Being at my family reunion this past week has been a mind-blowing experience, both thrilling and chilling. The most poignant is listening to my 83 year-old mother talk about the past. The way things were---50, 60 and 70 years ago. Going down the country road where my grandparents' dilapidated house sits seemed to sadden her most. The road leads to nowhere, where once it lead to other places, like the road to LaPile where she was born or to the old place. Hearing her talk as if things stay the same. We have explained to her, things change, people move, people die, things change.
Mom talks of people of long ago, most dead and places of yesteryear-- that don't exist anymore. Of old friends. "Let's go by Lola's house, or Lucille lived there by Batts Chapel. Riding on the back of hay trucks, picking fruit and cotton to buy school clothes, getting second-hand books from white schools. That was the way it was. The way we were.
For the next few weeks I will be posting tidbits about the family reunion, family history and stories. Stay tuned.
Mom talks of people of long ago, most dead and places of yesteryear-- that don't exist anymore. Of old friends. "Let's go by Lola's house, or Lucille lived there by Batts Chapel. Riding on the back of hay trucks, picking fruit and cotton to buy school clothes, getting second-hand books from white schools. That was the way it was. The way we were.
For the next few weeks I will be posting tidbits about the family reunion, family history and stories. Stay tuned.
2 comments:
It is something about family reunions and the elders. They have so much wisdom and you can see that we have progressed greatly within the last 50 years and better.
You are so right. Family reunions are to show the progress made from generation to generation. Thanks for responding.
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