Back In Time
Have you ever wondered how far back in time you can remember events that happened in your life?
About a month ago, I had a doctor’s appointment in Austin. The doctor’s office was several stories up in a building next to the heart hospital. As I was waiting, I looked out through the glass windows in the waiting room and noticed the UT Tower. Immediately I thought of the horrific mass murder shooting that occurred from the tower. While waiting, I looked up the incident and realized that it took place August 1, 1966. It seemed only a short time ago when the news blasted the media. Another incident of a gruesome capacity was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, taking place November 22, 1963.
My most vivid event was the arrival of Hurricane Carla on September 11, 1961 I was six years old then. My grandparents and uncle came to our house and grandpa came in with an ax in his hands. I asked him, grandpa why do you have an ax? He told me that if a tree falls on the house we might have to chop our way out.
I remember having chinaberry trees around the house and they were falling everywhere. Luckily we did not have to chop our way out. I believe that frightening events are embedded in our minds forever.
Joyful events are also embedded in our minds to balance our reality. One such event was when grandpa held up my bicycle time and time again to keep me from falling while learning to ride a bike. He was so patient with me. I can still see the smile on his face when he let go and I finally rode away. Uncle Harry was always begged by us to take us fishing or hunting, sometimes it worked. He also grew a watermelon path near the river with rattlesnake melons (striped with golden flesh sweeter than sugar.)
He would cut them open making long slices for each of us. We sat under a large pecan tree and had a feast.
We had it all over our faces, dripping down our shirts, when he brought us home to mom. He would laugh and had as much fun as we did.
Dad would take us to the sandbar at the river. We sat among some tall grass near the rapids in the late evening waiting for doves to land and feed near the waters edge. When there were several gathered together, he would shoot his 12 gauge shotgun and we had plenty doves for a meal. In those days you would not shoot only one bird. Every shell had to supply enough for a family meal.
I could go on and on but you get the message. We can truly see far back in time when looking into yesterday.
We need to reminisce and never forget these ties. Don’t ponder as much on the bad and tragic times but always, always, remember the wonderful good times life has to give.