Fond Memories of the Past

As I visualize the dairy farm and big 'ol white house up on the hill, I picture myself sitting on the front porch. It's a warm, summer day with a few floating clouds passing overhead and a gentle breeze wrapping around me as I day dream. The porch was all the way across the front of the house, providing a place to play if rain set in on any given afternoon.

To sit and gaze across the 'bottom' land was a simple pleasure I'm not sure I recognized as a kid. Our long driveway led to the gravel road to town, or, if you kept going straight, you passed through a gate and coasted down a very long hill as you entered the bottom pasture. In the spring and summer, everything greened up and provided scenery from that of painting.

Walking down the steps of the big, front porch, you'd turn to your left and walk to the white rail fence where the mailbox perched. It was always interesting to see who got what on any given day. But, I rather think that Mother was the one who rescued the mail more oft than not. Me? Off riding my horse, of course!

Opening the gate by the mailbox led your feet across the large gravel drive and over to the milk barn. It was one story, flat with about 15 stantions for cows to stand and feed while the milkers nursed there swollen udders for many minutes, twice a day.

The barn had a small front porch on it and in the summer, you'd hear the whir of an old water fan churning to blow some cooler air on the girls inside the barn. To the left on that porch was a wide screen door you opened to enter the 'milk' room. On the wall to the right were washing vats, wide and deep. At the end of each milking session, the machines had to be broken down and washed thoroughly and rinsed in lye water to kill bacteria.

Once washed, all equipment was neatly stacked on a draining table, resting silently until the next round began. Across from the vats sat the 'money maker'. A two thousand pound refrigerated milk tank. The raw milk bathed in icey cold temperatures until the Pure Milk truck roared into the gravel drive, made a 360 sweep and backed up to the front porch.

Through a small hole, the size of the tank's line, the driver would initiate the suction hose and go inside to attach it to the drain line at the bottom of the 'silver bullet'! Once connected, the milk drained into the big truck and it was all a done deal.

Entering the dairy barn, you were met with a multitude of aromas!!! However, your mind quickly tuned to the soft, gentle music playing on the old, fly stained radio. KWTX had the hit tunes our daddy liked. It somehow soothed and provided a grand experience for Milk Wagon, Daisy, Sunshine and the rest! Their tails ever so-- swishing around a hip up to the top of their back to swat flies away!

Many of the window panes were broken and that was not a problem in the summer. The problem came in the dead, cold wintertime. The winds would howl, rain would pound and the old steel blue wood stove that sat near the door would work quietly to keep a portion of heat alive so you could warm your hands if you visited for any amount of time.

Nope, I never worked on the dairy. My job was to shadow my daddy, ride my horse and climb in the hay 24/7!! Life kept me busy searching out new 'haunts' down on the creek, riding to Bellmead to team up with a friend or just laying in the tall, rich green grass on a hillside near one of our tanks. Many dreams raced through my mind on those days that I fell back in that plush grass!

However, none of those dreams would ever take me where I am today! Life has been a journey, not a destination! Little did I know I'd become a teacher/coach/instructional coordinator/etc., etc., etc. As I reflect on my life path, I often wonder what other things could I have done? A veterinarian? A lawyer? I'm not sure and there are no 'do overs'. Probably just as well.

The best part is reflecting and knowing that I enjoyed life until it slowed to a mere crawl in the past 8 years. My health was declining and I, being single until three years ago, came to accept the 'status quo' of the mess I was in. I was losing ground every day and accepting it with a shrug.
Somehow, last July, I met Dr. Rogers and boy...yes, HE'S MY FRIEND and he could be my neighbor any old day!!! The excitement within me these days is knowing that I'm going to finish the run full steam ahead. What if I had not picked Dr. R? What if, what if, what if? Doesn't matter...I DID AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ME!

In the past two months, I've made many changes in my life. The realization that I am the most important person to ME has opened my eyes! With energy to 'go, go, go' and eyes that love to look for 'deals'...I'm back to some old traditional time killin' adventures and I LOVE IT!

If you're stuck in a rut, stuck in a recliner or stuck in life...get up, get out and do something about it!!! I admit I had become an expert at disguising my slow movements and lack of oxygen. Little did I know that was detrimental to ME! When you live alone, no one sees you and recognizes changes.

Today, all of the changes are tremendous and perhaps affecting those who read some of these thoughts! I hope so. I want everyone to live it to the fullest, do something exciting everyday and go, go, go!

I think of my sweet Aunt Lois often these days. She's 98, in a very good facility down in League City. Nancy tells me she has days where she 'knows' people and things and days where she 'knows' nothing. But, a very touching story about her this past Easter brought to mind how we must celebrate our todays right this moment.

Nancy took Aunt Lois to church and they spent some time in Nancy's home. When it was time to take her home, Aunt Lois wanted to stay with Nancy and not go 'back'. You see, her choices are already carved out for her. How fortunate we are to be capable of moving, going and doing.

All of my reflections, memories and past encounters keep me motivated these days! I never want to 'go back'!!! I was always told, 'never look a gift horse in the mouth'! And, nayyyyyyyyyyyy, I shall never look this one in the mouth. I jes gonna keep on goin' down (to my goal) and smilin' 'cause that's what I does best!

Hugs and good wishes!