Basket with Gold Beads and Brass Base

                                                                            DEOSIL

My Cousin, Johnnie Ruth

When I was 7 years old, my mother took my brother and me to Mississippi, for the first time. There, I got to meet a number of my cousins on my father’s side of the family. My father had 5 brothers and 3 sisters, and he was the youngest. Eustace, Iris, Myrtle, Abbie May, Earl, Clyde, Fred (Fred had a twin sister who died in infancy), Albert, and Leighton (my father).  Out of all my uncles, I liked my Uncle Clyde the best. Each time he came to visit us, I’d ask him how he lost some of the fingers on his hands. Each time, he would tell me a different story. I always looked forward to the next one, knowing it would probably be more creative than the last one.   

Johnnie Ruth was Uncle Clyde’s only daughter. Somehow, she was able to survive the competition of four rough and tough brothers. This was rural Mississippi where most people had horses, cattle, and chickens. At 7 years of age, I was very impressed with the way she stood up for herself. She had a strong personality and I idolized her. I wanted to have my hair cut the same way she did. I wanted to wear the same clothes. Never mind that she wore tops that were two rectangles sewn together of whatever material was available. I wanted to be just like her. I suppose that we both had strong female role models. My father, Uncle Albert, and my Uncle Clyde all worked for the same shipping company, the Moore-McCormick Lines out of New York (they were Chief Engineers), and were seldom home from the sea. My mother, Aunt Evelyn (Johnnie Ruth’s mother), and my Aunt Ann, all raised children alone. As a result, I was always confused when the menfolk came home. Suddenly, they were in charge, and the strong women I knew took a back seat. I just didn’t know what to think about that! 

When my Aunt Evelyn died, and then my Uncle Clyde, Johnnie Ruth was left to raise two of her younger brothers. Her father left her the house and land, and paid for her hair dresser’s license in return for raising her brothers. She was barely 21 years of age, and newly married. Like her mother before her, she embraced her responsibilities and did what she had to do. I was amazed at her strength. I remember, more than once, coming home for break at college, after I had performed some awful disaster on my hair, and she would always fix it. Like her mother before her, she was a devout Christian, and was often taken with the spirit of the lord. One time, I would come home and she would evangelize the whole time I was there. The next time I’d visit, she’d tell me dirty jokes. I suppose there is a dichotomy here, but it made her very human and that much more lovable. We always laughed together and that made me love her. I have encountered two people in my life who are true Christians. One is Johnnie Ruth and the other is former President Carter. Both of them have a place in my heart. Because of her faith and kindness, she took care of many people in her community. 
 

As the years went by, I found myself living in California. Distance and time found us far from each other and I began to miss our time together.  So I called her up and invited her to visit me. We set the date of her arrival.  Right before she was to leave, she called me and said that she was having back trouble, and had to postpone her visit. Things went from bad to worse.  She found out that she had cancer and that it was inoperable. Her family took her to Houston for treatment, but it was no use. She was destined to die very shortly. Now, most people would have expired quietly, but not my cousin. She decided after a lifetime of service and good deeds, that she was going to direct her death and make it the way she wanted to. She planned the whole thing, and it was on her terms. Right down to the temperature in her hospital room. My last conversation with her was one of the most heart rendering events of my life. I openly wept but at the same time, I was amazed by her faith and acceptance of death. I told her that I loved her and that I was blessed to have shared our spaces of life. On her death bed, I am told, she smiled and told her husband that she was going home. Now, how much better does it get than that!

I wasn’t able to go to her funeral, but my sister-in-law, went for our family.  The church was packed to the limits with people, even standing outside for the eulogy. Vickie told me that it was amazing how many people came to honor her. But I’m not surprised. In her little space of the world, she did so much good for many people. And you know what?  I still want to be like her. 

Snow In Raymond

Last night, I got up around 2AM and looked out the window. There was a blanket of snow over the whole town, and it was just beautiful, and so silent.This morning, when I walked, it was already beginning to melt, and by about 11AM, the snow was mostly gone. But not until I was able to take some photos! What Fun!

                                                                Elm Street

                                                             The Courthouse

                                                         Port Gibson Street




                                                      

The Robins

Every year, since I moved to  Raymond, the robins come in the middle of January and eat every last berry off of the Carolina Cherry Laurels we have in the back yard. They start from the top of the trees, and work their way down to the lower outer branches. By the time they reach the lower branches, they resort to flopping around a great deal, and it’s rather comic to watch. The branches are not strong enough to hold their weight, but that does not deter them. Never mind that there are two cats on the back steps, very near the trees. Each has his own space I suppose. There have never been any casualties. 

In the meantime, the holly tree in our yard, with its red berries, will give up its fruit to the Cedar Waxwings. I’m still waiting for them to arrive, and they should be here soon. If I’m lucky, I’ll hear their high pitched calls. 

Adventures with Elaine or You Are There (remember that old TV show?)

Ever since I moved back to the south, Elaine and I have be shopping companions, going to thrift stores all over the area, grocery stores, and everything’s a dollar stores. Since both of us are retired, this is a way to entertain ourselves on very little money. Looking through other people’s junk, in particular, has become a sport for us. We never know what’s around the next isle, or what we’ll encounter at a yard sale. I suppose this would be considered rather boring to most readers, but there’s a catch, and I’m beginning to wonder. 

Elaine and I were driving along I 220 about a year ago, when we were almost blown off the road by two cars that were weaving in and out of traffic going at least 85 mph. As I corrected, after being cut off by one of the cars, I made the comment to Elaine that they were very dangerous and could cause an accident. The next thing we knew, cars exploded in front of us with debris going everywhere. I slammed on breaks and then moved onto the median so I wouldn’t be hit from behind. The highway went to a stand still, backing up traffic, with lots of screeching breaks. It seems that Old Jobie Martin had entered the interstate, going the wrong way, and hit the speeding cars head on. If our car had been just a little closer, we would have been toast.

                                                                  RIP Jobie Martin
 




About six months ago, Elaine and I were turning onto I 55, from Lakeland Drive, during a thunderstorm. As we started down the ramp, this huge bolt of lightning struck the highway, directly in front of us. It was so intense that it just stunned us. We were both in shock. It took about 30 seconds to recover before driving on. And that quick, in a flash, it was over (couldn’t resist the flash part). 

The day before yesterday, we were driving down to Pearl to our favorite thrift store. We had just started going under the bridge on Highway 80, under the stack, when we were suddenly surrounded by police with weapons drawn, and with blue lights blazing, more and more officers appearing by the second. There must have been at least 30 of them. I kept looking for one of the cops to direct traffic, or at least stop it, but no one did. We didn’t know what to do, and slowed down, trying to figure out just what to do. All of a sudden one of the cops yelled, “ get the hell out of the way, “ and that’s just what did. I hit the gas, and took off, fleeing from the scene. It wasn’t until later, when we watched the 5PM news, that we found out that there had been shots fired on the stack, a sniper suspected. And to top it all off, it was a false alarm. I’m tellin’ ya Martha, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another. 

 

Found These People in My Attic

I found an old photograph album upstairs while cleaning out the attic.  It had paper photos as well as old tintypes.  Once I discovered I could remove the photos, I found some interesting things on the backs.  The date on the book cover, on the inside is 1865. 

Most of the photos look like they were taken locally.  And how do I know this?  Well, here are some of the photographer's logos I found on the backs of the photos. 

Next are photos of some in-state and out-of-state ladies. The top two photographs were taken in Pokeepsie, New York, and I've got to admit, they don't look like southern bells. The rest do, however.  There's one lady that's from Hazlehurst for sure. 

Here are some photos of couples. 

There is a name on the top right photo, but it has faded with time. The gentleman in the photo has piercing dark eyes, and I'm guessing that the photographer touched up the photo.  

Last, but not least, the children. They look like small adults, already affected by life. 

New Year Resolutions
Here’s a list of some common resolutions for the new year. 


1.  Lose weight

2.  Stop smoking

3.  Get more exercise

4.  Quit drinking

5.  Save money

6.  Get organized – now this is the one that will make me clean out the attic this year.

This coming year: