A Few Fond Memories

I'm still admiring these old pictures that my dad found at my aunt Barbara's house. I really love this one of us all sitting around the table at my papaw Lorn's house, fixing to eat. It is during Christmas time of 1970. I was 3 and 1/2-years old.

Sitting at the table from left to right is my uncle Chester (all you can see is his hand holding a Frostie root beer bottle), then my dad (all you can see is his nose and hair, then my aunt Brenda with the big Bouffant hairdo. Next is my older sister, Pam, holding up 2-fingers on each hand, and that's me with the big grin on my face, clinching a spoon in my mouth and stretching my arms out wide with a single finger pointing on each hand. Next is my mother, then my grandmother, Bessie, and papaw, Lorn Chesney. So, it was either my aunt Barbara or my uncle Jimmy taking the picture because both of them are missing from the picture.

I see a huge baked ham with pineapples on top, sitting just in front of me. It looks like I may have stuck my arm in it because it appears that I have grease all over my arm. I can also see cornbread, pinto beans, and iced tea. Hiding behind the tea glasses is probably mashed potatoes, corn, and potato salad. There are several desserts sitting on top of the freezer behind us.

I've looked at this picture for a long time tonight. I keep closing my eyes and trying to remember what it was like sitting around that table. I can almost hear the laughter and conversation taking place. Most likely, after eating, we adjourned to the living room where my papaw would have had the old oil stove cranked up as high as he could get it. Their house was a large 2-story house that was built back in the 1800's. They would shut off most of the rooms so they only had to heat the living room, kitchen, and one of the side bedrooms. The rest of the house would be freezing. I would always sit beside one of the doors that led into one of the closed off rooms so I could crack open the door a few inches and feel the cool air creep in beside me.

Well, I could go on for hours reminiscing but I guess I'll end this post before I get too carried away.