The little country church we attended back then had a free watermelon feed one Sunday afternoon. Pappy went to Vincennes Indiana in our old 1935 Chev 1 ton truck [an old military surplus truck with bullet holes in the steel bed] loaded down with straw and some kids. After an all days journey we finally made it back on Saturday evening. Of course it was summertime--we went right to the farm south of Vincennes and bought a truck load. I somehow think it was $10 for the entire truck load but not too sure--after all it's been 52 years!!!! Well Sunday morning preachin was kinda short the next day. Home made tables had been hastily "knocked" together on Saturday from rough sawn oak lumber. It made a fine place to set those melons to dissect them. As I recall it was a jammed church with neighbors that normally attended and some who were just there for the free melon. At any rate everybody had a good time. I don't know what happened to the remaining melons [if there were any] but suppose we gave'm away. The old church [Conservative Christian, I think] has long been gone. I seem to remember it being torn down just 3 or 4 years after the "feed". A neighboring farmer bought the property and ended up farming where the old building stood. Simple country folks with realistic dreams and plans that lived as good as they could. Almost all that attended were farmers or worked for farmers. A mans word was his bond back then and a handshake was better than any written contract now. Sure miss those old days. Am I getting senile? Probably, but I am right I think! Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@otbnet.com), July 02, 2000

Answers

Hoot -- I love your reflections!!! Have you thought of putting these things down in a journal or book? These are the sorts of things I wish my grandparents had done, and now I'm trying to talk my Dad into!

-- Tracy (trimmer@westzone.com), July 02, 2000.

Hoot, we're not getting senile. We're just getting closer to going home. When a man (or woman) says he or she will do something, like pay back a loan, meet someone somewhere at a certain time or whatever, he or she aught to just do it. A person's word should be all that is needed. Do you ever listen to much Christian music. We just listened to Candy Christmas sing "Oh My Glory, Glory" and when I checked your post, it just fit right in there. Thanks for the message. Eagle (Ed & Sharon Vaught)

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), July 02, 2000.

No, you're not senile. You're a man of honor. I also wish that I could rely on a person's word or a handshake. Just in the past few months I've had a couple of different people go back on their word and send me scrambling to fix the situation. I haven't given up though . There still afew trustwothy people out there. My Dad is one. It would take an extreme circumstance for him not to follow through on his word.

I also like your memories. I finally took the time to look up Matt. 24:44. You made me curious.

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), July 03, 2000.

In response to some questions---I'm an old hillbilly and very narrow minded or so I've been told. Very little music interestes me but most certainly included would be Southern Gospel/ bluegrass Gospel along with some country Gospel. I have purchased [back when I had money] several of Bill Gaither's videos. Man, even an old Baptist can't set and watch/listen without doin some shoutin! I was raised on this kind of music and it just gets better with time. I am getting closer to being called home and find myself thinking more and more of the "good old days". I suppose I ought'a start writing and saving this stuff from my old head just in case somebody might think it's worthwhile. I get this "knack" from my old daddy. He was a writer and wrote about things he'd experienced in his life. He was a WRITER, while I'm just a scribbler! LOL. I can also see the works of the Mighty Hand of Almighty God in most anything I look at---except maybe SNAKES! LOL As I get older it's easier and easier to enjoy this marvelous sight that I've been so blessed to witness. If only I'd been able to slow down years ago I think life would've been even more precious to me. Please excuse typos-it's hard to catch'm all. I've lost bunches of vision in both eyes, to diabetes. Matt. 24:44 is one of my most favorite passages in the Word and I cling to it and Him for eternity. I'll not preach now but it's so important for all to be presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then let them decide on their own.

-- hoot gibson (hoot@otbnet.com), July 03, 2000.

Commit as much as you can remember to paper (or the computer). It is valuable to us now (the readers here) and to those in the future.

If you've got the inclination, contact (or find) someone to help you organize things (just a little, not too much or the pleasure of the rememberances will fade). Think about how the Foxfire series were written.

It's these kind of memories that should be considered some kind of national treasure. I value my parents memories & stories a great deal; as well as all of my great-aunts and such. We don't value the memories until we're old enough to have something to compare them to, that belong to ourselves.

I've rambled enough.

j

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), July 07, 2000.

Mr/Ms Hoot, I enjoyed reading your post. I am sure you have a zillion other memories that some people will enjoy reading. Some people had the experience of living in a certain time and can tell others to come, what it was like. I have a partial set of the "Foxfire Books", and I will never sell them, they are my passport back into history. Your written recollections may be a "passport" to many people, for many years to come. Maybe you can share this "Gift of knowledge".

-- My Story (andi@msticking.com), July 07, 2000.