Thinking of my old chocolate Lab today. What a sweet love.
(my pastel painting)
Remembering Luther
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Category Archives: Author remembering
The Peach Stand
Sweat puddles and drips down to her seven-year-old feet
like the ice cream will soon do.
A sweltering Texas summer.
Grandpa grins through his cigar, proud of his summer income.
Peaches in boxes and sacks.
Peaches in crates
lined up on tables beneath his covered stand.
A pocketknife cuts off a slice of sweet fruit
and extends toward a willing customer.
Grandpa smiles again, pleased with the satisfaction on the consumer’s juiced face.
The ancient Black man, mouth empty of teeth, dismounts his horse.
Grandpa readies a fresh peach. “Afternoon, Washington.”
Washington nods, mumbles, shows his gums.
Grandpa adds another peach to his hand. “Take these for your ride to town.”
The man smacks his curved-in lips together,
up and down, up and down,
a toothless man’s “thank you.”
The walk-in cooler an instant relief.
But the bushels of peaches offer no jokes,
no grins,
no Grandpa conversations.
Outside, parched again, she accepts the quarter and returns Grandpa’s smile.
A short walk toward the small diner.
The lady in a pink uniform and matching hat says, “Vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry?”
“Strawberry.”
The ice cream, scooped. The cone, topped with a pink, cold delight.
Fifty steps back to the peach stand.
Fifty steps back to Grandpa.
The ice cream drips and threatens to disappear.
But the heat is no match for Grandpa’s disposition.
His smile and character remains solid, strong, and real.
Un-meltable.
(photo of Grandpa taken in the early sixties)
Before Amber Alerts
She was told how fun it would be to watch the parade in small town Fredericksburg, Texas. “Exciting for a four-year-old.”
“Look at that float!” “Carolyn, do you see the clown?”
No. All she saw was the backsides of wiggly people in front of her. The tall, thin man’s suspenders holding up the back of his pants. Arms that pointed to the sky holding miniature American flags.
But she could see behind her – from the grassy field all the way up to the sky.
And there it was. Something she could lay eyes on. Something she found curious and exciting.
She let go of the hem of her grandmother’s, hand-sewn, polka-dot house dress and began to run.
How did he get up there?
Would the man hurt himself when landed?
She continued on, her eyes following the man’s decent from the sky.
The pokey grass would not deter her. Nor the buzzing of summer wasps around her head. The near collisions with jumping grasshoppers were not a distraction.
The man was getting closer.
Panting, yet familiar voices frantically called her name.
When her parents and sister caught up to her, Carolyn pointed to the man.
They were right.
Exciting for a four-year-old.
Maybe Tomorrow
She chokes on the water and knows what she needs. A concession stand with vending machines.
A flimsy cup no bigger than the size of her small hand drops to the tray and is filled with soda, carbonated water, and ice. A Bruce’s fried pie (lemon or apple, please). An ice-cream sandwich melts instant chocolate on her fingers.
She musters up courage and waits in line for the high dive. Children chatter with excitement, with anticipation. But Sparky Carolyn stays quiet in her nervousness. Perhaps she’s not so sparky after all.
It’s her turn. She makes it up the tall ladder. Her toes rest on the end of the board.
She looks down. It’s a long way to the water.
“Hurry up!” Someone yells.
I’ll go down too far. I’ll run out of air on the way back up.
She backs up and returns to the ladder. Children sigh at having to move aside. She reaches the safety of the flat, hot concrete.
Tomorrow. I’ll do it tomorrow.
Back in the safety of the three-feet depth, she rejoins her friends. She sips tea and eats crumpets under water like a queen. The three girls resurface and giggle at their immense creativity.
“Don’t worry. One day you’ll wake up to find they’ve grown.”
She looks at her friend, then down at her own flat chest.
Tomorrow. Maybe it will happen tomorrow.
“Me” at Northwest Pool in Austin, Texas. (1950-60’s)
Dance Anyway
I just had a birthday
but they say it’s been a year
so I am here
standing strong
a thumbs up and a cheer.
Fifteen years ago, I wrote an entry in my journal about turning 45. Soon afterward, I copied the pages and turned it into a piece of art. I painted a journal (the image is flat) then made it three-dimensional by coating a separate piece of card stock with gesso. I glued it so it would protrude from the canvas.
In the original journal, I wrote how, inside, I was the same person who played guitar at sunsets, had intimate conversations with perfect strangers, and questioned everything about life.
Today, I have more answers. But I will always question.
What I positively know to be true is this–a line from a song:
“To love another person is to see the face of God.”
I have seen His/Her face many times.
And for that, I am forever grateful.
And, as my 28 year-old son once said at the age of two,
“It’s not time to go home. It’s time to dance!”
And he said this when no music was playing. A lesson to live by.
The Sound of Muses
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
hundreds to choose from in worlds that were written
years ago back when this sketch was created
these were the titles I most celebrated
When the night comes
when the day hums
when I reminisce
I simply remember my favorite books
the ones I could not resist
A Raisin of Serendipitous Learning
When she told me NOT to throw away the moldy orange, I questioned her sanity.
Why in the world would we want to keep this tainted fruit within arms reach of four-year-old children? And why would I, the 24 year-old teacher with a degree in Early Childhood, listen to my 56 year-old assistant teacher with no formal education?
“Because,” she’d said, “It is a learning experience, a teachable moment. It’s science.”
I was awestruck.
That is why “Vivian” and I worked so well together. I taught her how to implement bias-free education in our classroom. She taught me that hoarding can lead to serendipitous learning and creativity.
Today, over 20 years later and still a hoarder, I was reminded of my friend, Vivian, when I cleaned out the trunk of my car. Behind the boxing bag, a ton of smelly hand wraps, and a couple of sweaters, I found something which must have fallen out of my grocery bag months ago.
I’ll give you a hint. They used to be grapes. But now …
I hear Vivian’s voice in my head saying, “Don’t throw it away! Show your grandchildren.”
And so, I will.
Wherever you are today, Vivian, THANK YOU for one of many teachable moments!
photo credit
Empty Lies a Crowded Room
Twas’ too soon for me to go
an empty vessel still in tow
the darkness loomed, but glowed, that room
the crowd all dapper-dressed.
The iron box of elevation
took us to that destination
the couple smiles, no hesitation
“Congrats on baby quest.”
“Guess it’s not to be,” repeated
words I’d learn, still felt defeated
empty arms I had conceded
A promised heart betrayed of grants
Glasses clinking, lighting winking
champagne fountains made for drinking
my soul betrayed continued sinking
yet how the people danced.
Oh, how those people danced.
photo credit
I’ll tell you but nobody else
A month ago, I didn’t have to read the fast-food menu.
I already knew what my husband wanted.
I prepared myself to say “a four piece chicken basket, please.”
I pulled up to the speaker.
Why wasn’t Microphone Person saying, “Welcome to Wally’s. May I take your order?” ??
Instead, no one said anything. Not even a snarky, “what would you like?”
“Hello,” I said. “Hello?”
That’s when I realized my mistake.
Had anyone watched me talk into the trash receptacle?
Last Sunday, on the fast food run, I decided not to make the same mistake. Instead, I chuckled and snapped this photo as a reminder.
Of course the world teases and laughs at us at times. How else would Mother Earth spin?
A Priceless Photo
For my mom, on the right, having family over on Sundays took the sting out of being an only child. (photo taken in the early 1930’s) No doubt, after the women made a hearty lunch, the men drank homemade German beer and smoked cigars while they played poker.
Daily photo prompt: Sting
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 