octagon

I love those woods. I spent many, many happy days walking in them. Mama and I would go for long walks (mainly behind the house, but I also loved walking in the “Swamp.” We would often walk behind the house and find a cozy log to sit on and read a book. I’d sometimes be too tired to walk all the way home and Mama would carry me, a feat I’m still amazed by as, though she was young to me, she was pretty much older compared to all of my classmates mothers (she had taught some of them and others were friends with my sisters).

Mama was born with lots of patience, it seems. She never complained that I wanted to go sit in the woods and eat military rations (Spam was amazingly good compared to the stuff that they served GI’s back in those days). We’d go sit in the barn if it was raining and I’d get to play Army–this phase might have gone on a little longer than it should have and I was perhaps a bit overindulged, but what a great childhood!

I look forward to the day when my sisters’ children can take their children into those woods and enjoy the same kind of peace and beauty that I so love. Those woods are a special place in all of our hearts. I can really feel Mama sitting on a log in the “Big Woods,” getting ready to read me a story.

After the story, we’d often nap (or at least Mama would). I might nap or watch the squirrels climb around in the scaly bark trees and pretend. Later, I became pretty adept at building shelters–I learned how from a Hardy Boys book. Those were some of the best times in my life.

I’m getting ready for a trip to Montgomery to discuss the Alabama Byways program and to work on budgets and logos–not my two favorite things in the world. Still, I love the people and the concept. Not a lot of time for a post today, so thought I’d dig up a great old photo of Mama and her siblings. This photo would have to be from the late 1920’s or possibly the very early 1930’s. From left to right: Uncle Bud, Aunt Phebe (in front), Aunt Sadie Lou, and Mama.

Ann and I are getting ready to go south for a day or two and I’ve been going through old photos of my family. This is really one of my favorites. (I’m the one driving the tractor.)

This year will be a really hard Christmas, but it is great that all 5 of my sisters will be at the house for Christmas, along with Ann, of course.

Well, enough about family–it is 7 a.m. here and time to get to work.