Posted posthumously
I GO TO POP'S PLACE.... ONCE A WEEK!
It'd be nice-- if I could go back there - one more time--
in real life and not just in my imagination.
This is a perfect example of how important places are. Things that happened --had to happen...somewhere. And though the people have gone on, I still see all the places...in memory.
If you didn't have a farm to go to when you were a kid, I feel bad for you. "Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go" is a song all should sing.
There's just something about it--the red and white checkered oil cloth on the kitchen table--the table surrounded by old-fashioned straight-back cane bottom chairs. Have you ever walked down into a country cellar and found yourself surrounded by a couple hundred quart jars on each side of you--filled with green beans, blackeyed peas, corn? Peaches, pears, cherries and pints of jellies of all flavors? It's a beautiful sight.
Over in the corner are baskets of potatoes, winter squash, turnips, apples.
Have you walked into a farm smoke-house and bumped your forehead into hams, bacon, sausage, all smoking or curing?
Have you ever seen a chrome milk bucket airing under a grape arbor? Have you ever been in a milky smelling separator room? Have you ever tried to milk? Or churn?
Have you ever walked through a garden in sandy soil and saw watermelons all around you?
Have you ever walked a mesquite pasture, hunting, and had a snake crawl right between your legs?
Have you ever read and dozed under a cool, sweet smelling grape arbor?
Even if you've done none of these things...you can go there. Take some time....go back and visit Pop's Place...once a week in your imagination!
