3-2-10...WOES OF A FLY SWATTERIf you have never run threw a full grown row of cow corn at night with only the light of the moon to guide you than you should do that. We thought it was the most magnificent thing that was ever invented. We had never heard of maze but that was it. Just a way for us to have fun down there with not a lot to do. We made fun out of anything. But the night we did some damage to Daddy's corn, although unintentionally, that fun thing stopped abruptly. Oh boy was that fun while it lasted though. Well, except for the night we came head on with a skunk and her babies. A skunk is bad enough but with babies, Psew awful. But that's another story. I started out to talk about Mamma's flyswat.
In the winter when it was not good to break a switch off the peach tree then Mamma had a fly swatter that worked well. We were swatted a lot because we were getting in to things a lot. We survived and we didn't have flash backs or whatever they say now for the reason for a kid not to be swatted.
The swats were different then. Not plastic but made of wire like was used on screen doors. This wire was surrounded in metal. They were tough now I'm here to tell you. I watched Mamma kill a rat with hers swat one day.
Mamma did not allow fighting and for sure she didn't in the house. One day Norman and Paul were having a slapping match and I was running in the kitchen to tell on them. She listened then she got that old fly swatter and gave me a swat. "Mamma I wasn't doing nothin" I protested. I guess I got it for some of the times I DID do Somethin' and didn't get caught. Or maybe for being a tattle tail. Mamma didn't like that either. She said once that she could find out all our stuff' on her own. She could too. After she took care of my whack the boys got their turns.
Then there was the day we brought the baby rabbit in the house. That thing was full of filth. I know it had bugs cause something bit me. Anyway we were able to hide it from Mamma for all of ½ of a day. Long time considering her track record. We got a box and made it a bed. We got some carrots and lettuce out of the old ice box and laid them in the box. The rabbit probably wasn't old enough to eat but we didn't know that. Of course we got bored after a while and went on to other things. When we finally went back to our box the rabbit was gone. We looked everywhere. Boy Howdy we knew we'd better find that durn rabbit or we were in big trouble. We just could not find it so we decided it had got out of the box and somehow got outside. OK That'll Work! We put the box back where we found it and forgot the whole thing.
At supper that night Mamma said "Clyde I killed a rat today with my fly swat. We sure need some more rat poison". We looked at each other in horror. Oh No she had killed our rabbit. After we all ate Mamma said, "I also found some lettuce and carrots in the trash. Would you kids know anything about that?" Well Good Grief, did that woman ever miss anything? Heck no she never missed a thing if we had done it.
The rabbit had got out of the box and Mamma HAD killed it with her fly swat but at the time she was killing it she thought it WAS a rat. I don't know what she would have done if she had known it was a rabbit and I never asked her but after we got whacked a good one with her fly swatter (Of course she scrubbed it first) we never brought another rabbit in the house. NOPE!!! NO WAY.
3-1-10...THE JOYS OF SPRINGBoy oh Boy am I thinking about spring right now.. Some of my favorite things are the flowers and trees in bloom.I love seeing the robins hopping around their nest, trying to protect their blue eggs. There are at least two of them in my yard right now and man are they busy little critters. They hop around finding worms out of the still cold ground and twigs for their nests. Every year I just am positive that they are here too soon but they never are.
I love the feel of grass under my bare toes or just throwing on flip flops to wear to the store. More often than not though I'm barefooted.I like the summer colors, yellow, blue, green, lavender. I always had a new yellow Easter dress for church.Like my mama before me. Happy thoughts are what comes to mind when I hear the word spring.
Spring means new, fresh, and alive. I think we’re allowed to start thinking about it now!! Finally it’s March and for the moment air temperatures are hanging between 30 – 40f and showing signs of a bit of warming. Oh sure, we might get a bit more cold and a bit more snow as Winter fights to keep it’s grasp. But with the days growing longer, things starting to bud, and even some green grass showing in some spots in my yard, I think it is time to start planning on spring. According to the Groundhog in February we had six more weeks of this nasty weather. That is the official groundhog (what's his name?) but in my neck of the woods we have our own groundhog (can't remember his name either) and he says spring has arrived. If so it won't be long till flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing around them.
My Mamma used to have spring cleaning for what seemed like ages on end. But when she was ready for spring cleaning it seemed I always had spring fever . This is the time of year when lots of people, young and old, have spring fever. Nowadays it is mostly a state of mind -- not a malady – which commonly occurs on balmy sunny days in April and May. It is characterized by an "oh, shucks" notion that nothing is so important that it can't wait. You have an almost irresistible urge to play hooky, get out-of-doors, and go fishing or saunter aimlessly along or maybe just lie and bask in the sun. Mar. 26--Every year around this arrival of spring, a mysterious affliction strikes young and old. A thermometer may not register a fever, but many symptoms still exist. Oh how I hated to go to school in those Spring days of April before school was out in May. I would much rather be outside and found it hard to concentrate on lessons.
Right now I have an urge to take a big glass of iced tea outside and dig around in warm spring soil but I know there is no warm soil to be found. Hey I even like the spring storms and all the April showers.
Now having said all this and tootin' the horn of spring I have to say I don't like what comes next. Summer is tortuous to me and spring doesn't ever seem to last long enough. Nope I wont ever be tootin' the horn for summer
2-28-10...CITY VERSUS COUNTRYAre you more of a city person or a country person ? Some people are fonder of life in the city rather than the country or vice versa because of many different things. One is the pace of living; some people love a fast paced city life compared to the slower, more relaxed pace in the country. I think it is just what you are used to. After living in the country all my life when I got married I lived in several big cities. That way I can speak for both and I must still say I like the country best. Population is a factor; some people may like to live around a bunch of people where there are stores and restaurants on every corner for convenience rather than a sparsely populated one similar to the country where there is peace and quiet and no traffic noise. Another thing may be transportation; large cities tend to have public transportation that chauffeurs people throughout the city, where in the country that kind of transportation is either not needed or is not provided. These factors influence the way people make decisions on whether to live in either an urban or a rural area. The fast paced city life offers more entertainment, sports, shopping, and career opportunities than a slow, more relaxed country life.. Country life means you have the opportunity to raise much of your own food, be it from a garden or livestock. The population of an area can carry a lot of weight when it comes to choosing a place to live, whether in the city or in the country. In The countries increased cost of gasoline because of traveling farther for everyday necessities. Even though neighbors live further apart, they seem to know each other better and are always there help whenever the circumstances call for it. Living in the country has proven to be a more relaxed way of life. These factors are pace of living, population, and transportation. :As we all know, City people and Country people have a very different outlook on life. The Country outlook is one of perseverance and hardship. Its about flexibility and disappointment, debt, and a slow pace of life. Watching the seasons turn. Following life closer to nature and its hardships. The closer to nature they live, the more they can appreciate the nature of things. Compared to City people, Country people seem out of touch with modern culture. However, in general, country people have far more important context and contact with their neighbors. Elbow room changes how you think. There is a great deal of independence in Country living, but the kind that supports ones neighbors rather than necessarily blames them.
The City is way more convenient with more to offer. More opportunities, more jobs, etc. But sometimes you never even lay eyes on your neighbor let alone know and visit them. There is just more closeness in the country. More visiting and more really close friends.
You can see that I am one sided when it comes to the country and it will always win out for me. I realize that one day I may be unable to live way out here away from anyone or any way to get help. Yep I know that's coming but right now all I can hear outside is the whistling pines, a relaxing sound. I was at my Brothers one day in town and the noise from the streets just about drove me crazy. I would never get used to that. I know because I tried.
2-26-10...THINGS YOU DON"T HEAR THESE ANY MORE
Be sure to refill the ice trays, we're going to have company. OR- Put the 25 pound sign in the window for the iceman to see. Watch for the postman, I want to get this letter in the mail today. Quit slamming the screen door when you go out! Be sure and pull the windows down when you leave, it looks like a shower is coming up. And don't forget them clothes on the line. Don't forget to wind the clock before you go to bed. Wash your feet before you go to bed, you've been playing outside all day barefooted. Why can't you remember to roll up your britches legs? Getting them caught in the bicycle chain so many times is tearing them up. You have torn the knees out of that pair of pants so many times there is nothing left to put a patch on. Don't you go outside with your school clothes on! Go comb your hair; it looks like the rats have nested in it all night. Be sure and pour the cream off the top of the milk when you open the new bottle. Take that empty bottle to the store with you so you won't have to pay a deposit on another one. Put a dish towel over the cake so the flies won't get on it. Quit jumping on the floor! I have a cake in the oven and you are going to make it fall if you don't quit! Let me know when the Fuller Brush man comes by, I need to get a few things from him. You boys stay close by, the car may not start and I will need you to help push it off.
Take this magazine to the toilet. We're about out of paper in there.
Here soak your cut foot in this kerosene so you don't get an infection.
When you take your drivers test don't forget to signal each turn. Left turn stick your arm straight out the window. Left arm bent at the elbow for a right turn.
It's Yes Mam and No Mam to me young man and don't you forget it.
Your face is going to freeze that way.
2-26-10...THE GOOD OLD DAYS
I was born in the early 1940's and grew up in the 50's and early 60's, got married in the middle 60's. You hear a lot of jokes about our childhood. They just have no way of knowing how it really was.! I remember some kids and their parents coming to our house sometime in that time frame. They were cousins from another state and must have been a big city. They thought we were so dumb and backward. The kids went with us to gather eggs in the hen house. They asked so many questions that Brenda and I looked at each other and made the crazy sign. Are they ripe? Did you put those eggs in the nest? Where did the chicken go to get the egg. How did that chicken carry a egg. Same with the milk. Pappa told them that brown cows made chocolate milk and they wanted to know if we fed the cows cocoa.
The annual salary then was less than 3,000 dollars in the early 50's. For Daddy it was a lot less. Yet, most of the time, only one parent had to work. Mamas stayed at home with a big smile to meet you when you got off the school bus. Grandma had a sorghum cake usually.
It was safe to send a six year old to the store to get a loaf of bread. We walked about a mile to Hall Parks store to get the bread. For a quarter, we could get the bread and enjoy a candy bar on our way back. That wasn't bad at all.
We didn't have air conditioning, so you left the windows and doors open. And you weren't afraid to do so. You knew every person in the community and their children. When a neighbor needed help, the neighborhood was there to lend a helping hand. When both parents did need to be away for a while, childcare meant leaving them with grandparents and aunts and uncles.
You had teachers who really cared and parents who were thankful for those teachers. If you got a paddling in school, you knew you were going to get another one when you got home. And you could go to school and not worry about someone having a gun. And the only drug you had to worry about was being "drug" out of bed in the morning. Ah, those fresh sun dried sheets felt so good!
Those who had a TV watched the Real McCoy s, Ozzie and Harriett, I Love Lucy, and Roy Rogers on that old black and white TV . You could go down to the theater and watch a Gene Autry movie, enjoy a coke and candy bar, all for 25 cents.
Sunday's families went to church together, enjoyed an afternoon ride and picnic together and went back to church Sunday night together.
Your Mamma knew how to make a cut knee feel fine (after the burn) and Daddy could fix anything that needed to be fixed.
You enjoyed fresh veggies from the garden, and the chickens ran loose in the yard. You gathered the eggs and milked the cow and harvested the garden right along beside your Parents.
Parents were respected and their rules were the law. Kids didn't talk back without suffering the consequences of a switch to the backside or bare legs. Kids were taught to have respect for our elders and those in authority. Kids were taught to show manners in their walk and talk. Please, Thank you.
Neighbors and friends corrected each others children.......and it was appreciated. They cared! You were taught patriotism and Christian values in school. You had prayer and the teacher read from the Bible! And that wasn't bad. In fact, it was a wonderful and grand time in so many ways! If you got a switching there was no child welfare poking around claiming child abuse.
We wore mini skirts and bell bottoms, and hip huggers. Did I say we? The word would be they. Daddy wouldn't have let me wear them even if we could have afforded it.
Each family had only one car if they had one at all. Families visited and knew the neighbors. A handshake constituted a legal and binding contract. You kept what money you had in your pocket. We walked everywhere we went. Teens didn't have a car or the most of us didn't even have a bicycle. We went bare foot most of the time in the winter and all the time in the summer. Our shoes were for “Dress Up or school” and we kept them nice.
Things have changed a lot in my 65 + years and I've seen it all. I've been here for all the new fangled things that my Mamma and Grandma never even thought of. I don't much like change. Things are changing too fast now and I'm struggling to stay still. I like keeping those good old days alive in me. YEP!!
2-21-10...THE 50's A MAGICAL TIME
Since I grew up in the 1950's it is fun for me to reflect on some of the fun and different things during that era. Drive In Theaters bring back many happy memories! My birthday being in August was the prime season for Drive In movies. Just before dark we would all pile into a car and head for the drive In. I still remember the intermission jingle "Let's all go to the lobby" with the hot dog, soda drink and popcorn dancing across the screen.
The Drive In was the favorite place to go on a date and after the show we would go to Wimpy's for a hamburger and fries or to just congregate. At that time you stayed in your car and your food was brought to you. A tray holder was placed on the drivers side window to hold the food.
There would be couples going steady with a ring around their neck to prove it. It was just brought to attention from my teenage friends in church that "going steady" is no longer used. I asked them what do you call it now? They replied just "going out". Makes no sense to me, but that is how times change. Back in the 50's and 60's when you were "going steady," the girl would be given her boyfriends ring to wear. Because they were always too big to fit the ring would be put on a ribbon to wear around your neck. Elvis had a song called “Wont You wear my ring Up around your neck to show the world I'm yours by heck”. Sometimes the ring would be put on the girls pony tail in the place of a rubber band. Don't ask me how that worked. We listened to pretty tame music then that would soothe the soul. Moon River was one of my favorites. Pat Boone was our heart throb. Some of his songs were, April Love, Love Letters In The Sand, and Chains of Love.
The summer of 1955 with Bill Haley's song "Rock Around the Clock" changed the music we listened to forever. I was hooked. Then came Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and the rest is history. My parents didn't like Rock N Roll at all but they put up' with it.
The clothes were in an era all their own. Cuffed Bobbie socks worn with suede "buckskin" shoes or saddle shoes that came in all color combinations and styles from light weight to the original heavier oxford in black and white. The sleeves were always cuffed and rolled on the girls short sleeve shirts, and finished off with a silk scarf around the neck. I had a bunch of different colors but not as many as some girls had. Wool skirts with the length at the middle of the calf with a slit in the back. No jeans or pants were allowed. My spindly little legs would just about freeze when outside. The favorite hair styles were pony tails, and shoulder length hair that was rolled at the ends with bangs and usually a side part. Barrettes were often used as decoration and to hold the hair away from the face.
The boys typical clothes were blue jeans with cuffed legs, a t-shirt with rolled sleeves, or a shirt with the back of the collar turned up. They wore various short hair styles ranging from the butch to slightly longer Elvis style that was combed back and held in place with Butch wax Hair Dressing into a duck tail or DA as it was called. Going to church on Easter Sunday was a sight to behold! All the women and young girls (me included) wore a hat adorned with artificial flowers.. Mine were always a white hat with yellow daisies. We always had white gloves. That is something I always had was my Easter Suit no matter how poor we were and we were poor. Week days in school we wore a dress or a skirt and sweater. There was a time there when everyone that could afford to wore them Dyed to match right down to the shoes.
Week ends were spent at home mostly. I usually slept on Saturday morning till I was made to get up but Sunday it was get up and get ready for Church. Sunday evening in the warmer days we would all walk over to Altus and spend the evening in the Park. It was great excitement to me. There was and still is an old well house. We sat there and also on park benches.
It was such a magical time for me. A time I often remember, dream of, and miss. So many things have been changed by what they call “Progress”? I'm not too sure the progress has all been good or healthy. But then That's Just MY Opinion. YEP!
2-19-10...OVER A BARRELLOn Wednesday of this week I got my mail out of the mail box anticipating bills and junk mail just like always.
There was one from the Electric Co that looked like a bill. Well it couldn't be a bill because I paid the bill. HMMM!
I opened it and there glaring out at me in big red letters was
Disconnect Notice. Huh, You gotta be kidding. Nope, No way, I paid that bill.
I immediately got on the phone and called the fools. By golly something is wrong here. Here is the way the call went.
Hello, Rea this is Cindy. May I help you"? "You sure can honey, I just got a disconnect and I know I paid that bill". "What is your Account number"? "Just a minute I'll have to look. OK Here it is", and I read it off to her. "That bill was not paid. We haven't received a payment for December. Would you like to take care of that now?" "No Mam I would not like to take care of it now. It has already been paid." "You can bring it in or pay on line if you'd like". "I told you Cindy that bill was paid". "There is also a late fee of $4.75. Don't forget to add that". "Hey Cindy are you a real person, or a computer? You aint hearing me so you can't be flesh and blood. That bill was paid. I personally brought it in and handed it through the window to a lady. She took it and said Thank You. It Is Paid". "If it is not paid in 5 days we will have to disconnect and to reconnect will be $295.00". Now I'm getting flustered and upset but not mad yet. Nope Not Yet. " Cindy I have my checkbook here and I can give you the check number". "The December payment has not been received in this office". "YES it was received in that office. I brought it there personally and someone took it from my hand. Check number 1821. You better look and find it". "No Payment was received in this office for December". " Then whomever took it out of my hand did something with it and you better be for finding it CINDY!" Yep now I'm getting mad. "Just hold your horses Cindy, this is a bunch of malarkey. I'll be there in about 15 minutes to point out the lady who I handed my payment to. Lets ask her what she did with it". "Now Miss O. that payment was not paid. If you need assistance we can work out payment". "Well Good Grief I never seen such a knothead in my life. Hold on I'm getting on the other phone and call my bank." When do you think you can pay this Bill"? I laid down the phone and called my bank on the other phone. "No Miss O that check has not come through the bank". "Can you trace it?" "Yes we will put a tracer on it if it comes in the bank and find out where it has been". "Thank You please stop payment on that check as of now. Will you do that?" Yes Clydene we will". "Thank you Nova I'll tell you later about these knotheads".
"Cindy" are you there". Cindy" BUZZZ Well I'll be that heiffer has hung up on me. She can't get rid of me"! I called her back. "Hello Rea this is Delores May I help You"? "Nope Put Cindy on"! "This is Cindy". " Cindy this is Clydene, I'll be down there in 30 minutes with a check and I'm bringing my check book and show you when the check was written". "That is not necessary Miss O." "Yes it is, I stopped payment on the other check and if it comes through the bank it will be traced so whoever lost it or whatever they did will be caught". "No Payment"----- "Just hold on I don't want to here that again" I hung up on the old bag by golly. Well, She hung up on me and that made me feel good. TEE HEE
I took the check to the main office and showed them the check no. and told them what happened. "And I don't intend to pay late charges". "Sorry Mam but we can't help you". I don't know what he meant by that but he marked the bill paid and didn't ask for late charges.
If the check does come through the bank I will write the second chapter. I've got a feeling it will eventually surface. YEP!
2-16-10...OL' TIPAs I look out my kitchen window across the field there are trees and a fence. There is a small outbuilding of some kind there also and it looks for all the world like the view from our back porch when I was a child. That view was the big persimmon tree where Brenda and I played, ate green persimmons, made a fort of saplings underneath it. We spent many a day in that special place where we told secrets, hid our goodies, and watched the sow have 6 little piglets one day. Fascinating. A paradise all our own. The railroad track was just to the right and that was where we first met Ol Tip. Tip was a big beautiful Collie dog of unknown age. He was walking down the track. We heard a train coming and started calling the dog to come to us, which he did. Waggin' his tail and lickin' our faces. He was skinny and started drinking out of the glasses of kool-aid we had brought out with us. We poured both glasses out in an old pie pan we had been making mud pies in. He drank it all and kept licking the dirty pan. Brenda go ask Auntie for something to feed him. No she will tell us to run him off. She wont let us keep him. Then I'll go ask my Mama. Clydene how many times have I told you not to pet strange dogs. She came with me to see the dog and I guess she had in mind to run it off and save us from a mean dog. Ethel, Come down here Mama hollered. Auntie came and either cause' Tip won them over or because we begged so convincingly Tip got to stay. He lived at both houses. He was at the bus stop with us every morning and there to meet us every evening. We both claimed him but I sure thought he loved me more. I did all I could to keep him at my house and Brenda did the same. Even the boys got in on this and it soon was an all out war between the clans. One day Brenda and I had a knock down drag out brawl. Scratchin' and clawin' and smakin', and even some of my famous bitin'. We were like two wild cats. Of course the boys ran and got our Mamas and the fight was over, but not for long. We would let it go for a day or two and here we would go again. Mama told me one day,"Now Clydene if this don't stop your Daddy is going to give Tip away". Oh No Mama, I love Tip and he's mine. Clydene he was a stray and Brenda loves him too. You two are going to have to share him or he can't stay. I guess auntie told Brenda the same thing cause' the fighting stopped. At least it stopped till' I heard Brenda outside one day calling Tip. "Brenda, shut up, Tip is here eating his supper. You shut up Clydene, He's my dog and you know it. Tip got started out there and I was callin' him back, Brenda was doing the same. Poor Ol' Tip got so confused, he'd start toward Brenda, I'd call him and he'd turn toward me. We just kept on till' Tip just turned and ran off the other way. Tip ran out to the Railroad track and started running up the way where we had first saw him. We both watched in horror as a train bumped him and threw him over in the grass. He's dead we both hollered and ran toward him. We were both cryin' and slobberin' all the way. When we got there Tip was laying on his side whining and his leg was bleeding'. We fell down on our knees there in the grass and stickers of some kind. Brenda grabbed hold of me as usual. (In crisis grab Clydene) I threw my arm around her and we cried and hugged for a long time. The boys and our Mama's came. Auntie went and got an old quilt that we had for a pallet in our fort. She rolled Tip over on the quilt and she and my Mama Carried him over to our fort which was the closest place. Tip wagged his tail and looked at us with love in his big brown eyes. Auntie got a straight board and Mama got some rags and they made a cast for Tips leg and tied it on with some elastic. Most dogs would growl or bite when they are hurt, but not Ol' Tip. Nosireee. Tip knew we all loved him and wouldn't hurt him. That night Brenda and I got to stay in the fort with Tip. The next night our Parents had a serious talk with us and we learned a hard lesson. We were so busy being jealous that we almost got Tip killed. Maybe He was running away from us and our bickering over him. We all worked at nursing Tip back to good health and he once again was our faithful companion but he walked with a limp the rest of his life. That was our reminder of how we had acted and we were sorry. We loved each other but we had our squabbles just like all kids do. Didn't matter though. I could call Brenda right now and ask for anything and she could do the same. The bond is strong in our family. Very strong! YEP!!!!
2-16-10...Seasons Of My LifeMy life has been simple. No fanfare, no big accomplishments. I'm not famous or rich, or beautiful. I never made a movie or sang on stage. I'm just me, A simple country girl that grew up in the south. I ran bare foot up dirt roads and through green pastures. I had Great Parents who taught me right from wrong then trusted that I would be as they raised me.. I became a born again Christian when I was ten years old. God guided my Parents life and He has guided mine.
I've never had much, never wanted much. I've had friends who betrayed me but more friends that didn't. I was a skinny girl, I'm a slightly overweight lady.
I draw on my beautiful memories to get me through a bad time. Sometimes I get Very Homesick for my Childhood. My childhood was happy. I was protected from the harshness of the world but at the same time I was taught what I would need to survive in it on my own.
If you think about it life has four seasons, not only in reality but also in our bodies. Spring is when we are fresh and new, bursting forth in full bloom with rosy cheeks and dimples little pink behinds. In the spring everything is refreshed after lying dormant as we had done in our Mothers womb waiting to come alive in the world. Everything sweet smelling, lots of smiles of adoration. It's then we need protectors like a soft new blossom that must withstand the ravages of weather and trampling feet. Our Parents are our protectors. Nourishing and watching us as we grow.. The very best times were in the springtime of my life.
Summer is a bit harsher but still a time of beauty and freshness. Still tender plants must withstand the hot harshness as they learn that every one is not tolerant of fresh sweetness and new life. It is hot and sticky and our tender leafs sometimes wither and fall off by the wayside lying there in the hot dust to die. A time of learning the realities of a not so tender and green plant. A time when we must learn to rely on our selves more. We still have some protection but we are urged to let go some and face more of the hard facts with our tender faces lifted up to the sunshine sometimes to sting from the harsh rays. We are moving on through life and we are learning that not all is beautiful and sweet and tender to us. That young spring bud has burst forth in bloom and must withstand harsh realities that they never knew existed in their springtime. It is not as easy as before but they have been prepared in the spring for what must come now.
Fall is another time of learning as we prepare for the coming dormant time. We are full grown. We have withstood the harsh summer and the air becomes crisp and nippy. We sometimes droop our heads wishing to again see the fresh springtime of our lives when things were easy and beautiful, loving and tender. No more are we beautiful and young but things along the way may have caused blemishes and flaws in our appearance. We now weep more and our leaves falter and trying to regain some dignity we strive toward the sun to remain warm and lively. We don't feel the gentle touches and love that was there in our first days of spring. Yet we feel the same inside. Still feeling young and vibrant only in a mature way. Our faces are sometimes drawn and wrinkled from the harsh rays of life. Inside we feel young but we realize that winter is coming and we can't slow time. Everything has a season of slowing down and contemplating what has come before. Of looking on our past mistakes and failings and wondering why. With winter approaching faster now we feel the need to hurry and slow down at the same time. A confused feeling of anticipation, wonder, and knowing. We don't know when the dormant season will come but we are ready in our hearts. We can now relax and once again enjoy the beauty around us as our foliage brightens in to splendor to glow and preen once again. The air is once again vibrant fresh and glorious. I love fall as I reflect on my Spring. I have come almost full circle now. I am ready for my winter though I don't really want it to hurry. I still have things to do so that I can leave behind something of beauty and newness for the spring once again.
I am in my winter now. I have endured. I have survived. I have led a full life that I was prepared for in my spring. My winter may be a long hard one or a short easy one. I don't know and neither do I ask. When winter ends and spring once again burst forth I will again be in the beautiful, fresh , vibrance of a new spring. Once again I will have warm loving arms to rest in and my second spring will never end. I have reached what I have striven for all the four seasons of my life but not quiet accomplishing. I am in a New Home. All my loved ones that have also come full circle will be there once again with me in our Heavenly Home with God. We will hear God say Well Done My Faithful Servant. You have done well. Welcome home!
I will enjoy my winter and hope for a long painless one as I quietly reflect on all four of my seasons. Winter is the longest hardest season of my life but I will enjoy it.
It will be a time of contemplation. Looking back to my Spring often with the fondest of memories of those beautiful days down on a dead end road by the rail road track. Of my Mama and Daddy and my Brother and I in that wonderful house that was our home. Full of love, protection, contentment, and so many memories that flood back so sweetly and so often to me now.
God Bless You all who read this. Cherish each day as if it were your very
last. Not everyone has as long a life. Some only have a short time to fulfill Gods purpose. Whatever season you are in now please enjoy and make the most of it.
2-13-10...I'M A SENIOR CITIZENSometimes I get to wondering just when I stopped lying about my age and started bragging about it. Somewhere between grade school and now I guess but I can't really remember that far back. A young Mother and I were talking one day and I don't remember a thing about the conversation but I said "Honey I'm soon to be 66 years old". She said, "Are you bragging about that". Kinda put me off for a second. How ridiculous could she get for Heavens sake. Heck fire that was a stupid question. That's the way with these younguns'. While I was standing there thinking about dressing her down good I was pondering a bit. Well Good Grief! I was bragging about it wasn't I. I sure nuff' was and it came to me loud and clear. Yep! Honey I'm real proud of my age. I want everyone around me to know how I got this way. I traveled a bunch of unpaved roads along the way. Some of them full of insurmountable boulders. I got over, through, or around every one of those suckers too. Hey sure I'm proud.
Seems like I got over the hill without getting to the top. The top is still to come and by golly I'll get there too someday.
Age don't just float down and arrive on wings or clouds honey. It has a bunch of pot holes,pit falls, stops, and jerks. It is kind of like those people who have climbed a big high mountain except for one thing. The mountain I have climbed has meant something. It took years and many many trials and heartache but along the way there has been happy days, accomplishments and satisfaction.
Another great thing about my age honey is I can get by with things more than I used to. Not bad things mind you but things like stepping on your toe if you get me upset. You wont strike out at me. I'll say Oh Honey I'm sorry. You'll be thinking you'd like to spank my rear like you would your kids. What you will say is Oh honey that's Ok. I know you didn't mean to do it. I can go to the front of the line usually because She's old Let her go first. Poor old thing.
Aging is not for sissies honey. The spoiled and coddled people today better do something fast or they aint gonna make it.
If I slid down a steep bank of gravel and dirt on my backside and went home bleeding, my Mamma washed the dirt out and poured Merthiolate in the wound besides spanking me if I was doing something I wasn't supposed to be doing. If your child comes home in that shape you'll rush him to the ER and the cops will be called. You weren't watching your kids close enough honey and child welfare will watch you for years. And Don't even dare to wear their little hiney's out with a peach tree switch.
I'm forgetful I know but that can be good also. A lot of things in my life I don't want to remember anyway. I might call you Jenny when your name is Sally but you wont mind. Here comes that poor old thing again.
I am more positive minded now Honey. Been there, done that, learned the lesson if there was one. I don't care much what people think anymore and that is a big relief.
So I guess the answer to your question(let's see what was the question? Oh yes Am I bragging about my age) I like being old, I have reached my goals mostly, overcome my obstacles and I'm still here. I like the person I am now. Honey I know I'm not going to live forever here on this earth but while I'm here I'm not planning on wasting a lot of time on trivial things. Yep? I'm 65 years old soon to be 66 and I'm just as proud as I can be about that. Yep Mighty proud even with my wrinkles, aches, and everything that comes out or off at night. I've earned every one of them. Yep!!
2-13-10...LET IT RUN IT'S COURSEI looked out this morning to all the patches of snow still on the ground and saw something that gave me hope. Could it be I thought? Oh yes it sure could be and it is. There under a patch of melting snow is little green shoots peeping out of the ground. Daffodils and Jonquils are planted there and they are certainly making themselves known to the cold weather. "Hey I'm here you can go on now, It is my turn". Did you hear them say that? Yep I sure did. I can't help but think that if that delicate little green sprout can push it's way up through the hard frozen ground that I need to stop complaining about getting up out of my chair or bending down to pick up something from the floor.
Everything seems new and alive in the spring and I love it. I sure hope my old winter body will make the transition once again. Now you all know that I love the winter snow but my body doesn't like it any more and I guess I'm going to have to go along with that. After all I don't have a replacement so gotta get along with this one.
I have had many obstacles and let downs to deal with this winter but those little green sprigs making their way out of the frozen ground gave me a new outlook. It does each year but each year it seems more so too. Some how everything seems brighter and less overwhelming with the sunshine smiling down on you and the green's and pastels of Spring are there to brighten things up.
Sometimes I get too cocky and just go through every day like I am entitled to it. I need to watch that more because every time I get too sure of myself a tragedy, disappointment, or set back of some kind will come in my life and remind me how fast everything could be snatched away from me. In the twinkling of an eye.
Everything awakens in the spring with those crisp and fierce March winds before it finally settles down to the warm and gentle April showers. The showers bring forth all the beautiful flowers by giving them the water we all need to grow. . The trees are budding and the warmth has taken away the chill of winter. But now don't be too hard on winter because it has it's functions too. It keeps things dormant to give them the strength they need to come alive in all their glory once again. Besides if there was no winter we likely wouldn't enjoy Spring so much. If we didn't sometimes see adversities the good things wouldn't be so welcome and appreciated. That is the way of The seasons. Each one has it's place just as the seasons of our lives have theirs. Winter never lasts forever and spring will always come. Spring will soon return but old man winter still had control for a spell yet. Just let it run it's course Clydene, you can't hurry God. That's just the way of it. YEP!
2-9-10...HER NAME WAS HELEN
She arrived one day, unwanted and different.
We weren't prepared for the likes of her.
She didn't fit in and we were selfish.
She just was not the way we were.
We were young, that's no excuse,
but her ways weren't what we were taught.
A lack of understanding that's what it was,
without knowing just what she thought.
Her clothes weren't clean, her body unwashed,
made being around her a chore for me.
But then there was that issue of a soft heart
that's how Mamma taught me to be.
As days went by easy won out,
I rejected her just like the rest.
She soon was gone from amongst our midst
which put an end to this test.
Didn't think about Helen for many a year,
except when my conscience would ache.
Then I saw her again and I said I'm Sorry
But My apology she would not take.
I think of this now and wish it were different,
but going back is never done.
And I learned a hard lesson and sometimes I wonder,
Was it Helen or I that has won.
