10/31/11

Cousins~ Another Time~

I am at a place in life where the focus is on Cousins..none of us in my family have living parents at this point in time and have begun to lose first Cousins. The memories we share are truly unique. Consider the world as it is today in the 21st century..my generation was blessed to live in such a special and unique time. It was by today's standards such an uncomplicated, simple life. People had time for each other. Children actually had summer vacations even though VACATIONS were not a part of our lives. It wasn't always playtime. Work was almost always a part of our Summers but so was free time, carefree time to roam the fields, woodlands and make up games as we walked the railroad tracks and what a sweet treasured memory I have of sitting on the front porch rail of Jack & Laura Mobley's farmhouse with my slightly younger cousin Eulita-[Laura Eulita Mobley] we called her Leedie- as she and I leisurely awaited the sight  and sounds of the train and a chance to wave at the Engineers and workmen as they passed by. I have total recall of climbing fences and gates into fields to get to Pear trees and ambling through the woods discovering things like Wild Violets? 
We first cousins spent summers &  holidays together if we didn't live in the same community.  Many of us went to the same school & church. We shared bedrooms, beds..and quilt pallets on the floor. There was no such thing as a room for each person. If two double beds would fit in a room It had two beds. Then the children, as families showed up for special occasions, would be sleeping 3 or four to a bed depending on the size of the children. If they were little ones there might be one sleeping cross ways at the foot of the bed.
There was always room or a way to make room for the company that would show up.  No invitation-truly Old Fashioned Southern Hospitality at it's best.
We could never have imagined that one day not so far in the future we would be scattered all over the Southeast, even the Midwest..and not see each other often for many, many years.  Still we have what we shared. It's ours..the past, the family-the reunions, the kick the can games at dusk, building tunnels with square bales of hay in the barn loft...raiding the burlap bag of pecans in aunt Laura's pantry at the end of the dog trot[side porch].
My cousin "Leedie" was so much more privileged than I. I was at times jealous I am sure of things like that wonderful painted Doll House she got for Christmas..I'll bet that beauty cost $5.00, came from Sears I am quite sure and I was so easily impressed..they even had AVON products in their house. I remember some of the containers that came to be "keepers" like the little powder jar I now have on an old vanity in a spare bedroom.  I forgot to mention Eulita who was Leedie to most of us as a youngster, had another nickname. Uncle Jack called her "monkey." That's all right. It's a southern thing I suppose? Her next in birth order brother Eugene had several nicknames over the years.  His Grandma Kitchens called him "Biddie" then as we grew a little older, I'm not exactly sure when "Biddie" turned into "Bennie". It could have been when we advanced from the local Mershon Elementary School to Patterson on our way to High School.  Again at some point it became Gene and I think his contemporaries all know him as Gene.  Their next older brother James had the "nickname" of "Baker".  I was told that someone [was it again Grandma Kitchens?] tagged him with that saying his feet were as big as a Baker..referring to a particular baking pan.  I don't recall the other 3 cousins in that family having a nickname. I never had one and since I never was thrilled with the name Jonell..encouraged people with whom I worked to feel free to call me Jo remembering how I loved the "Aunt Josephine" who became Aunt Jo to all of us.


Glenda Sue Weathers,
Imogene Carter,
 Jonell Williams


Dorsey Eugene Mobley

Clarence Turner
Icannot write about childhood without recalling special times with cousins and Eulita was a special part of those years. I was able to see her about 4 years ago. Communicating was difficult then but with patience it was possible to connect and for that I am so thankful.
 


3 comments:

  1. Jonell, thanks for the visit and the follow, and also for the gracious comment you left.

    It's true...I'm the 1st "guy" to follow this blog of yours and I guess I should set you at ease why.

    First...we both share a love for Jesus and want others to perhaps read something on our humble blogs that will cause them to either fall in love with Him or as the case may be...draw closer to Him.

    Secondly, we share Georgia. I spent my "growin' up" years in Columbus. I follow a few other Georgia bloggers so maybe I get a flashback of the good ole days of the '50's. Like a once a year trip to Calloway Gardens.

    I'll visit as much as I can, but can't promise to comment EVERY time as I type with RA ridden index fingers and it is painful at times.

    Just keep loving Jesus and telling everybody.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful..since we are fellow Georgians..you would likely appreciate my early posts Jan. 2009 on this site..however more recently I tend to post more "family' related things like old pics I come across etc..My intent is to put into book form this site from 2009 thr the end of this year for the children and grands. Just pause when you can I understand ..there are so many blogs I ck in with I can't do it often..such talented people/women lol..amazes me how many are Christians w much the same motivation you/I have for doing this-Later, Jonell

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the memory jog. I hadn't thought about my childhood memories for quite a while. I remember the train-loved it. I remember when we (Mama,Daddy,Clarence & I) would visit from Florida. Remember turning off the paved road onto the dirt road at Uncle Jack & Aunt Lars. the white picket fence, the swing on the porch, the road down to Grandma & Grandpa's house, the road lined with crepe myrtle, their yard with not a single blade of grass. Sunday dinners-fried chicken. Playing kick the can, hide & seek, the traveling store-loved to get the liquid grape and orange cool ade? The Easter Egg hunts-I think it was Eugene that would have eggs that were not cooked??

    ReplyDelete

This is much more fun if you participate so join in and share your thoughts on any given subject. I look forward to reading what you have on your mind. Additionally, I would be honored to have you join me as a "Follower"
~All In Fun,
Jonell

BLOG RENOVATION-my excuse for unfinished housekeeping

-[I have to enter something here or it won't "save"]

A Note From Me

I am so glad you stopped by-whether accidental or intentional. Some days my posts will be entirely inspirational and other times quite random but the time we share can be worthwhile. My initial intent was to use this space for my Mobley Family notes { james n mobley line } I know one can only write when inspired to do so. With that in mind I caution you to expect various twists and turns in the conversation as we wander Down the Lane and Around the Curve. If you have a clue what a Lane is then you already know that a walk down the lane can be a solitary walk, ambling without the company of another or it can simply be a leisure experience with someone who's company you enjoy, working out the world's problems or just soaking up nature and God's spectacular creation surrounding you. There is enjoyment either way. I say all that to say this: "Our walk down the lane will be much more interesting if you come along with me from time to time. I am not the only one with something to share so please join in as you are motivated or inspired.
Please know that I have not abandoned my first blog Down the Lane. I still drop in to read comments and check my tracker to see who's reading or even if there might be a new Follower. I have noticed when I check the traffic on Like Gramma's House and come over to DTL I am seeing apparently the same visitors are checking in on both sights..based on the city and state and time frame of the visitors..That's Great! Thank you faithful few who are inquisitive enough to click on the links and come over. Let me explain ...in case you have missed it earlier: This is my original blog. At a point in the process of this project I began to drift in a new direction creatively and hence Like Gramma's House was birthed. By way of continued explanation for what looks like an orphaned blog here..I simply have not come up with a way, an idea for either following through with Down the Lane or closing it out. One cannot write without inspiration. I just don't have a clue where to go with this one. The only glimmer of a creative twist I have is to invite my cousins to contribute to the family stories, pictures with their own quirky takes... looking back Down the Lane.There has been no encouragement leading me to think they would pitch in. They all have wonderful memories to share.. and I am confident it would be worth while. Apparently just don't think what they have to share would be blog worthy.


My Gramma's House~


Time changes so many things. Loved ones are no longer here. Landmarks dissappear from the landscape. Entire communities are seemingly erased. Homes have burned leaving scarcely a footprint in the earth where they once stood. Even so, we still refer back to things 'the way they once were' as being ~Like Gramma's House~ http://mygrammashouse.blogspot.com/

Cousins

Cousins
There comes a time in LIFE when our COUSINS AGAIN become very important. I think that time has arrived. jwh