Before I start my trip away from Russellville, Arkansas I must reminisce a bit more.  Yesterday was my last day here to see all those I love.  My dear uncle Buddy, now up in his 90’s was able to visit with my sister and me for awhile.  Uncle Buddy is my mom’s brother.  My mom was the oldest of thirteen, twelve of whom lived to adulthood.  Ten girls and three boys.  You can not even imagine the stories that each of those children could tell.  Well one of my Aunts did tell her story in an awesome book “A BAKER’S DOZEN” by Anne Chaney.  A thick book, but a fast read.  Contact me through this blog if you are interested in ordering one and I can give you the info to do so.

Well, Uncle Buddy is the last surviving son.  He outlived both of his younger brothers.  I dearly love uncle Buddy.  He is a gentle spirit who suffered the rigors of World War II with lasting affects.  He has been a widower for many years and has one son.  Uncle Buddy cannot hear .  We communicate with him by his speaking and the rest of us writing on a tablet.  His mind is sharp and can hold his own in a conversation. Very interesting to listen to him. He loves to read and is familiar with a lot of current books. Recently he was fitted with a hearing aid that connects directly with his TV.  I suppose he has been cut off from all source of TV news for awhile because he was concerned about some of the new laws that he is learning about regarding Medicare now that he can hear what is being talked about.  Never take your hearing for granted. It is a powerful and wonderful gift, given as a tool to be used for a lifetime.  Take care of it.  Many hearing disorders are caused by being exposed to high volumes of UNNECESSARY sound.  Living in a family where hearing loss is prevalent you early realize how precious it is.

I said goodbye to Uncle Buddy, again realizing it might be the last opportunity of seeing him on this side of heaven.  It is with joy I see my loved ones and I carry these memories with me in a special place in my heart.  It is sort of like saying goodbye to my own past.  Our children our our future, our parents are our past.  Should I live a long life there will be a time when all those who knew me as a child will be gone.  Their stories will be gone.  As long as I have my memories they will live in my heart.

On the morning of March 19th I worked out, came back to Aunt Esther’s and packed up to leave.  Only then did I realize I had not driven by the old country house in Center Valley where my grandparents lived for over 50 years.  I could not leave without another little trip down memory lane.

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