Growing Up in the Country

We lived down in a large pasture in front of Mama’s house. There was a creek running behind our house where the boys played in the summer. There they caught green snakes, frogs, and minnows. There was a mountain too, behind the creek, and a grave yard not far up the mountain. Hickory nut and black walnuts trees abounded. After first frost we carried our sacks to the mountain, and gathered the wild nuts. There were trees for the boys to climb, ditches to jump and mountain trails to walk. There was the grave yard to visit, and wild flowers to place on the graves. There were tall saw dust piles where the saw mill had cut timber and moved on. Perfect for boys to climb and slide down. Kids came to the house to play cowboy and Indians, police and gangsters, hide and seek, base ball, and any manner of games they could think of. I had two young sisters so the kids all played at our house, at Mama’s, or sometimes at a neighbors.

We had a well in the back yard. It was Tommy’s job to draw the water. He kept the buckets full on the kitchen cook table, and Steve carried in the coal and wood for the living room heater, and wood for the kitchen cook stove. Tommy drew all the water for the washing too. He filled the iron wash pot full of water and all the tubs the evening before wash day. Steve carried the wood to heat the water in the wash pot.

They were both in the school band. I carried the baby “Jeff” and, picked them up after band practice. Jeff didn’t like getting in the car. That was before the car seat, and I held him with my left arm against the driver’s door. I helped out at the food stand on football game nights, while the band played, and Jeff stood on my feet while I made hot dogs. After making the hot dogs and getting everything ready, we went out to watch the band at half time. Jeff loved that, and tried to go on the field with his brothers.

The oldest brother had a Grit Paper route through the valley, and rode on his bike to make deliveries. We knew everyone in the valley and they knew us. If one’s child misbehaved the parent knew it right away. We did have a TV where the boys watched “the Lone Ranger” “Roy Rogers” “Deputy Dog” and a few other shows. We only had five channels.

We didn’t have much money, and times were hard but we survived and our children learned responsible behavior. Sometimes I think times are easier today, and sometimes I think not. I wonder what the population would do if we lost all our convenience’s, and it could happen the way things are going. For me, it would be easy. I could get by with very little, and so could my children. I think the general population would be in chaos.