One morning when Cleo was about four or five, he was playing near the barn and watching our neighbor’s guineas that had come visiting. Guineas are not like ordinary farm animals. They are built something like chickens, but they are much more dominant and loud. I can see that it would be easy to become irritated with guineas, especially their noise.
Clarice
“When we lose an elderly person, we lose a library of knowledge.”
I don’t remember the source of the above quotation, but I believe it expresses a truth. When I think of a person with high regard for the elderly, I immediately think of my sister Clarice. Perhaps her caring nature and unusual maturity came from her experience as the oldest sister to 10 siblings in our family. Clarice was friendly to every one, but especially she was patient and kind to older people, even when most of her peers were not much interested. Clarice’s retention of names was impressive, but she also could recall various family narratives and how families were connected. Her warm personality caused people to trust her and love her. It is no wonder she became a nurse.
In the past on Memorial Day weekends, all my sisters, Clarice, Alline, Hazel, and I would visit several cemeteries. We enjoyed going to the grave sites, leaving flowers, and talking about the past lives of our loved ones. But Clarice had a broader focus. She would pause and read the head stones of individuals that my sisters and I had not thought about for several years. She could recall the details of many people although so many of the names she spoke sounded as if they belonged in a time of the long ago. There were names such as Greenberry, Lucretia, Gabriel, Louvenia, Jency, Isaac, Ardenia, Serexie, Coleman, and on and on. I loved hearing Clarice’s voice reading those names. It brought back warm thoughts of hearing my mom and dad going over their own recollections of those very same people.
Thank you, Clarice, for remembering all of them for all of us. My dear sister, what a blessing you were for anyone who touched your life.
Remembering my sister-in-law Kathy
These last few days, I’ve been remembering my sister-in-law Kathy. Her birthday is today. Most often I like to think of Kathy in her garden where she grew beautiful lilies and hosta and other perennials. But I also remember that Kathy loved nature in other ways as well. She loved all kinds of animal babies, especially when they were born with handicaps, and especially when they were rejected by their parents. Those helpless little odd balls got right to Kathy’s heart. She could even love handicapped baby birds when they were in their very ugliest stage….you know what I mean…..when they look as if there is nothing to them except a huge mouth and naked skin.
I am amazed at how much compassion and careful attention were required of Kathy in helping the fledglings to survive, to stay warm, and to grow. I have so much respect for her open-mindedness and acceptance of the not-so-perfect little creatures. I like to consider what I think are the beautiful parts of Kathy’s endeavors. First of all, I don’t think Kathy saw the little animal babies as hopeless. She must have had confidence that she could help make their lives better. And secondly, the creatures themselves responded to Kathy’s loving care and proved she was right.
Happy birthday in heaven, Kathy
Mary Lou
I’m thinking about Mary Lou because the anniversary of her birthday is tomorrow. I like to remember when she and I did not know each other and were brand new freshmen at Middleburg High School. I remember that each morning Mary Lou came to school late because of a late bus. It would have embarrassed a lot of students to walk into Mrs. Brock’s home room late each day with most of the other students watching. But Mary Lou seemed so poised and confident. And of course, everybody including the girls, were thinking about how pretty she looked and how neat she was. (If you have seen the picture of Mary Lou and Ronald’s wedding, you have seen what I mean.)
Now for an instant, I live again just how it was to be that young and full of dreams and plans. It’s a lovely memory.
Green Haven Farm
Green Haven Farm is a space where loving family members abide and extend welcome to larger circles. It is a haven of growing things, a special farm well planned for a warm center that family and others can enjoy and dream of enjoying when they are away.
You can find Green Haven Farm where the road bends gently right then continues past blooming bushes, a bed of hosta, and a waving old glory. You come to rest under omnipresent trees: one ancient beech and three old maples with canopies that have guarded and tended old family and new family through every turn of many seasons. Farms are special at any time. They involve an intimacy with and respect for nature. From the first song of the blue bird in spring to the foot prints of woodland visitors in winter, abundant life is always here. Continue reading “Green Haven Farm”
Aunt Marcella
Do you remember the pots of pretty flowers that Marcella used to place in a row across her front porch? They would make any visitor admire them and feel welcome.
One time after Kim and I had been visiting our family in Kentucky, we decided not to go straight home. We wanted to go by Frank and Marcella’s house even though we knew no one would be there. We waited there in the quietness, remembering so many past times.. Suddenly a bob white called out. His call sounded so clear and strong. He just called one time. But it seemed as if he was telling us he was glad we had stopped by. We were glad, too.
A Halloween Story
We weren’t much for celebrating Halloween when all of us kids were on the farm. I think it was only later that we even heard of trick or treating. But one night when I was still very young, some Halloween goblins came to our house. I was just old enough to have heard ghost stories but naive enough to get scared to death.
It was after dark when somebody knocked on the door. It was unusual for anybody to come around that late, but Dad opened the door and looked surprised at what he saw— three people dressed in white sheets all the way down to the floor. Dad began to laugh and opened the door wide for them to come in. I couldn’t believe it! I backed away in a hurry to the far side of the room. They came right on in, moving over toward the corner where the old organ was, not saying a word. I had heard that ghosts were always quiet so they can sneak up on you. They had ugly, scary faces painted at the top where their heads should have been, and there were huge black eyes, drooping down as big as lopsided moons. One of them turned and looked in my direction. I was afraid that any minute they would reach out and grab Dad and then they would reach out and grab the rest of us. But Dad kept talking like he was having fun, and they just stood there, still not saying a word.
Finally, Dad asked Mom, “Zettie, do we have any candy or something to give our visitors?” I thought, “What in the world is wrong with Dad! He knows we don’t have any candy. And why would he want to give them candy?” I wanted him to run them out of the house and lock the door.
It seemed like a long time, but finally they did leave. When I was sure they were all the way gone, I came out of the corner. Dad was still laughing a little and talking to Mom, but he just made it harder for me to understand. I went to bed so mixed up. I don’t think I slept much that night.
The Old Williams Farm House
The picture of the Marvice and Zettie Emerson Williams’ home, (see below) is from the very early 1940’s, I believe. This old house survived two fires, many wind and rain storms, as well as, the rough and tough of the growing-up years of eleven children. Mom and Dad first moved here just after Clarice, their oldest child, was born in 1919. In its first few years, the house did not have the front porch nor the addition of a kitchen, a dining room, and a screened-in-back porch. My brother Donald told me that Dad himself had built the extra rooms. That space certainly would be needed because there were to be 10 more children to follow Clarice.
Continue reading “The Old Williams Farm House”