Back to What I Like to Remember + Favorite Things (Hints of Spring)

These pictures are of my still bleak yard, but showing promise of spring.

We are having unusually mild weather and will probably pay for it with severe, stormy weather, but I'll take it. And I hope we don't have too many buds come out only to be killed by a freeze.

But these early shoots are normal and typical for the southeast and it gets me a bit giddy thinking about warmer days and brighter, more colorful days.

All these little bitty green beginnings remind me of little bitty Andrew.

So new and so tender. I love the way they push up the pine straw that Charlie used to mulch our beds. It's amazing how things come to life every year.

Daylilies

Daylilies

Irises or Iris? Correct Plural, I don't know.

Pincushion Flowers and Purple Lilacs

being watched by Mr. Bunny

Yarrow

Sedum

And those are my pictures showing that spring is starting to wake up.

And now a few of my fifth grade diary entries. I didn't do any of January - on purpose -

They are a little too simple and mindless. My pride didn't want to reveal just what a goofy 10 year old I was - but I guess I was -

I just think that it's fun to see what I was doing that February of 1962 compared to this February of 2009, when my 4th grandchild was born. How could I have known what life would look like to me at age 57? In so many ways I still feel like that 10 year old, and I can clearly and vividly still know some of the ways she thought and felt.

Thursday February 1, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I told Jimmy Bell (a friend of my boyfriend) that Marily Mason liked him. She told my boyfriend I didn't like him. (I'm worried)

(this is what I call ultimate goofy - I remember Marilyn was mad and embarrassed that I told that - and let me just say that none of our feelings ran deep at all in regard to these boyfriends - mine certainly didn't over this particular 5th grade boyfriend - I'll have to say I was a bit "boy crazy" . Never was able to play it very cool in that regard - I needed, quite often, to have been a good bit more subtle)

Friday February 2, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I played with Jeannie Knox Livings. We went for a ride with her mother, daddy, and little brother, Jeffrey.

Saturday February 3, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I played with Jane White. Mr. Hart (a man on Williams St.) found a woodpecker in his car. He gave it to Jane.

Sunday February 4, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I pulled a tooth. It was the 4th one from the back left, on the bottom. I don't have my 12 yr. molar. (There is a tape stain in my diary page where I once had the tooth taped on the page)

Monday February 5, 1962: Dear Diary Today I pulled another tooth. It's the 3rd one from the back on the bottom left.

Tuesday February 6, 1962: Dear Diary, Today Miss McMillan (my teacher) had to get out of school for a while. Mother taught us while she was out.

(Let me just say that I remember that day - and mother didn't actually teach. She was not a school teacher by any stretch of the imagination. She just sat in there for maybe an hour or two. Neither am I a school teacher, and I remember having to do the same thing for Laura Beth's 6th grade class, once. I was so nervous and I went in with bags of candy bribing them to be so nice and in control - I could never be a school teacher.)

Wednesday February 7, 1962: Dear Diary, Today is Mary Claire's birthday. She's my cousin. I went to see her. She is 1 year old. She is so cute.

(Again - amazing - Mary Claire now lives in Birmingham with her husband and 3 children who are now teenagers. Her oldest daughter is about to graduate from high school - Mary Claire's mother is my Aunt Mary. Mary is the youngest of the four Northcutt girls. I've written about them in other blogs.)

Thursday February 8, 1962: Dear Diary, Today Ann Key and Willard Livingston(Ann Key is daddy's cousin) dropped in to see Daddy and Mother.

(I remember that day - I can see them coming in the door - and Daddy was so excited. Apparently this cousin of his, was in his same age bracket and they had been quite close. He called her Ann Key - but I know she was Ann Key Livingston - married to this Willard Livingston. I suppose I wrote about it in my diary because the visit caused Daddy to be quite animated - He told how when they were young, the two of them were really good dancers - probably during the swing band era - and they enjoyed dancing together at so many events. - I loved that story and thinking about Daddy dancing so good.)

Friday February 9, 1962: Dear Diary, Today after school I played with Jane White and Jeannie Knox Livings. We didn't have homework.

Saturday February 10, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I went to the circus. Ella, my grandmother, and Jeannie Knox, my friend, went with us. A lady and a man were shot out of a cannon.

(There are no words to describe that fun fun day. It was in Montgomery at the colliseum. I am surprised I invited Jeannie Knox instead of Jane White. Jeannie Knox was quite attached to her mother and we weren't nearly as connected as Jane and I. Who knows? Or my cousin, Rachel. Why didn't I invite her? There must have been reasons. I'm guessing for Mother and Daddy it would have been much easier with Jane or Rachel.)

What I Like to Remember about October, Cont'd.

My first grade memory of halloween is a bit vague. What I visualize is being in the classroom. (I suppose the Halloween Parade was an ongoing event. I only remember the parade when I was in the 3rd grade, but that will be posted later - and why I remember that one.) I was a cowgirl. Mom had suggested it. I know that. Halloween and costumes were new to me, I think. Or just being old enough to really think about it. I don't remember relating this year, 1957, to the previous year, 1956, with my cousins -Anyway, I agreed to the cowgirl costume. I liked playing cowgirls with my little boy friends who were, of course, cowboys. I was usually Dale Evans - and sometimes Annie Oakley.


Back to what I visualize or see in my recollections: I'm in the cowgirl costume which Mother had put together - red hat, vest, guns, red bandana, ... but Jeans!!! It should have been a skirt. That's where we messed up - because I'm standing there feeling like I look like a boy - which was very disappointing to me - and one of my friends walked in as a PRINCESS. I just remember the feeling of "WHY DIDN'T I THINK ABOUT THAT - BEING A PRINCESS??" Her dress was made of pink netting and I can still see her face and her enjoying the unanimous approval ratings in her favor. My hat was off to her. In my childlike way, I took complete responsibility for my choices - I had a sense of knowing to never again give up my "voice" in selecting a Halloween costume. This is vague but I think there was a parade that year. The band led the parade and all the kids marched 2 by 2.

I think Jeannie(the princess) and I were partners. We were really good friends.

It's been a long time since any diary entries.

So, I'm jumping from that 1st grade experience regarding Halloween

all the way up to 6th grade diary entries.

In 6th grade I was getting a little too old for Halloween, and the entries are starting to really thin out as I'm losing interest in regularly writing in my diary.

The last entry I posted was September 23.

Monday September 24, 1962: Dear Diary, I didn't have much homework today.

Tuesday September 25, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to play with Ellen Nix today.

Wednesday September 26, 1962: Dear Diary, it rained hard today. I'm glad.

Thursday September 27, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I saw Barbie & Ken's sports car. (They are dolls)

Friday September 28, 1962: Dear Diary, went to ballgame. Ate with Susan and Bert.

Saturday September 29, 1962: No Entry

Sunday September 30, 1962: No Entry

Monday October 1, 1962: No Entry

Tuesday October 2, 1962: No Entry

Wednesday October 3, 1962: No Entry

Thursday October 4, 1962: No Entry

Friday October 5, 1962: Dear Diary, Rode on the Band Bus to the football game.

Saturday October 6, 1962: No Entry

Sunday October 7, 1962: Dear Diary, Ate with Ella and Elbert.

Monday October 8, 1962: Dear Diary, At about 3:00 Grandmother died. Not Ella.

Tuesday October 9, 1962: Dear Diary, went to Grandmother's funeral. Lots of flowers.

Wednesday October 10, 1962: Dear Diary, Mother came home from Troy. Daddy too. Me and Mary Ann have been staying with Ella.

Thursday October 11, 1962: Dear Diary, Made a cake today.

Friday October 12, 1962: Dear Diary, 4-H Bake Sale today.

Saturday October 13, 1962: Dear Diary, we spent the night with Halbert.

Sunday October 14, 1962: Dear Diary, went to Sunday School in Troy.

Monday October 15, 1962: Dear Diary, It was so hot today.

Tuesday October 16, 1962: No Entry

Wednesday October 17- Saturday October 20, 1962: No Entries

Sunday October 21, 1962: Dear Diary, today is Elbert's birthday.

Monday October 22, 1962: Dear Diary, played with Jane & Jeannie Knox.

Tuesday October 23, 1962: No Entry

Wednesday October 24, 1962: Dear Diary, I got my pictures today at school. They are good.

Thursday October 25, 1962: No Entry

Friday October 26, 1962: No Entry

Saturday October 27, 1962: Dear Diary, played with Jeannie Knox & Jane

Sunday October 28, 1962: Dear Diary, Went to S.S. & Church. Then Marilyn Mason came to play with me.

Monday October 29, 1962: Dear Diary, Today is school again. Didn't have much homework.

Tuesday October 30, 1962: No Entry

Wednesday October 31, 1962: Dear Diary, We had a Halloween Carnival tonight. I wore a FLAPPER.

These are very blurry - but wanted to give a visual perspective.

1. The first one is Mary Ann in the first grade, 1955-56. She was 6, which made me 4. It was the next year which I wrote about above - when we were staying at Ella's during Halloween.

2. The second one is me in the first grade. I remember being very excited about having my first school picture made. I don't look very excited. There is a story to that pose, but it would have to be told in another post. This is the year I was the cowgirl for Halloween.

3. The third picture is my second grade picture. Just giving an overall look. Incidentally, Mom made my dresses, and I'm sure she made Mary Ann's.

4. This fourth picture is Jane White's 5th grade picture. She is mentioned a lot in my diary. She was my best friend and lived on Williams Street, as I did.

I had other pictures I tried to get - but my camera was doing weird. I had one of Jeannie B., Marilyn Mason, Jeannie Knox, well - most of the friends I've mentioned - but perhaps another day. Photos just make for good illustration. I like photos.

1962 Diary Entries and 1962 School Days

I'm going to catch up on my 1962 Diary posts - after writing yesterday about the Spring Queen Contest - made me think of those days.

The last post was August 27, 1962 - so today I'll start with the 28th. Let me just explain that this is a five year diary. I didn't maintain it for 5 years. It was a Christmas present in the fifth grade, so I began my entries in December of 1961. I was in the fifth grade. Now it is August 28, 1962 and I am about to be in the 6th grade. I've almost been doing these entries for a year and am starting to lose interest. I left days blank as we're about to see. There were only four lines for each day to make an entry, which is why it is all written in such a blunt, matter of fact way. It isn't a journal at all. Just allows for a few facts. By the sixth grade some of friends were starting to mature, I suppose. Or set their sites on the teen years. I wasn't. I didn't really go through puberty until I was 15. I was a very late bloomer. In the sixth grade I was still playing with Barbie Dolls and received a Chatty Baby for Christmas that year. I don't think my hormones were stirring at all. Okay - August 28th...

Tuesday August 28, 1962: Dear Diary, played with Jane.

Wednesday August 29, 1962: Dear Diary, no entry

Thursday August 30, 1962: no entry

Friday August 31, 1962: no entry

Saturday September 1, 1962: no entry

Sunday September 2, 1962: Dear Diary the pool closed today.

Monday September 3, 1962: no entry

Tuesday September 4, 1962: no entry

Wednesday September 5, 1962: no entry

Thursday September 6, 1962: Dear Diary, Today is Mother's Birthday.

Friday September 7, 1962: Dear Diary went to 4-H Round-Up

Saturday September 8, 1962: no entry

Sunday September 9, 1962: Dear Diary, Went to play with Marilyn Mason.

Monday September 10, 1962: Dear Diary, Played with Jane White

Tuesday September 11, 1962: Dear Diary, Jeannie B. Price came to play with me today.

Wednesday September 12, 1962: Dear Diary, I played with Jane White today.

Thursday September 13, 1962: Dear Diary school started today. Tonight I went to a football game.

Friday September 14, 1962: Dear diary I went to school for a half a day today.

Saturday September 15, 1962: no entry

Sunday September 16, 1962: Dear Diary I went to sunday school and church.

Monday September 17, 1962: Dear Diary, today is my first full day at school.

Tuesday September 18, 1962: Dear Diary, Didn't have much homework today.

Wednesday September 19, 1962: Dear Diary, Today was same old school day.

Thursday September 20, 1962: Dear diary, Same old school.

Friday September 21, 1962: Dear Diary, Tonight I went to the ballgame.

Saturday September 22, 1962: Dear Diary, It was a beautiful day today. I played with Jane and Jeannie Knox.

Sunday September 23, 1962: Dear Diary, We ate over at Ella's today. (After church of course).

So - I covered a lot of days this time -

Things to make note of. At the beginning of these entries in today's post - it's obvious that summer is winding down. The pool closes on a Sunday. When I write that I played with Jane White - she lived on my street. She really was my best friend. Jeannie Knox is mentioned in the last entry - whom I've written about in previous posts. She too lived on my street. A very imaginative, creative friend to play with - but extremely "high maintenance". We didn't know that term back then, but it is so very appropriate. Jane was my kindred spirit. I was close to her entire family. She was very kind and dear and loyal. She had a gentle spirit. I really did enjoyed playing with Jeannie Knox. I think she and I had lived on the street longer than any of the other children - except Jimmy and Becky Hart. Jimmy was my age. Becky was his younger sister. He lived next to Jeannie Knox. Jane lived farther up the street from all of us. We all had our bikes and they were our transportation, unless we walked. There had always been friends to come and go on Williams Avenue. What I didn't know was that the next summer nearly all the families who had kids for me to play with - well for various reasons - they would move - the next summer. That was tough. I was going into the 7th grade and it was quite a grieving process for me. It was hard. I still remember that.

Okay - Summer is winding down - pool closes - and by reading the entries it's easy to see that I am trying to make the most of my last days of freedom. I LOVED summer. I do not like confinement. Freaks me out. Having to stay in one class, confined to one desk, lined up with other kids, no freedom to move at will, - unless it's to the pencil sharpener or to the bathroom - or a water break - and those are limited. I recall that teachers soon learned that Ellen Nix and I were best friends and did much, too much, talking in class. They must have passed that word on to the next teacher. No teacher would EVER let us sit near each other. Ellen and I would pass notes, but that was tricky. Really weird if it was confiscated by the teacher. Or, some boy might grab it to aggravate us. So - we developed a sign language spelling out words. That was tricky too, but it worked for us quite a bit. We would clear our throats to get each other's attention. Let me add that I was not one to get scolded in class - almost never - oh - except in the 3rd and 5th grade - and now that I am an adult - I think those older ladies had issues. I can be objective about that now and I know they were too old and too "old school" to be teaching. Back to mine and Ellen's communication tactics - I don't remember us ever getting caught. Imagine how subtle we had to be. We were good.

Diary Entries and what we're noting. I do get sidetracked.

Last week of school - getting play time in - also notice how school didn't start until September 13. Amazing. We had a good, long summer! Loved it. I lived on a straight street that had been cut into a pecan orchard. In the summer it was green, green, green - all those pecan leaves on those tall, full trees, growing in that green grass. My paradise. Curbs on that asphalt street, gutters for the rain to wash into - Some paved drives, some not paved. Most weren't.

So school starts - Not even a half day that first day. Just going and getting to know our teacher and our new classroom - Next day - Only a half day. I love the gentle return. We didn't jump in full force. No, we eased back in. We had to take our books that we'd bought. State didn't provide ours. We went to the store, downtown which was called Evergreen Grocery or it was Suddith and Bethune Shoes - can't remember - I think it switched around. That's where we bought our books - Got our "school shoes", of course next door at Suddith and Bethune's - which later became Lambert's Shoe Store. I do remember that we could buy "used books", which my mom was "all about"! I hated that. I loved the smell of a new book. We were always having to be frugal. The social studies book in the 6th grade, well, the new one had a new cover - the used one had a very dated cover - I was very envious of those kids whose mom had gotten them the new book with the new picture. Mine was so used that it was falling apart during the year - and I appealed to mom to let me get a new one. YAY. She said yes. It was in the middle of the year - so I loved taking in that new book to school. Loved looking around at the others and then back at my book and feeling a part of what the others had. OH, Our HUMAN FLESH! What trouble it deals us!

Next day, Friday - only half a day - and see that our first game was on Thursday night? I don't remember that sort of thing - all our ballgames were on Friday nights - but I guess that had something to do with schedules in our area. Perhaps athletes would have the answer to that. Football games in Evergreen, AL were like football games all over - HUGE social event - BIG DEAL! SO VERY IMPORTANT to the whole community. I loved it all. I loved the Band marching in, the drumbeat - the drama - the crowd - I hung out down below near the cheerleaders and near the band. Where Daddy was. My buddies and I were together, humidity, excitement, screaming, running, yelling, lights - hopefully new clothes - but I wasn't one who could count on that, either. Again - frugal.

Again - if one reads the entries above - a sad sad commentary - that all I had to say about the first week of school was "Same Old School". What is that about - and then my words were much perkier as I describe the first Saturday - A Beautiful Day - I was let out of a cage. I made good grades - maybe it was just too easy - not very challenging. I loved my teacher - Mrs. Wilkins. She was so sweet. So sweet.

So, that's the first week of the sixth grade for me.

I have some pictures to post to show anyone who is reading - which I think it is just a couple of my daughters at this point - and maybe my sister who is seeing what "fool stuff" I'm writing now - other curious folks might happen by. I know that Stephanie and Hollen are looking for any word on the Barbers here in S'boro - they are in the house and Ann is sorting through all that stuff. It all looks great! Ya'll need to come visit - Luke is 2 next week.

I have to go. Charlie is home and we are going out to eat in H'ville to get "reacquainted" with each other. These days, everything seems to pull us in different directions.

Pictures of my diary I will now post - so you can see how old and tattered it is, like me.

If anyone is reading this post for the first time, which has to be a mistake...you must have taken a wrong turn in cyberspace and ended up here.... I'd offer you a cup of coffee if I could...

Anyway, if this is your first time here - or for those of you who have forgotten why I titled my blog what I did - I want to remind you - I love what my granddaughter, Ellie, hears when she has learned the names of her 3 favorite Disney ladies. Instead of Cinderella, Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty, she says what my title reads. I don't want to forget that. I actually remember some of my mispronunciations from when I was Ellie's age. I've written that I was part of a large extended family, living in Evergreen, AL.

[Even the abbreviation is different than it used to be. It used to be Evergreen, Ala. I don't know who decides to change those things, but they did. All states have 2 capital letters for the abbreviation. Missississipi used to be Miss. California might have been Calif. I think it was. Anyway, it was all different and too slow to write, I suppose, for our fast world -

so now here we are.]

Sidetracked! I remember that one of my uncles, Waynard Price, would always ask me, "Elizabeth, when is your birthday?" He loved to hear me say, "July the teenth-fourth". I didn't know that, until I learned how to say it correctly and realized why he always asked me. I have a clear memory of when he asked me, after I learned the correct pronunciation. I remember where I was standing - on the street in front of his house - 111 McMillan Street. The kids and adults spent time in that street area - it was VERY slow - almost no traffic - more walking - and it was almost as if it was their front yard. I've actually written about that address in one of my posts - I think it was the one about the Northcutt family. Anyway, he asked the question and I was ready - "July the fourteenth!". Sad. He looked disappointed, and I didn't get to hear his familiar chuckle which I love to remember - But I teased him back and told him I'd learned the right way - almost an "I gotcha back!" moment. Same uncle, Waynard, used to laugh when he heard Ann, about the age Ellie is now, call "The Gary Collins Show" (popular morning show I watched) "The Very Collins Show". He loved that. Got so tickled. He chuckled.

Back to Ellie. Her pronunciations. I love it.
So, now she is saying The Pledge of Allegiance, which I think Ann has written about on her blog - well there is more - I don't think Ann has time right now to blog - and I learned last night more of Ellie's version of The P of A. I don't have it all, but I intend to get it down on paper. The following is what I know so far.....

I pledge allegiance to my flag

of the renited states of a miracle

There's so much more and I have to get it on paper before she learns the correct way. Last night after she said it, then Luke, having no clue what she was talking about, wanted to say his version. There was some mumbling, and then he waited for our applause as we'd given it to Ellie. We did. We applauded him.

Moving On.

Time for more Diary Entries - from 1962 - my last entry I posted was August 12, 1962. So today I'll catch us up - From August 13, 1962 to August 27, 1962. We'll see what memories these entries will awaken. (let me just say, that as I enter these I am going to type exactly what I wrote, which is often a misspelled word)

Monday, August 13, 1962 - Dear Diary, I didn't go to band today. I slept to late.

Tuesday, August 14, 1962 -Dear Diary, I went to play with Jeannie B. Price today.

Wednesday, August 15, 1962 - Dear Diary, I went swimming with Connie Sue Gunter today.

Thursday, August 16, 1962 - Dear Diary, I went to band today.

Friday, August 17, 1962 - Dear Diary, Mary Ann and I fixed a boat today.

Saturday, August 18, 1962 - Dear Diary I went swimming with Rachel today. then after dinner I went to play with her.

Sunday, August 19, 1962 - Dear Diary, We ate over at Ella's today. We had a party for Mary. (my aunt)

Monday, August 20, 1962 - No Entry

Tuesday, August 21, 1962 - Dear Diary, Went to band.

Wednesday, August 22, 1962 - Dear Diary, We ate out at Mrs. Stowers tonight.

Thursday, August 23, 1962 - Dear Diary, Went to band. Daddy got my class something to eat at 4 Points.

Friday, August 24, 1962 - No Entry.

Saturday, August 25, 1962 - Dear Diary, I went to the show. 3 movies. stayed all afternoon.

Sunday, August 26, 1962 - Dear Diary, Went to Sunday School and Church.

Monday, August 27, 1962 - Dear Diary, Went to the show with mother. "Gone With the Wind"

All those names mentioned - major players in my world. I've written about some of them. Rachel is my cousin who is 2 years younger than I. We played together all of the time. Her dad was Waynard Price, whom I mentioned earlier. Her mom is my mom's sister. Again, earlier posts explain this. It was Lucille, Edith, Florence and Mary. So, in the diary entry about the party for Mary - it was Mary's birthday. I just did the math. Mary turned 30 that year. Mom was 43 in 1962. Florence was 40. Lucille was 46. I guess Ella, my grandmother was about 66 or 67. I think she was no older than 20 or 21 when she had Lucille.

Also, when I said that I played with Rachel after Dinner - I had to have meant lunch. Back then we always called lunch, dinner. Weird. I actually thought it was a "yankee" thing to call noon meal lunch. Very odd of me, but then I guess I learned that from fam.

Rachel's oldest sibling is Suzanne. Her older brother is Rusty. Rusty and my sister, Mary Ann are the same age and were in the same grades at school - not always the same teacher. Big Difference! Suzanne is 6 years older than I. She was the second grandchild born in the N'cutt family. I've written about Bert who was the first grandchild - so they carried some heirarchy - respect from the younger cousins - at least I saw it that way. I once introduced Bert to a friend as the patriarchal cousin - I think it was at mom's funeral when some of my S'boro friends were in Evergreen. I may have listed this before but here is how it goes, with birthdays. You know we're close if I remember all the birthdays. Actually, I just learned Bert's this summer. He and Susan told me he'd just turned 69. We were all aghast that he's so close to 70 and made many jokes about that. He's so funny. Some of the exact dates I know very well. I think Scott's is June 9, but I'm not positive.

1. Bert C. Summer 1939

2. Suzanne P. January 1945

3. Scott C. June 1947

4. Mary Ann W. January 16,1949

5. Rusty P. June 1949

6. Elizabeth(me) W. July 14,1951

7. Rachel P. May 14, 1953

8. John R. October 1954 - October 28, 2004

9. Jim R. December 1955 - Spring, 1959

10. Melissa R. July 16, 1958

11. Mary Claire R. February 1961

12. Edward R. June 28, 1964

There's so much I could say about each cousin and their parents. Not a one I don't love and like. Absolute Truth! I've got to close. It was much too indulgent to write this much. I have things to do.

Guess what? It's just been August 19, 2008 - and, yes, there was a b'day celebration amongst the fam for Mary. It all continues.

P.S. HAPPY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION WEEK! :-)

ALL VERY INTRIGUING.

AUGUST 2008, AUGUST 1962, AND MARCH 1968

Thursday August 7, 2008

August has become quite the month.

Always it was the month of Mother and Daddy's anniversary, August 3rd, 1947.

Then, my second baby was born on August 12, 1982. That would be Laura Beth.

Laura Beth's husband, Scott, also has an August birthday, August 5.

In 1993, Daddy died on August 8th.

Finally, last year, Ada Elizabeth Moore, my 3rd grandbaby, (belonging to LB & Scott) was born on August 5th, 2007, sharing that day with her daddy. She just turned one.

August has now become the month when most schools begin again, including Auburn University. Charlie and I don't have a much longer in that system, but we have a few more years. $$$$$$.

So I will now post my diary entries from 1962.

Monday August 6, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to band today.

Tuesday August 7, 1962: Dear Diary, I had a 4-H meeting today.

Wednesday August 8, 1962: Dear Diary, Rachel spent the day with me today. Ate watermelon and went swimming.

Thursday August 9, 1962: Dear Diary, I played with Jane White today.

Friday August 10, 1962: Dear Diary, I'm spending the night with Marilyn Mason tonight.

Saturday August 11, 1962: Dear Diary, Marilyn and I walked to town today.

Sunday August 12, 1962: Dear Diary, Went to Sunday School and Church.

This is Evergreen United Methodist Church.

Dear Diary, went to Sunday School and Church. Always. Every Sunday.

My church. As believers, don't we know it's not about the building? Especially now, living in this culture, we've become so very mobile - hardly anyone stays in one place very long. I was born in a time when we weren't mobile at all. I still don't enjoy "mobility" very much. I don't know what it is about legacy and inheritance - but there is something about being able to say that My grandparents were there when the cornerstone was laid on this building. My parents were married in this church. I was married in this church. Mother and Daddy's funerals were held in this church. My aunt is the organist and has been as long as I can remember. Daddy was the choir director for so very long - that we all wondered how it would work without him. He had to quit when his Alzheimer's Disease was getting the best of him. He did it on his own when he realized things were getting a little weird. My sister, Mary Ann, after moving back to Evergreen, returned to Evergreen Methodist. She now plays the piano there and sings in the choir. I have 3 first cousins who were married here and 2 second cousins. My cousin's daughter is engaged and presently planning a wedding in this church. I suppose my 3 aunts were married in this church. I know Mary and Florence were. I am just not sure about Lucille. All the Vacation Bible Schools, all the Christmases, all the Easters, all the fellowship meals, all the MYF's, all the youth group stuff, in this church- I actually didn't understand the gospel for the first time here. I was a few blocks over in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, when Frank Barker of Briarwood Presbyterian in Birmingham was speaking to the "youth" in the community. It was March of 1968. I was a junior at Evergreen High School. Most of us had been to a Billy Graham movie in Greenville, AL - "The Restless Ones" - it was the first of those kinds of films. I even remember what dress I wore to the movie and the events before my "guy friend", not boyfriend, picked me up. There was an altar call at the end of the movie - "Just As I Am". I remember feeling like I should "set an example" for the other people in the theater, by going down to the front of the movie theater. (I so didn't understand my unregenerated state - not at all - I was still in that fog of blindness - thinking it was all about my good behavior -) That movie was on a Saturday Night. Next day Sunday and then that night our Sunday night services were cancelled so we could all go over to the Presbyterian Church to hear Frank Barker. We all heard him speak, I loved what I heard - I remember that - but still didn't understand my deadness -

There was an announcement that the youth were to go down to the basement, where classrooms were. Frank Barker would meet with us to discuss the movie with him. We did that. I remember how it felt to be sitting there with cousins and friends - all of them I knew quite well. I don't remember all of those who were there, but I remember a few, specifically. I can still feel that sense of responsibility that I felt - sympathy for Frank Barker - because he was not getting a whole lot of response from any of us - and I actually couldn't think of anything to say, either. What I didn't know, but realized later - Frank Barker understood the situation quite well - and was probably praying for the Holy Spirit to please light up the truth for us - He had to have seen clearly that we were all living in darkness - not understanding the truth of the gospel.

And then that moment. Dr. Barker's tone of voice was one of, "Let me try to explain it this way, since you're not understanding it all the other ways." And he explained it using the Courtroom scene. Someone has been declared guilty, sentenced to prison, or payment of a debt. The one whom that guilty person owes steps up to clear the guilty person by either paying the debt or going to prison for him. And the judge says to the guilty man, "You're free, the debt has been paid". That's when the light came on for me. I had never known that I owed a debt. I didn't know that even one sin was an indication of my fallen nature - that the whole sin nature had to be dealt with. He must have gone on to explain so much - because at age 16, I knew that Christ had to have all of me - that it was not just saying a sentence, not just signing on a dotted line, not just getting a ticket for free - Whatever he said and taught that night, I understood it was my life for Christ's. He was offering rebirth - He would be born into me - born again - empowering me to live like Him. I didn't know all those words - but I understood that He had bought me with His blood. I had such a light in my brain and soul and spirit. I told noone there in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. I certainly didn't tell Dr. Barker. In my mind's eye, I see myself walking out of that place, somewhat in shock, and I see myself riding home with Mother and Daddy and Mary Ann, in the backseat of our Dark Green, Ford Galaxy 500, :-), thinking about all that I had just heard, with every intention of conversing with God once I was alone in my bed. I can feel the way I felt as we pulled into our carport - and I finally did begin to speak to my family, asking, "Did ya'll know that Christ had to pay for our sins on the cross????" - and it was questions like that, "Did you know this? Did you know this or that??!!!" I was feeling like there was this cosmic secret noone had fully explained to me. I think they were feeling like there was this cosmic secret they had been trying to explain to me but I wasn't getting it. I remember Mary Ann next to me, and thinking she was not getting it. That's a whole other story and on this day, she is 59, and definitely gets it. Her testimony is all very different from mine. She relinquished her life to Him a couple of years after that, at Huntingdon College, reading The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Smith. {Sorry grammar people, this offers no way to underline the title of a book, so I boldfaced it. :-( } And then she entered a whole new phase of understanding the full extent of His work on the cross, several years into her adult life. Really produced a dramatic change in her peace and spirit. It was the teaching of Michael Horton, and his books and tapes that gave her a whole new understanding. If you're reading this, Mary Ann, sorry I am tampering with your testimony. I bet I'm not getting it completely correct. :-( Forgive me.

Anyway, back to our pulling into the driveway and carport. My questions, their answers. I was thinking, "Nevermind - I have to get to bed and talk to God". So in we went. I systematically got ready for bed, pajamas, brush teeth - It was a 2 bedroom house with one bathroom - I have no recollection of what the others were doing - I was about to be born again - enter into eternal life, become a citizen of the Kingdom of God - Praise God, Praise God, Praise God - I was about to be set free - shackles loosed, chains broken - Hallalujah!

I can feel the way it felt in my twin bed which I had slept in for so long, but had been rearranged many times in our room, looking for some kind of change or variety. I can feel myself inside my flesh - saying to HIM who holds the universe in the palm of His hand - the one true God - The Sovereign Creator of all living things - The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit -

I said, "well, you heard what I heard - Dr. Barker said this - and so.....I invite you into my heart. There it is. I open the door of my heart and invite you in. I give you all of me. I know that my life is no longer my own - and so everything I have and am is yours." I told Him all the ways I understood it. I even told Him I knew that I would have much stuff in my future that would cause me to wander, let go - but that I would trust Him to never let go of me. I wanted Him to keep me near Him. He did. He has. I think that today I will look up scripture to post tomorrow or the next day - which show His word of promise - like the one about He who began a good work in you is able or faithful to complete it - So, I can feel myself lying there in bed, and closing that prayer that gave me birth into a new and living hope - into life - He rescued me from the dominion of darkness into His Kingdom of Light. I said something like, "Well, that's it. I'm trusting that You are now in my heart and will do all that You promised to do. I trust that I am now a Christian and that my sins and sin are paid for. I trust that I am born again." I closed it like that and went to sleep. It was all very matter of fact. There was absolutely no drama, no elaborate emotions, noone knew what I did, until I began to tell it - I didn't plan that night to start telling it, but it's hard not to. It's hard not to want everyone to hear it and to know it - so I began my clumsy efforts to share. I've always been clumsy with it. I didn't know that night about spiritual gifts. I didn't know that I definitely didn't get the gift of evangelism. Oh man. I'm the worst sharer of the gospel in the world. I can confuse anyone and leave them hanging. Sad. But it's all God's business. He knows what to do with people. Thankfully, it's not up to me.

I really didn't know what I would post today. I didn't plan that. I just began with my diary entries, knew I actually had a picture of my childhood church, put that in, and it all evolved into a detail of my conversion experience.

I have lots of letters that my parents and grandparents have saved which I want to put in this blog at some point. They give us insight into the culture during the 40's and 50's. The way family used to be - the way neighborhoods and cities and small towns used to be. God is in control of history, so I don't pine away that it's not the way it used to be. It was my time to be born, in 1951 - so those years from then to now have shaped me. It's what I have to share from. I am delighted that we are moving closer and closer to The Day of His Coming. I'm beyond thankful that He has allowed me to live and be a part of His Kingdom - and that one day there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth. Anyway, I can't think of ways to transition into sharing those letters, but I'll figure it out. I keep thinking that my diary entries will get me there. Today those entries ushered me into my story of my rebirth. So, there you are. I can't imagine anyone reading all of this - but I suppose some do.

GET A CUP OF COFFEE IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS. IT'S A VERY LONG POST.

Today is Thursday, July 31.

My last post had quite a few diary entries,

which began my writing about the Camp experience.

Tomorrow Charlie and I travel to Auburn, borrowing a friend's truck, to move both Sarah and Kate into their apartments. They won't be living together. We are giving them some of our furniture from our house - plus odds and ends that they have accumulated in their dorm - those pieces are in storage at Auburn. When Charlie and I do these "moves" for our girls, and it can be so exhausting, I am reminded of the many many times Mom and Dad had to move me, as a single female, and then helped Charlie and me when we moved to S'boro. Parenting, it's a lifetime experience - one never retires - and now Ann and Laura Beth, along with their husbands, have begun that "career" - When I'm in the midst of these parenting experiences my mind goes to Mother and Daddy, and to my grandparents. All the things they did - as grandparents - It feels like I'm running with a baton, and also passing another to Ann and Laura Beth - eventually - Sarah and Kate will probably join the married, parenting marathon - I think of Joel and Ursulla Murphree, of John and Nettie Wilkerson, of Ada Chapman Henderson(widowed, with many children), of Ella and Elbert Northcutt, of Edith and Frank Wilkerson, even my aunts and uncles - the legacy they passed on to me; parenting and grandparenting - investing time and love into their children - it would appear that they lived selfless lives when it came to their offspring - yet always carrying around the same "flesh and selfishness" that we still are encumbered with. But what prevailed was their investment in our lives - The most important thing, and this is God's grace, providing a climate and soil, which enabled my heart to be receptive to the gospel when I heard it - All of it is due to a sovereign God, who ordained that I live in this place, in this world, at this time - with this family legacy - and since this was His plan, I want to be as Christ in the world - right where I am -

Anyway - all of that serious stuff - written because Charlie and I are moving Kate and Sarah this weekend, in Auburn. Tomorrow and Saturday when we are so hot and sweaty - well, I'm guessing I won't be thinking such heavenly and spiritual thoughts - I hope Charlie and I can do it all without a fight - or without me saying any bad words - (I have a few that slip out all along)

What I really wanted to write about -

I want to post the next few diary entries - since I'll be gone a few days - until Monday - and see what I was doing in 1962, the week following my return from Camp Grandview.

Sunday July 29, 1962: Dear Diary, we ate a snack over at the Gunters tonight.

Monday July 30, 1962: Dear Diary, I went swimming with Rachel today.

Tuesday July 31, 1962: Dear Diary, Same old hot day.

Wednesday August 1, 1962: Dear Diary, played with Jeannie Knox.

Thursday August 2, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to band today.

Friday August 3, 1962: Dear Diary, Today is Mother's and Daddy's anniversary.

Saturday August 4, 1962: Dear Diary, Mary Ann is spending the night with Susan Price tonight.

Sunday August 5, 1962: Dear Diary, after Sunday School and Church I went to the show. "Jack the Giant Killer"

Obviously, my life was very ordinary - very ordinary - but the thing is - I liked it - I like that still. I'm not wired for the BIG STUFF. Perhaps all along - something large and out of the ordinary - but I enjoy "Daily" - "Nesting" -

So, that first Sunday night, back from Camp Grandview, we shared a snack with the Gunters. They were our next door neighbors to our left. They were the fourth family to live in that house - Mrs. Gunter still lives there on this day in 2008. I know the first 3 families which could spawn "stories", but let's begin with the Gunters. They were Harmon and Evelyn Gunter and their daughter Connie Sue. They belonged to the First Baptist Church. I know for a fact that they NEVER missed Sunday night church - and I do think that by that year we were regulars for Sunday Night church at The First Methodist Church - If you read my last post with stories about Camp - it was Connie Sue's boots which I borrowed for my horseback riding experience. Anyway, we must have gotten together after church because we would have been at church on Sunday night. Connie Sue was 3 grades ahead of me, and 1 grade ahead of Mary Ann. She was a beautiful girl, talented in art and music. Mrs. Gunter was originally from Ohio and Mr. Gunter had grown up in our own Conecuh County - out from Evergreen - I'm guessing they met when he was in the service - seems like I heard that. She always longed for her world in Ohio, much the same as I still miss South Alabama. In those days we did a lot of grilling out - hamburgers - The Gunters joined us a lot - as well as Beth, Becky and Buddy Monroe from across the street. Mrs. Gunter was a great story teller with a great sense of humor - rather dry - and told us many of her Ohio stories - We always sat outside, in our backyard, in chairs, around the picnic table - listening to the adults talk - playing some - asking questions - until it got late and everyone went home . Connie Sue played the piano. She took lessons from Mrs. Bewley(learned that recently). She played the flute in the band(Daddy being the band director). And she was a self taught artist(we had no art lessons available to us in Evergreen). She was good at "doing hair" and I could get her to "do mine up". I loved that. She was also a majorette and was patient to work with me - teaching me, teaching me. Mrs. Gunter did not work outside the home. In those days I can't remember any moms who did. Beth Monroe, whom I mentioned above, did. She was a widow and was a secretary at The Evergreen City School. But until her husband died, I don't think she worked. I also remember a mom who was a nurse - a really good nurse - but these "careers" that they had were suited to fit around their childrens' schedules. That mom who was a nurse? She, too, was a widow - but remarried. Beth, too, remarried. Anyway - The Gunters - Evelyn was a great seamstress, as was mom - so they compared notes quite a bit - offering advice to one another if either of them hit a snag - There were so many other things besides what I mentioned - it was all life on Williams Avenue, and our culture hadn't yet cocooned itself - We didn't disappear into our homes to live hermit lives - I knew the inside of those homes on Williams Avenue, the way I knew my own. At Mother's Funeral, at visitation, in 2006, I was talking to Susan Price Garth(mentioned above in the diary post - who also was the girl who spent 2 weeks at Camp Grandview and LIKED it) and Susan's parents, Jean and Sonny Price, reminiscing, and saying that I pass their home on Main Street and know every inch of their house - Susan came back with, "and I know every inch of yours on Williams Avenue". Harmon Gunter came to Mom's visitation also - Mrs. Gunter was unable to "get out". Connie was living in Auburn at the time and was unable to attend. I can still see Mr. Gunter's smiling face, holding mine and Mary Ann's hand. So many years gone by. So many memories.

What I want to say is that a couple of years ago, Connie purchased a tiny house on Williams Ave. She was spending so much time in Evergreen, caring for her ailing parents - so she bought The Livings' old house. It's across the street and about 3 houses down. It was available and she bought it. Jeannie Knox Livings(mentioned in the above post) was my playmate. Jean and Shay Livings and Jeannie Knox and Jeffrey. Jeffrey was a toddler in those days. Connie's 3 sons are adult men, Connie's marriage was dissolving, so she purchased that house - and now lives in it permanently. When Mom died the nurse who had cared for Mom began caring for Mr. and Mrs. Gunter, and Mr. and Mrs. Bell - who lived at the end of the street - whose youngest daughter is now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Alabama - weird. Eventually Jane, the nurse, became fulltime for Mr. and Mrs. Gunter - Jane is so good at what she does - that on the evening mom was dying, and Jane was sitting with Mom and Mary Ann,(it was sudden and I couldn't get there) crying even more tears than Mary Ann - Jane told us that people were already calling Jane and saying, "I don't mean any disrespect for Mrs. Wilkerson, but will you be available now?" (You gotta love a small town - that wasn't even offensive to me - I find it practical and endearing)

Back to the Gunters. This winter - Charlie and I planned a trip to B'ham - D.A. meetings - and as fate would have it - Mr. Gunters health became so bad - that he was hospitalized and died right before Charlie and I would be in B'ham. I communicated with my Birmingham friend, Val, another close friend to the Gunters and to Connie - and caught a ride with her to Evergreen to the funeral. Val is Val Carrier. The Carriers were always in the Baptist church and closer to the Gunters than we were. They lived across town from Williams Avenue. The Carriers and Gunters are like family, actually. Val and I were high school buddies - didn't really know each other in Elementary School. The Funeral - I had not seen Mrs. Gunter in so many years, nor Connie. So, standing in line at visitation - right before the service - I stepped out of line - because Mrs. Gunter was having to sit in a pew - while Connie and her 3 handsome sons received visitors. I knelt down to make eye contact with Mrs. Gunter and my emotions overcame me. Mrs. Gunter, in her failing health, has a dazed look to her eyes - but she knew me - and that twinkle came into her eyes - I said, through slight tears - "Well, here we are". and she came back with a slight smile and a twinkle and finished my sentence - "After all these years". Connie invited Mary Ann and me to her house following the service. That house - all those memories - and before I left I said to Connie, "I want to see Jeannie Knox's house". (remember, Connie lives in it now) So, Mary Ann, Val and I drove down there and walked through that house, and again, memories all in my brain - scene upon scene upon scene upon scene - of childhood scenarios - crazy . Mr. Gunter's funeral was incredible - huge blessing when a passionate believer leaves this world and enters that eternal home - which we are all, in reality, longing for. Val and I drove back to B'ham - had dinner with Charlie - and told our stories -

CATCHING UP ON DIARY ENTRIES

Guess what I've been forgetting to do!!?? Posting my diary entries from 1962!

The last one I posted was July 8, 1962. If you recall it read like this:

Dear Diary, we ate dinner with Elbert and Ella today.

Well, here it is in 2008, and it's July 28. So, I have quite a bit of catching up to do. Here goes.

Monday July 9, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to band today. Mother and Daddy went to Opp. Me and Mary Ann stayed with Ella.

Tuesday July 10, 1962: Dear Diary, I'm spending the night with Elaine Mason tonight.

Wednesday July 11, 1962: Dear Diary, Mary Ann and I stayed with Ella today while Mother and Daddy went to Troy.

Thursday July 12, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to town today.

Friday July 13, 1962: Dear Diary, I played with Rachel today.

Saturday July 14, 1962: Dear Diary, today is my birthday. I got $7.50, sunglasses, slippers, play phone, duster.

Sunday July 15, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to the show today. State Fair was on.

Monday July 16, 1962: Dear Diary, I went to band today.

Tuesday July 17, 1962: Dear Diary, Daddy made us a tent today.

Wednesday July 18, 1962: Dear Diary, I went with Daddy to mow the football field. Was it ever hot!

Thursday July 19, 1962: Dear Diary, I didn't have band today because of the younger group.

Friday July 20, 1962: Dear Diary, Today are majorette tryouts. Sally Oswald and Ann Campbell got majorette.

Saturday July 21, 1962: Dear Diary, I'm getting ready for Camp Grandview today.

Sunday July 22, 1962: Dear Diary, Today I arrived at camp. I'm really excited.

Monday July 23, 1962: Dear Diary, I took tennis today. It was burning up!

Tuesday July 24, 1962: Dear Diary, Tonight is Christmas Eve. We're having Christmas in July.

Wednesday July 25, 1962: Dear Diary, I rode a horse today. He trotted.

Thursday July 26, 1962: Dear Diary, I'm crying because I miss my family.

Friday July 27, 1962: Dear Diary, Tonight we sung by a campfire.

Saturday July 28, 1962: Dear Diary, Mother, Daddy and Mary Ann came for me today. I got a Camp Grandview shirt.

That catches me up. Camp Grandview. I was NOT happy there. My closest friend at the time, Marilyn Mason, and I planned that camp experience the entire previous school year. It all started the summer before, when my sister went to Blue Lake Camp in Andalusia, AL. That was a very popular Methodist Camp. I just had to go to camp. And then "THE PARENT TRAP" with Haley Mills came out. Marilyn and I saw that movie together (only if you'll notice in my diary, I referred to a movie as "the show" - we actually called it "the picture show") Another friend, Susan Price, had gone to Camp Grandview in Montgomery. She went for 2 weeks straight! It was considered a little more "upper crust" than just a "church camp". So - Marilyn and I presented our case to our parents. We wanted to go to Camp Grandview sooooooo badly. It was $35.00 per week. That means Susan's parents had spent $70.00 for her to go! Beyond my imagination. Marilyn and I begged and figured and talked camp all year. I even had the comic book, a thick one, based on the movie, "The Parent Trap". I read it till it was beyond dogeared. Mom and Dad did say yes. Marilyn's parents said yes. We went. I hated it! I don't know that Marilyn disliked it as much as I did. She said she did, but I don't think so. I was miserable. It doesn't read like that in my diary. I only alluded to it once. Worst case of homesickness in the history of little girls going to camp. I was rather private about it. I cried in my bunk and counted the days (5) until I saw my family again. I can still see that green and white ford rounding that curved road to my cabin. Best day of my life. Well, one of the best days. I remember all those days, vividly, which I wrote about in my diary. The horseback riding. Didn't like that. I was scared of the horses. I had daydreamed about those moments. Did not live up to my dreams! I even had real cowgirl boots, borrowed from a neighbor. I looked ridiculous. The instructor called me boots. The tennis? I was not good at it. Could not get the hang of it, and it was so hot. I liked swimming, except that we had to have alcohol drops in our ears. Left a weird taste in my throat. The event I looked forward to the most and enjoyed was "arts and crafts". Naturally. Oh - and the Christmas in July? That was the worst. Made me even more homesick. The idea of being at Camp Grandview during Christmas was a nightmare. We had all the decorations and music. It felt like Christmas!! Only so hot. One counselor was very kind to me. I still remember that she was from Jackson, AL. She was so kind and gracious and merciful. The other? It's not a Christlike word that I would use to describe her. But then the word is in my heart. Oops! I didn't even know about that word at age 11. She must not have liked being a counselor. I guess it was just a summer job. NOT NICE! But I survived. I returned home to my paradise on Williams Ave. in Evergreen, AL - to the safety of my parents - ahhhhhh. Home. To my little room, shared with my sister, in our twin beds with no headboards. Just twin beds. A chest of drawers. A chair, I think. Curtains that blew, when we usually had the windows up. Barbie Dolls to play with. Only one, actually. Not the thousands that my girls ended up owning. Friends on the street. Cousins in town. Friends across town. Happy Life.

I did go to camp again. It was the summer after the eighth grade. Marilyn Mason, Ruth Gowder and I went to Blue Lake in Andalusia - the Methodist Church Camp. We loved it. I was older. It was delightful. Best memories.

Oh, and Stephanie C., if you're reading this post, thank you for your sweet comment regarding my last post. Thank you for your prayers. I did survive yesterday's dose of antibiotic. Plan to do that whole routine again this afternoon - and will see Dr. Bradford tomorrow. My kidney - it's like my new pet.

The Northcutt Family

When I was in the 8th grade, in a biology class, Charlie Wild, a classmate, turned around to me and said, out of the blue, "The Northcutts and Kudzu are going to take over Conecuh County". I just laughed.

This is my story for today.

I've mentioned that I lived in Evergreen, Alabama, growing up. My grandparents were Ella and Elbert Northcutt. Ella and Elbert lived all of their lives in Evergreen. They had four girls, Lucille, Edith, Florence, and Mary. The first 3 were three years apart, but Mary was born 10 years after Florence. So, you can see that Lucille was 16, Mom was 13, and Florence was 10 when Mary was born. So, before any of them grew up and married, and before any of us (their offspring) were born they had this big life going on there, with many relatives living nearby and visiting quite a bit. We always heard those stories. Elbert was in business and eventually became the owner of Northcutt's, a Clothing Store for Men. But always he was in that kind of business; first working for someone, and eventually having his own business.

They all lived in a rather large, yet unadorned house on McMillan Street. 111 McMillan Street. I think they had it built. It sat on a slope of ground so that the front porch was close to the street and closer to the ground than the back of the house. The back of the house sat high off the ground, and I'm telling this for a reason. It was a wood frame house built on brick columns. There wasn't a solid wall around all the area "under the house". There were just brick columns throughout for support. So, in Mother's day and on into my day we called that area "Under The House". We'd say, "let's play under the house". They said it, too. It was a great "underworld". It was hard smooth ground under there and it was dark and cool. Naturally there was more light, closer to "Out from under the house". An adult could stand up under there, toward the back of the house, but of course even a child had to kneel down as he got closer to the front of the house.

So, we have Ella, Elbert and their four girls; and living with them was Granny. That was Ella's Mother. Ella was the youngest of many siblings. (I always forget how many.) Granny's name was Ada Chapman Henderson. I never knew her, but it's as if I did. If I had a perfect memory and could write all the stories I've heard about her I would do it. She died right before my sister was born - so I just missed her. I was born 2 years later. I'm getting sidetracked.

In that house on 111 McMillan Street lived the Northcutt family, Ella, Elbert, Lucille, Edith, Florence, Mary and Granny(Ada Henderson). Next door to them, in a smaller house which looked like a "Low Country Cottage", lived Grandma Chapman, Granny's Mother. It's been told to me that Granny lived with Ella and Elbert and would take care of Ma Chapman during the day and spend the night with her, so she wouldn't be alone. She had to have been quite old, because that was 4 generations living side by side. Ella's many siblings also had children, which created a large extended family for Lucille, Edith, Florence and Mary. The three cousins whom the girls seemed to be the closest to were Virginia Holt, Elizabeth, and "Brother". These were the 3 children of Ella's sister, Elizabeth, whom we called "Sister". Virginia Holt, Elizabeth, and Brother were "out-of-town" cousins, but visited often.

In this Blog Post I am going to share a letter written by Louis, the son of "Brother". He would be a second cousin - He's at my level of the Fam Tree. He wrote it to the surviving sisters, Edith, Flo and Mary, after Lucille died in October 2004. He mentions Joanne and Chuck in the letter. They are the two children of Cousin Elizabeth.

Dear Florence, Edith, Mary and all y'all,

Hearing about Lucille brought back some of the grief I felt at losing my parents. It especially made me recall my father, because he always did think the Northcutt women were wonders of the world. It also brought back some fond memories of how kind Lucille and all of you were to a shy, pimply-headed younger cousin from Virginia. Dad's affection for you was never hard to understand and you have a special place in my heart as well.

I've imagined that if Mack and Lucille have met up again somewhere, he probably said, "Oh, no," and Ella probably said, "What's wrong, brother, it's just Lucille?" And he said, "Well, I know, but it looks like I'm gonna have to die again - at least this time it'll be from laughing." If he's been talking with Elbert, he's probably already considerably weakened. I do believe that the laughter you all shared in your lives will survive your generation and has already been passed on. Joanne, Chuck, and I have known it and share it with each other - and we all owe you a debt of gratitude for just being who you are in that very special place that's Evergreen, Alabama.

It's been a very long time, but y'all are still my people, and I love you.

Sincerely yours,
Louis

And now I'll share a poem written by Carolyn Leslie, daughter to Cousin Virginia Holt. This poem was written for her brother after Virginia Holt died. It expresses the emotions and feelings and realities that are threaded throughout this Southern Family.

I Love this Poem. It Speaks My Heart.

Generations Recalled

Mist and memory

Veil my childhood trees

Of autumn scarlet and gold

Bound with the green of pines.

A place so real my heart

Can visit still and hear

Our calls and laughter

Echo in the woodland hills.

Dreams spiraled upward

Like the smoke of burning leaves

and left us breathless

In October's blue forever.

So swift the passage of the years

Through a blur of seasons

Spun with laughter, music, tears.

Dreams and promise beyond reason

Fed our souls a heady brew

Of tomorrows and sunrise and forever.

I hold the feelings close.

The boundaries of time cannot sever

My fragile tie to that magic place

Where whispers are a child's command.

My father's smile is in your eyes

My mother's blessing in your hand.

-Carolyn Lesie

So that is today's post.

Oh, and I'm behind on my 1962 Diary Entries. Let me catch up. Which I think I'll go through the whole week to give a better flow of things.

Thursday June 28, 1962 - Dear Diary, Plain old hot day today.

Friday, June 29, 1962 - Dear Diary, I played with Jane today. I also got a shot today. D.T.

Saturday, June 30, 1962 - Dear Diary, Mary Ann and I made a tent today. Daddy helped.

Sunday, July 1, 1962 - Dear Diary, Mary Ann, Ann Millsap and I kept Mary Claire and Melissa in the nursery.

Monday, July 2, 1962 - Dear Diary, I'm spending the night with Rachel tonight.

Tuesday, July 3, 1962 - Dear Diary, Today I went swimming. Ann Millsap ate dinner with us.

Wednesday, July 4, 1962 - Dear Diary, I went to Prayer Meeting tonight.

Thursday, July 5, 1962 - Dear Diary, Tonight Ella and Elbert came out to our house.

Friday, July 6, 1962 - Dear Diary, I got a shot today. Also we cooked outside tonight.

Saturday, July 7, 1962 - No Entry.

Sunday, July 8, 1962 - Dear Diary, We ate dinner with Elbert and Ella today.

Have a great day!