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All pops used to be called just Cokes. They came in 6 ounce bottles. A case of 'Cokes' came in a wooden crate sort of thing. You had to pay a deposit on the bottle and when you took it back you got your deposit back. We never had a case of Coke in our house and only one to drink now and again. When we decided we could make a few cents by returning bottles we asked Hall Parks and he gave us an old busted up case to store our bottles in. Brenda and I would walk up and down road picking up the bottles someone had pitched. Not many were pitched in our neighborhood but on the other side of the tracks where people seemed to have more the pickings were pretty good. We worked hard at our 'Job'. No one else was doing this it seemed till we started then you had to be fast to get there before someone else picked them up. One day I skidded in just in front of someone and the battle was on. In getting in front of him I knocked him down on the gravel and skinned him up a bit. I said I was sorry and I meant that but he wasn't very gracious about it. So He decided he was going to see that we got nary a bottle. Well he should have known better. Brenda and I had bested him before bunches of times. First we went to Hall Parks store everyday and asked everyone who came in if we could have their bottles. Sometimes they drank them in the store and handed them to us but mostly they promised to save them for us. There were still those who would throw the bottles out the car window but not as many and we got lots of them to. That left our nemesis coming up on the short end of the stick. My goodness was he mad. He knocked me down on the road one day and said, “Oh I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do that”. Well he did mean to do it and I knew it so I tore in to him. Now I have always known that a bully is all blow and bluff and they back off when you turn on them. This bully had tried pushing us before and it never worked. He was tall so my head reached about 1/3 of the way up his chest and he was big but with Brenda to back me up he backed way off in a hurry. He could have taken hold of the two of us and knocked our heads together but he didn't do that which I am grateful for All the rest of that summer Brenda and I had free pickings of all the coke bottles on the roads plus the ones saved for us. We had enough to buy us each a pair of white buck shoes for school when it started and we had enjoyed pop sickles and candy a few times also. We were pretty proud of ourselves when we walked in to the 5th grade class room on the first day of school that year. Yep Proud as could be.
Tags: Pop Casesdeposit Cokes
It is 105 here today and I got to thinking about all the hot summers in the late 40's and early 50's. Brenda and I roamed the area around our homes with ease never thinking it was hot. The refers then were not self defrost like they are now. All the refers then had those metal ice trays with the pull handle to open and get the cubes out. We were going to fix us a glass of kool aid and had gotten that dad burned cranky tray open. I said Brenda I've got a good idea. Yeaw What? she said. Lets dump this ice out and pour in some kool aid and make us some purple kool aid cubes to chew on. Oh Yeaw that would be so good. We didn't know at the time that our idea was already being used. We thought we thought it up our selves. We poured the koolaid in the tray. Didn't even think about having to carry it over and getting on the stool to be able to set it in the freezer. Auntie was out in the garden working and My Mama had our Brothers so we wouldn't want to disturb them to ask, now would we? Nosireee. We were good girls. I climbed up on the stool and said Brenda carry it over here and hand it up to me. Well Brenda a klutz. I shoulda' known better than to trust her with that job. Here she come spilling purple all over her and the floor. She finally got there with some left in the tray. I said Brenda Why can't you do anything. Look at that mess. Well I sat the tray in the freezer spilling some but not much. Frost was built up in the freezer and it sure looked pretty turning purple. But right now Brenda we better get this mess cleaned up which we did very well if I say so myself. Yep, we knew how to clean up messes. Brenda ran and got on the stool to check our freezer pops. Brenda, Silly, You know they are not frozen yet. CLYDDDEEENNNEEE. Brenda hollered. Look at the mess you made in Mama's freezer. How in the world are weagonna' clean this up? I ran over and got on the stool with her and there was that pretty purple frost. Hey Brenda I've got an idea. Lets lick it off. Hey yeaw that's a good idea she said. GOT THE PICTURE?! Needless to say both of our tongues stuck tight to that freezer bottom. And Boy do I mean tight. We couldn't even scream and it was burning and hurting like heck. Well You know we had great parents who always came to rescue us. My Auntie came in the kitchen door right then carrying a big box of veggies. WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TWO DOING!!!!! Well shoot fire Auntie we can't talk, we can't even move. It didn't take her long to figure it out and she unplugged the refer and started pouring cold water on the bottom under our tongues. Warm water freezes faster don't ya know. I'm not sure how long it took but I do know we ate cold soup for several days afterward. And I do know that our bottoms were just as sore as our tongues. Next time we will ask. Our Parents were upset more about our poor tongues than they were about what we did. We found that out years later. Why didn't they tell us then for goodness sake. We would nota' had to suffer near as much now would we? Like I said before. We had the greatest Parents God ever made. YEP WE DID!!!!
Tags: Mess Yummyouchtongue
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I've heard that many times over my life. I'd imagine you have too.
This morning I deleted all the hurtful things of yesterday and wiped the slate clean. At least that is what I have tried to do. Yesterday I learned things that will not allow the same consequences today.
Today I face life with a new clean slate knowing that today will never return.
So today I will live happy. I wont know about tomorrow and yesterday blew away in the dust. Today I will defy obstacles in my path and trust that even with them I can still succeed. I will not hurt or harm anyone purposely. I don't put out what I don't want myself. I will greet everyone I meet with a smile even though I feel like crying. Maybe someone will give me a smile back. I know I've said this before but bear with me because my Dear wonderful Daddy instilled this phrase in me while I was still young and innocent, “Honey laugh so you wont have to cry”. I've been doing a lot of that lately. It has been a very hard time for me but I know there are others who have worse times.
One of my first Sunday School teachers told us, “Live each day as if it was your last day”. That stuck with me even though I have not always followed the advice.
I remember Mamma saying many time when I'd be miffed about something, “ Clydene don't ever go to sleep mad at anyone or with someone mad at you. They might not be here tomorrow.
What ever you think your problems are, they may be bad or tragic, but they are not ever the worst thing that could happen to you. Someone is always in worse shape than you are.”
Sometimes I really need to be reminded of this. YEP!
Tags: Angerhurtful Smiles
One day we were playing softball in Brenda's pasture. There was a cow called Pet, and a horse called Smokey in the pasture with us. We were all scared of the horse and had had some run in's with him. Smokey was getting' too close for comfort one day so I threw the ball at him and said, "Shew Smokey, get out of here"! I had done this before and smokey would run off. Well this time I hit him in the head with the ball and he got mad. He started raring up and stomping his feet. He was shaking his head and getting ready to charge. I got scared but I also got tickled and was crying scared with a giggle fit. I said, "He looks like a fire breathin' dinosaur. I even could imagine that I saw fire coming out his nostrils.
The others were already climbing under the fence and there I stood. I heard them calling me to hurry but I was fascinated with that dragon. I started shaking my head at Smokey and stomping my feet on the ground and growling ferociously . I think I had transformed myself in to some kind of fairy tale land because what sense I had was floatin' around in space somewhere.
Smokey got real still and ducked his head but I just got still and ducked my head. Every stance he took I copied it. By then Smokey must have had himself worn out but I was still snorting and raring to go. Heck fire now I was having a ball.
My Auntie had come in the pasture behind me without my knowing. She grabbed me around the waist and I was on the other side of the fence before I could blink twice. She wore my butt out and gave me a tongue lashing, then sent me home. I went running down the lane with Norman right behind me. I ran in the house and Yelled, "Mama, Auntie threw me over the fence for no reason"!! Well you know Mama didn't believe a word of that and she found out for herself what had really happened real quick like.
I got my butt' burned again right there. I know now how scared Mama and Auntie must have been. That night when our Daddies got home we all ate supper together and I got so many hugs I was almost in Fairy Land again. But Not Quiet because by then I knew exactly why I had got two butt' beatings. Of Course I deserved it all. Well maybe not all the hugs. TEE HEE!!!!
Tags: Smokey Ballspanking Emories
Recalling things takes a lot out of me these days because my memory is not as good as it was. Remembering also puts so much back in to my life that the effort is well worth it. Sitting down and trying to remember a specific thing is impossible almost. It is smells, colors, words, people and so many things that trigger a memory. Sometimes the memory is so fleeting it is gone in a few seconds but sometimes it starts so many things to roll through my mind that is is staggering. I hope my memory is the last thing that goes from me. I'd be lost without all my lovely memories. Brenda and I made so many memories that they boggle my mind at times. We had such a full life full of twists and turns, in's and outs, and giggles and tears. There are things I'd rather not remember sometimes because those were the times we were on the outs and fighting over some stupid thing. Once we both decided we liked the same boy. We had google eyes over a boy that will remain unnamed here. He was probably the ugliest thing you ever laid eyes on. His voice was a big whine and his ego was as big as his stupidness. The less likely one in the world that we would both fall madly in love with. I think we were 10 years old so of course it was puppy love but no less hurtful none the less. We argued and fought like wild cats. Our Daddies thought it was comical but our Mamma's tried to talk us out of it. I said, “Brenda you know he likes me best you are just stubborn”. She'd say “No Clydene he likes me and can't stand you”. It started as just words but before you knew it a full blown cat fight broke out in my bedroom one day. Mamma broke it up and made us apologize to one another and sent Brenda home. The next day in school we carried the battle on and had to be separated again. The Teachers shamed us and asked how we thought the boy felt about our silliness. I think he liked it fine to tell you the truth but he would never have said so. We completely stopped talking to one another. One day in school we literally got in a fight over him. I mean literally because he was in the middle. We were both a good head taller and outweighed him several pounds so when we started tussling over him he got the worst of it. In the battle somehow his glasses got knocked off his face and he started swinging. We both were standing there with our mouths open because we were shocked that he had the nerve to dare to hit us. Of course he couldn't see and all the poor thing could do was swing and try to get rid of the two crazy things that had hold of him. He swung his fist, hit Brenda in the nose, came back with it and hit me smack dab in the eye. Now he'd done it! We could fight one another but woe to the one who dared to touch either one of us. If the teacher hadn't come on the scene we planned to hurt that little pip squeak. How dare he hurt Brenda, How dare he hurt Clydene!!! That was the end of that great love affair for both of us by golly. I don't think in all the coming years we ever fell in “LOVE” with the same boy again. Heck no, That was too much trouble and got us in way too many messes! I'm just so relieved and happy that we didn't break the poor boys glasses. Our Parents would have had to pay for them and they certainly couldn't have afforded that. Brenda and I loved one another unconditionally but we fought too and the fights were humdingers!!!!
Tags: Fight Pip Squeak Love
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 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 news and weather which was depressing, I went to the kitchen to cook breakfast. I got out the bacon and put 10 half 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 the 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. KoKo 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 computer 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?
Tags: Eggs Baconsheetsmessy
We slept outside on starlit, summer nights when the house was unbearable—no air- conditioning back then, and it was definitely over 100 degrees most summer days. No doubt the crickets, spiders, and no telling what else, crawled over us all night lying on an old quilt spread out. Of course, my brother & I, and the cousins giggled ‘til much later than our regular bedtimes since we were out of earshot from the folks.
The sun was blistering hot by day, and we ran half naked to stay cool, so you can only imagine the sunburns we’d get. Norman even had a back covered with blisters once. A great game we’d play was to see who could peel the longest strip of fried skin off each other’s back without tearing it. We had some doozies—no sunscreen in those days and no lying out in the sun to get a suntan. Heck we sure didn't lay down to get a tan because we ran through it daily.
We rode our bikes for miles collecting beer and pop bottles to trade for candy at Hall Parks or Key's store. I have no idea why I can still name every kid we ran with back then, every neighbor in a five mile radius, and every store plus who owned it, and who worked at the post office or in our little one-horse town, yet I daily walk into a room and have no idea why I went there. And don’t even ask where I’ve hidden all my treasures so I’ll be sure to remember right where they are when I need them. The mind is a tricky thing when short term memory goes awry, but I think God had a plan to keep our old bodies well exercised running around lookin’ for our stuff, and retracing our steps to remember why we went into that room!
I loved the honesty, peaceful, and respectful life we lived when I was growing up. I wish all kids could have lived that life. No one locked their house or car, we feared no molestation, (at least where I grew up) because everyone knew there’d be a lynchin’ if they were ever caught doing harm of any sort to a child. I’m not so naive as to think children were never molested or abused , but sadly, people stayed out of other people’s personal business back then—even the cops.
I always compare us to wild, little Indians as kids because we really had the run of our valley each and every day. That’s not to say, we didn’t have rules and chores to do, but oh, the FREEDOM that will never be again! I miss barefeet running through the garden and feeling that fresh plowed dirt in my toenails as it squished up through my toes, or playing in the yard where the chickens were with the chicken poop squishing. I miss lying down each night knowing I was protected whether in my bed or outside under the cedar tree. I miss running those old dirt roads and wading the ditches. Most of all I miss my family and the way it was back then.
Tags: Memories
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MOODS
Posted On 06/10/2014 20:32:26
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My moods are as bad as Arkansas weather. Up, Down, all around. Why do we get in and out of these moods? Why can't we just stay on an even keel of sorts. I'm me, you are you. We are all so different but yet the same.
My Grandma used to tell me I was moody and she was right. There are so many different moods to be in. I have come to the realization that we make our own moods. I went grocery shopping this morning, not my favorite chore I must say. The store was crowded and noisy. They had moved things drastically since the last time I was in there and of course I got frustrated because I couldn't find anything. Nothing was where it should be. Why do they do that anyway. I always was told, If it aint' broke don't fix it. Now who was the smart person that decided to put the dad blasted sour cream up by the butter. It has always been back with the yogurts, cottage cheese, etc.. I liked it there, I was used to itF being there, why in the heck move it?! I got to thinking about the little store where my Mama shopped when I was a kid. Nothing moved there. Everything stayed put. It was a cracker box shaped building made of sheet iron. One isle up the middle, meat box in the back, by the side of a pop machine. The pop machine was like a chest type with bars at intervals across it. Pops were slid in these slots with only the bottle top showing. On the cap was the flavor. Pop Kola, RC Cola, Coke in 6oz. Bottles, Root Beer, Cream soda, Nesbitts Orange,Grape, Strawberry, and on and on. You put in your nickel something triggered and you could slide the bottle of your choice over till you could pull it out then open it with a bottle opener hanging on a cord. On the left side was a candy display case. The candy was all in boxes in the glass front case. No wrappings, just lying open in the boxes. That was penny candy and you could get a candy sack full for a penny. Across from it was the candy bars. Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Zag Nut, Zero, Power House, and they were big. They cost a nickel. On the other side of that isle was shampoos, lotions , hair oils in three kinds. Prell Shampoo, Jergens Lotion, and Wildroot Cream Oil hair oil. Hall Parks stood behind the counter with a pencil and paper. As you laid your items on the counter he wrote it down and listed the price. When you finished he then licked the lead in the pencil and went down the figures counting in his head as he went, then he would write the total at the bottom. It was all faster than any store now. No waiting for Price Checks or the blamed machine throwing your credit card back at you. Well heck fire, it is as plain as the nose on your face why our moods are changing for the worse as we get older. Things are too fast now. Hurry, hurry, hurry. That's it I have decided. We didn't have as much to choose from then, the store was small, no walking for a long time just to find an item that they have moved. No waiting on price checks. No waiting on a stupid machine that wont work. It was not a major endeavor just to buy groceries. Simple, Simple, Simple. That's what the difference is now, nothing is simple any more. No wonder my moods are jumping here and there all the time. My brain is still in 1950 and it is 2013. Yep! I got it figured out. Times they are a changin' too darn fast. I'm in slow gear trying to function in the fast lane and I'm too old to change now. Heck I don't wanna' strip what gears I've got left! Nope!!!
I wasn't scared of much when I was growing up. Snakes, bugs, high places, etc. never bothered me. No, It was some people who scared me. Mostly people I didn't know, people who looked different, who made strange sounds, who were big, short, or talked different. Yep, Snakes and animals didn't scare me but people did. I think I now know that some, (not all) animals can be better more loyal friends that any human can.
There was a lady who lived up on the hill above us who was another one that scared me to tears. We could see her big house on the hill and I had it in my mind that house had to be a house of horrors. A huge two story house. Dark and forlorn sitting up there looking down on us. It had probably never had a coat of paint on it so with time the wood had turned dark gray, almost black. I had never been close to the house but I had seen the lady many times.
She lived up there with her Mother who was never outside the house. I knew later she was never out because she was not able. Her daughter took care of her. But I imagined all kinds of things.
We saw her at Wallace Key's store where we saw everyone else. She was big, short, and looked like she was rolling down the road instead of walking. You could hear her as she came grunting, groaning, and what I called snorting. She was just trying to get her breath as she walked. She was old and she was huge, and she was childlike. Never married and alone except for her Mother and a Brother down in the holler who seemed ashamed of her. She was a poor, sweet, gentle soul, but as a child I didn't recognize that fact. To me she was just simply scary. Scared the wits outta' me.
Brenda and I were in the store one day when she came in. She was shy I think but she would always smile at us. Brenda was not scared of her though I had tried many times to convince her she should be and I sure wasn't gonna let her know I was scared.
"Let's go Brenda." "No Clydene, I'm gonna get me some candy". "Brenda come on, we don't need any candy, let's go". "Clydene stop bothering me, if you want to go then go on, what in the world is wrong with you anyhow"? I grabbed Brenda by the arm and tried to pull her by force but she was stronger than me. She jerked loose and I fell backwards right on The lady's foot. I can still see the view as I looked slowly up and all I could see was big woman her big club like arms, and her dark blue dress. Iwas too breathless to say a word because of having the breath knocked outta' me falling. All I saw was that big club of a hand coming down toward me. "OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOODNESS! I might have been out of breath but I got my second wind fast. I mean FAST!! I started scootin' backwards on the plank floor(not an easy task) and found splinters in my but later though I didn't even feel them then. I'm quiet sure I looked like a craw dad backing up fast. I still wasn't utterin' a sound from my tremblin' lips. I backed in to Brenda and knocked her down but I just scooted on around her. I couldn't get my footing so I just kept scootin' backwards all the time trying but failing to gain my feet. My Mama was not there to rescue me and Brenda sure wasn't gonna do it so I was on my own as I saw it.
The lady started toward me and I gained my feet then sure as shootin'. I was outta' there. As I ran down the steep steps of the store I could hear Brenda yelling for me to wait. Nothin' doin' I'm going home and I'm gettin' there fast. Brenda caught up with me and was shaming me but I didn't care, I had escaped with my life. "She was trying to help you up stupid" Brenda told me. Nope! I was not havin' any of that Heck fire no. I remained scared of the poor old woman and stayed away from her from then on. Yep!!
Well folks it didn't end there. Heck no that wasn't to be.
When I got married the first time I was still just a young foolish girl but I didn't know it. My future husband and I went to visit someone who had a house for rent. We rented the house sight unseen for $15.00 per month. We knew the people, knew they wouldn't lie to us, and fifteen dollars was as good as we could get. Besides it was a mile from my Parents house. That was all I needed to hear. But oh my gosh when I saw the house for the first time it was right next door from that big ol' scary house where The woman and her Mother lived. What made it worse was that we were told that she was allowed to carry water from the well right outside my kitchen door.
I stayed inside for several days. No TV, no radio, no phone, toilet out back which I ran to and ran back in with a hammer in my hand. Yep, sure did. I was so lonely. Coulda' walked to visit Mama but I was actually afraid to pass the house. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
I could hear Her coming when she came for water and I hid in the bedroom. One day she knocked on the door. It was hot and I had no fans or AC. so the door was open to let some air in, the screen door was latched. I peeked around so I could see her standing there but she couldn't see me. She was looking in the screen and she had two jars in her hands. Well now I was taught to welcome people to my home, and I was taught manners, so that won out. I went to the door and She had two jars of jam and a big smile. She told me how glad she was to have me there in her lilting, scratchy voice and that she had brought me some blackberry jam. What could I do? I opened the door (although with reluctance) took the jam she was holding out to me, said how much I appreciated it, and she was on her way. As simple as that a lonely young girl became friends with two lonely old women and made my time there easier. I visited in their house, scary and drab outside, but warm and homey inside. Here I was old enough to know better and I was still learning. I'm still learning new things and I hope I never stop learning as long as The Good Lord keeps me here. YEP! That's the way of things. Sure nuff'. Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
You do not have to be afraid of anyone or what they can do to you. The Lord gives strength to you.
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