Sunday, March 24, 2019
Musings : Relaxing Sunday
Musings : Relaxing Sunday: I have been sitting here at the kitchen table with the back door open and watching a squirrel as it eats from the bird feeder sitting o...
Relaxing Sunday
I have been sitting here at the kitchen table with the back door open and watching a squirrel as it eats from the bird feeder sitting on the small table on the deck. I have almost laughed out loud as he stands upright and places one tiny hand/paw on the back of the feeder, as he surveys his surroundings. The feeder resembles a porch swing but, due to the ropes breaking last fall, it is sitting flat on the table. I know John Dove would not approve and neither would Wes Griffin but, next to doves, these critters are my favorites.
As it raises up to survey the goings on around him, it resembles an older man standing on his front porch watching as neighbors interact with one another, looking in one direction and then another. This reminds me of time spent in Rio Hondo as a kid. Summer would find us kids out goofing off and unaware that there were adults keeping an eye on us, especially Richard, Robert, Larry, John, Finley, and a few others! Notice I did not mention any girls' names. We were usually inside helping momma! LOL I remember one evening when we lived on the corner of Catherine and Williams Rd. We were playing Red Rover in front of Jimmy Monroe's house. Funny how these memories pop up. We were just a bunch of silly, alright crazy kids enjoying life. Little did we realize that there were adults watching over us.
This brings to mind another gentleman that definitely watched over us. He was the constable, Mr. Mills. He and his wife were both great people! Richard loves telling the story of his senior year, when he had his old red Studebaker. He would be heading into town, speeding of course, and as he crossed the railroad track, Mr. Mills would pull out of his "hiding place" on the side of Brotzman's, and pull in behind that speeding Studebaker. Richard would keep going, never slowing, until he reached Rachel's. He would run inside and order two cups of coffee. When Mr. Mills entered he would sit down, take one of the cups and say, "One of these days, Richard, I'm going to catch you."
He told my mother during my senior year, that I had become a beautiful young lady. His words meant a lot to this quiet and hurting senior.
I used to love skating. I went every chance I got, which usually meant every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night. Sometimes Ruby Dell and I would ride the bus to San Benito, and other times Mr. Parker would drive us. When my older brothers moved to Rio Hondo, one of them would drive us. I loved skating and became quite good at it. Maybe it was because on the rink, I was able to "fly" and leave the pain of school behind. On the rink, I was my own person and did not care what others thought...
Mom used to work for Ma Jones as a cook in her café. She was a great cook. Prior to that she worked at the Round Up Café, across the tracks, as a waitress. She told me the story of a man who had come in for a cup of coffee. He was a regular and folks called him blacky. He was a dark Hispanic and thought nothing of the nickname given him. Anyway, on this day he left without paying his 10 cents, but no one thought anything about it. They would catch him next time. Well, about three hours later he returned to pay the dime. He had walked several miles home, near Heath's Corner, before he realized he had not paid for his coffee, so he walked back to do so. People were definitely more responsible back then.
There are so many flashes of those days going through my mind. Like the day my brother David rolled Tony's black Mercury convertible on the big curve outside of town. When the news hit town, Benny Mac took Tony to the scene, and he picked the car up, so David could crawl out. (our family super man) David was not seriously injured, but definitely shaken up. This was before seat belts! Tony was viewed as a hero. Life in a small town, gotta love it!!!
Just think, all these musings began with this old lady watching a squirrel eating from a bird feeder.
These little critters can not be all bad. Right John?????
As it raises up to survey the goings on around him, it resembles an older man standing on his front porch watching as neighbors interact with one another, looking in one direction and then another. This reminds me of time spent in Rio Hondo as a kid. Summer would find us kids out goofing off and unaware that there were adults keeping an eye on us, especially Richard, Robert, Larry, John, Finley, and a few others! Notice I did not mention any girls' names. We were usually inside helping momma! LOL I remember one evening when we lived on the corner of Catherine and Williams Rd. We were playing Red Rover in front of Jimmy Monroe's house. Funny how these memories pop up. We were just a bunch of silly, alright crazy kids enjoying life. Little did we realize that there were adults watching over us.
This brings to mind another gentleman that definitely watched over us. He was the constable, Mr. Mills. He and his wife were both great people! Richard loves telling the story of his senior year, when he had his old red Studebaker. He would be heading into town, speeding of course, and as he crossed the railroad track, Mr. Mills would pull out of his "hiding place" on the side of Brotzman's, and pull in behind that speeding Studebaker. Richard would keep going, never slowing, until he reached Rachel's. He would run inside and order two cups of coffee. When Mr. Mills entered he would sit down, take one of the cups and say, "One of these days, Richard, I'm going to catch you."
He told my mother during my senior year, that I had become a beautiful young lady. His words meant a lot to this quiet and hurting senior.
I used to love skating. I went every chance I got, which usually meant every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night. Sometimes Ruby Dell and I would ride the bus to San Benito, and other times Mr. Parker would drive us. When my older brothers moved to Rio Hondo, one of them would drive us. I loved skating and became quite good at it. Maybe it was because on the rink, I was able to "fly" and leave the pain of school behind. On the rink, I was my own person and did not care what others thought...
Mom used to work for Ma Jones as a cook in her café. She was a great cook. Prior to that she worked at the Round Up Café, across the tracks, as a waitress. She told me the story of a man who had come in for a cup of coffee. He was a regular and folks called him blacky. He was a dark Hispanic and thought nothing of the nickname given him. Anyway, on this day he left without paying his 10 cents, but no one thought anything about it. They would catch him next time. Well, about three hours later he returned to pay the dime. He had walked several miles home, near Heath's Corner, before he realized he had not paid for his coffee, so he walked back to do so. People were definitely more responsible back then.
There are so many flashes of those days going through my mind. Like the day my brother David rolled Tony's black Mercury convertible on the big curve outside of town. When the news hit town, Benny Mac took Tony to the scene, and he picked the car up, so David could crawl out. (our family super man) David was not seriously injured, but definitely shaken up. This was before seat belts! Tony was viewed as a hero. Life in a small town, gotta love it!!!
Just think, all these musings began with this old lady watching a squirrel eating from a bird feeder.
These little critters can not be all bad. Right John?????
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