Going Home
He loved going home.
Always excited to see his family and the people he grew up with.
In a split second decision he'd announce, "let's go home for the weekend!"
Nothing made him more happy.
We drove too fast getting there. Seems he just couldn't wait to sit down in the yard with a glass of sweet tea and talk.
News travels fast in a tiny country town. "Jimmy's coming home!"
Olga would start thawing out chicken to fry and put a mess of peas, butter beans, corn and okra on the stove for dinner. Homemade biscuits or corn bread in the oven. Pecan pie or a cobbler teased any diet of mine. Dinner was lunch. Supper was dinner. It didn't matter. Everyone came over. We ate together. Gallons of tea consumed. Some was probably spiked without others knowing!
"We'll be back after awhile, he would say. Going to Dowling's farm!"
Jimmy, Jerry & Mike would get in the pick up and head out.
A few miles away, they traveled down the dirt road to an open field. The property belonged to their friend Dowling Richards. He was like an older brother to them. They used to go there as kids to camp out and go frog gigging or shoot the shot gun. Many a smoke or beer enjoyed over a camp fire. Talking about things guys talk about and don't tell girls or wives!
Memories of bygone years are strewn in the farm. Every old car or truck or discarded farm equipment was there. Rusting in the humidity.
Home to snakes, fighting game cocks, and a few horses in the pasture.
It is a beautiful piece of Alabama land if all that junk could be cleared. But then, it would lose it's charm. They wouldn't want to hang out there if it was all perfect.
Hours later they come home. Supper is ready and we eat. The table is full and we sit where we can or stand in the tiny kitchen. Into the evening conversation and laughter continue. Some friends stop by and stay awhile. They don't tire of each other's company.
These "doses of home" as I always called them, are what I think has kept this family always close. No matter the distance or the circumstance, if you could just go home for a few days you could deal with what life has in store that you have to escape.
You can't put a value on this type of therapy. It's tried and proven to heal even the most broken of hearts.
Cathy Windham
4/11/14
