Memory Lane

May 18, 2017

Memory Lane

Today, Charles and I took a trip to Stewart Co with several stops on our agenda. First, we stopped at the Propane place to preorder gas for next winter.  After spending what seemed like half the day there, our next stop was at Ft. Donelson to visit with Jack and Lizzie, the infamous eagles that reside there.  Jack and Lizzie are currently raising a couple of eaglets, Shirley and Doug.  Not sure which one was perched on the edge of the nest, but I found it exciting to view them through binoculars and the telescope, or whatever it was the park ranger had there.   

Our next stop was the Paris Landing Hotel where we had lunch.  

Our next destination was the Smith Cemetery in Big Rock.  I wasn't able to visit my mother on Mother's Day.  It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day on the knoll marked with headstones with so many familiar names.  More on that later.

Our last stop was the Dunbar Chapel Cemetery in Indian Mound.  Charles visited with his family members and several acquaintances there as we walked among the marble stones. 

   

We visited with Jennifer, Clara, Edward, and Mama (Mrs. Addie)  and Pappa (Mr. Calvin).  Never met Pappa, but loved Mama dearly.   The sense of peace was prevalent with the warm sun beaming down, birds singing, and a light breeze whispering through the trees.  That peace was well guarded by the little white church with the tall steeple where many of the cemetery residents once attended.  

   

The little church has grown since Charles attended there as a child.  He shared a story of when some young little whippersnapper took a long weed, crawled up under the church, and tickled the leg of the young lady playing the piano.  He described her response as, "She wailed out like a bobcat!"  I asked if he got in trouble. He said, "No, he was long gone before anyone could see who it was." Then I asked if he was the one that did it. He denied that affirmatively.  If that old oak tree could talk, it would have lots of stories to share.  I'm sure a few would involve Charles. 😉

      

After we left the cemetery, we took several roads through Indian Mound where Charles recalled old acquaintances and relatives that resided there 60 plus years ago. So many of the homes where they resided are now dilapidated.  Even though it was a beautiful and peaceful day, it was a slap of reality that change is constant, and what once was will never be again.