' white butter. Of course those good chocolate cakes she made had that white butter in them but I didn't know that.
Aunties husband Coy raised peanuts and popcorn. We could go in the barn and husk some popcorn to take inside for my Auntie to pop in a big iron skillet. Boy howdy was that popcorn good. Just knowing we had got it right off the cob ourselves. Not many kids today would understand that, If any.
Then there were the Peanuts in the barn to dry. We were not really supposed to get in to them but we did of course. We ate so many of them one day that we were both sick that night. We never told about eating the peanuts though. I kinda think they were not ready to eat.. You know, Green peanuts?
I didn't get to see my Auntie Joy and Sharon as much as I did Auntie Ethel and Brenda but we had lots of fun when I did. Auntie is still living in the same spot she lived then only in a big new house. I still love to go visit my Auntie Joy. It is like going home again almost. Sharon lives not far from Auntie but is sick and I don't see her very often. But the memories will always be there. Yep. I was blessed in my childhood with wonderful Family all around me.
Sharon and I on ol' Dixie
Auntie Joy
Mother (MAMA)3-23-09...WHAT IS A MOTHERA Mother is*** The ultimate earthly love.
A Mother is *** Commissioned by God Above.
A Mother is ***Gods helper number one.
A Mother is **** What our lives become.
A Mother is *** Teacher Nurse Friend.
A Mother is **** Our protector till her end.
A Mother is*** molder of our souls.
A Mother Is *** Director of our goals.
A Mother is *** our upholder here on earth.
A Mother is *** The first to see our worth.
A Mother is **** Maker of what we are.
A Mother is *** One of Gods shining stars.
A Mother is *** The one who'll stand alone as our Guardian
Till God calls her home.Clydene OverbeyMOTHER IS GODS HELPERMother is a precious word, her worth is hard to find
She's Godly and so precious, I'm always on her mind.
Her Love is un-ending, un-compromising, un-shaken
Always there when I needed her, with her I'm not forsaken.
She carried me in her womb, later in her arms.
Picked me up when I had fallen, Brushed me off and sent me on.
Mama wiped my tears and quited my fears,
and watched me as I've grown.
Kissed me good night, made everything seem right,
Mama would never leave me alone.
So I can't forget to hold her dear, after her many years on this earth.
I'll be there for her as she was for us
from the time she gave us birth.
Mother's are Gods helpers to mold us in our youth.
God gave me to her, to raise for HIM, instill in me Gods worth.
Mama raised me for God, He was her guiding hand.
I'm loaned to Mama for a little while
Mama is Gods Angel in life's plan.Clydene Overbey
3-21-09...FIRST DAY OF SCHOOLI washed your sweet face and kissed tears from your eyes.
Let you do some things while I sat and cried.
I doctored skinned knees and cooked favorite meals.
Only a Mother could know how it feels.
I watched you grow and guided your first steps.
Had to turn loose when you no longer needed my help.
I baked a million cookies and poured the pop.
As long as I lived I never wanted to stop.
I sat many nights beside you when you were ill.
Then Prayed my Thanks to God, you were once again well.
As I watched you cry or watched you at play.
I didn't think of the time when you'd be away.
I liked to watch your every move, catching you before you fall.
Choosing your friends for you.
The day I watched you go off to school, me crying like a fool.
Never knowing then that worse was to come.
I was to lose you for good, my only Son.
I still cry, but you are still here with me it seems.
You are here in my heart, You are here in my dreams.THE LORD GIVETH AND TAKE AWAYGod gave you to me to love and to keep.
For a little while but now I weep.
God took you back I can not ask why.
It was hard to accept but I must try.
I miss you so much, but you're here in a way.
You left Mama so much behind
like sweet things you would say.
Your smile is in the stars that twinkle in the night.
I see your sweet face in the sun smiling and bright.
I feel your touch in a puppy so fluffy and sweet.
Your kiss come on the gentle breezes that caress my cheek.
You are now Gods little Angel and safe in His love.
I"ll see you again Son in your home Above.Clydene Overbey 1988
3-20-09...OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!I want to tell you about my day. It was a few days ago but still fresh in my mind. What started out as a normal day ended up in the craziest day I've had in a long time.
I got up bright and early, had my coffee while I checked out everyone and everything on The Hill. Just a usual morning for me. I had my day planned and a mental list of all I was going to do. That was my first mistake. Planning a day in advance always seems to run amuck for me. I know better than to try and be organized so why in the heck do I try it?
After The hill time I went to the kitchen to cook breakfast. I got out the bacon and put 10 slices in the skillet to fry. Five for me and five for Don. I put another skillet on the stove with a little bit of corn oil and turned the burner on low. Put the bacon back in the refer and took out two big brown eggs. Very organized I'm a thinkin'. Saving steps and puttin' things away as I go. Just like my Mama taught me. Well I guess my nose was too high in the air from self pattin' on the back right then, cause I didn't see Moses's squeaky toy on the floor. I stepped on that sucker and it squeaked real loud. I threw up my hands and shrieked. Guess what? The eggs flew outta' my hands and hit the cabinets, dribbled on down to the floor and the shells wound up at my feet. Moses who is always at my feet got his share of spray. Now there is nothing in the world I hate more than cleaning up slimy egg. Yukky! But clean it up I did and it was scattered everywhere. Ok now I said to myself go get two more eggs. I hated to waste those farm grown big brown eggs but it was done now. Hey! I'm cool, I aint going nuts, or rantin' and ravin', At least not yet!!!
I got the eggs and very carefully brought them over to the skillet. Heck fire what is that smell! Oh no that cotton pickin' oil must be old cause it stinks to high heaven. Ok, no problem, I put the eggs on the counter and turn off the skillet. I'll have to clean it up later but right now get another skillet and put fresh oil in it from the new bottle I shoulda' used in the first place. Turned it on low and cracked the eggs in there to fry. I look over to my bacon and it has cooked so long on one side that it is stuck to the pan. Good bacon will stick if you don't watch it close and this was good lean bacon. I took care of that put some bread to toast, poured a glass of milk for me and a cup of coffee for Don. Heck I'm going now I thought and was beginning to feel real proud of myself again. Breakfast came out good and I had more coffee, got myself dressed and went on to the next item on my agenda which was stripping sheets from beds. I like to have fresh sheets and pj's and robe, the whole bit for bedtime. I hung my bedspreads out on the deck to air out. Boy I'm a gonna' sleep good tonight I thought.
My organization was going by the wayside fast though cause I was beginning to think I'd bit off more than I could chew in one day. My mental list was just too dang long.
By the time I got the beds all put back together nicely it was dinner time. Our noon meal is our big meal of the day and then snacking for supper. I was going to fix steak, potato salad, and broccoli. Well that didn't go well either, I made one mess after another but I wont go in to it all. Just suffice to say after supper that evening I was draggin' big time. I made my way back to The Hill for a while, watched some TV, then I was ready for a hot shower. But!!!! When I had put the last batch of clothes in the washer I had not remembered to put them in the dryer. My favorite clean sweet smelling PJ's were not dry. Well heck fire now I'm getting' flustered a bit. I had others but I wanted those to sleep in tonight. I put them in the dryer and waited for them to get dry. I was nodding now and my eyes were drooping on me. Didn't see how I was gonna' stay awake much longer.
Finally the dryer stopped. I got my pj's robe and underclothes and hurried in to the bathroom. Now folks here is where it gets really bad. I mean bad with a capital B and thats BAD. I usually put my night clothes on the closed commode while I am in the shower and that's what I did. Only trouble was , the lid was not closed on the commode. NOPE!!. My Pj's and my under clothes just soaked right on down in to the stool as slick as butter. YEP!!! Sure did! Good thing was I don't allow my toilet to go unflushed so it was clear water. I stood there stunned and watched this and then thats when I came unglued. I went totally berserk I mean off the wall. I was shaking and sobbing. Must not have been loud cause Don never even knew what happened, and if you tell him I'm gonna have to murder you in your sleep!!!! YEP!
I just got a trash bag and put the wet things in it dumped them in the washer, got more pj's and took a long hot shower. It was close to midnight when I got in bed but I slept like a hibernating bear. No one around here will ever hear this story so don't you breathe a word of it. OK?
3-19-09...THINKING OF GRANDMA
GRANDMAS PATCHWORK QUILTS
Grandma was always sewing,
Thats the way I remember her.
She'd set there for hours, her quilt box by her chair.
This box contained many scraps
of material she had used, to make clothing
for all of us, and she never got them confused.
She would say, This piece is from the dress
that I made for you.
This one is from a shirt
your Brother ruined when it was new.
This is from your Mamas skirt.
She still wears it today.
Heres one from the patches in your Daddies pants,
Then she would say,
This quilt will be a remembrance for you and me.
It contains a part of all of us.
What a joy its now to see.
Clydene Overbey
GRANDMAS APRON
Grandma always wore an apron
Twas a part of getting dressed.
It was starched and ironed so neatly.
Never a crumpled mess.
She made her aprons lovingly
of scraps in her quilt box.
She put it on each morning
same as her shoes and socks.
that apron was a part of Grandma
she wore it everywhere.
My Grandma without her apron
Wouldn't be Grandma, Thats for sure.
Clydene Overbey
3-19-09...THOUGHTS ON SPRING
Just a few of my thoughts on spring. These were published in 1993 in Gods Beauty, A collection of Spring.
MARCH
I glimpsed a Robin outside my window,
Bobbing his head and trilling a tune.
I thought to myself, That little one
Is in my yard too soon.
For March winds are a blowing
Their crisp breaths all around that tree
where that little bird sits.
And the nip in the air feels fall, not spring.
Maybe he shouldn't be here yet.
Then I glance at my flower bed, covered with brown leafs,
under the oak tree where the Robin sings,
What do I see but little green heads,
struggling upward to be seen.
Green shoots of an Iris, a tulip, and a hyacinth,
that tells me Spring is indeed near.
That Robin knows where he is, it is the scheme of things.
No, that Robin need not have any fear.
Clydene Overbey
SPRING
The sun is shining brightly, air is crisp and sweet.
Green grass is peeking through, brown leafs at my feet,
Yellow daffodils are blooming, tulips peeking out.
Birds are singing merrily, Spring just seems to shout.
Hummingbirds will be here soon, flinting back and forth.
They'll drink nectar from the feeders, hanging on my porch.
God gives us all this beauty, each year at this time.
Nothing man made on this earth,,,
Could compare to God's Springtime!!!
Clydene Overbey
GODS SONGBIRD
I chanced to see a bird this morning,
In all its glory, perched on a branch.
I heard its trill upon the air.
And I looked to take a glance.
I said dear bird how can you sing,
such a beautiful song?
You sing in such a beautiful way,
and do it all day long.
He cocked his head to one side,
I think he was amused at me.
But he didn't need to answer for I knew.
God made him that way you see.
Clydene Overbey
