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It
was a cool, damp, rainy Thursday round ‘bout 10 a.m. when I moved
through the double front doors of The Flat Rock General Store. There was
a full passel of Store regulars plus several other community and area
Flat Rock folk swappin’ some slight warmth with the ole potbellied
heater there in the rear.
The
talk was heavy, brisk and with a high degree full of——-well
politics, rainfall, spring gardenin’, always some slight religion,
even sports, plus a smotherin’ of cookin’ and eatin’. Political
talk was ‘bout him and her, them two a runnin’ for President to be
"the head (Donkey) Democrat." Rainfall and gardenin’ talk
was light cause it was to wet for plantin’. Sports was general; some
baseball, learnin’ coaches to coach, number of days ‘til football
season, etc., etc. Cookin’ and eatin’ talk was toward fryin’ and
havin’ lots of summer vegetables like eggplant, ’maters, okra, ’taters,
corn, lots of mouth waterin’ summer vittles, a meat and three, four or
five, with skillet corn bread and sweet milk or sugar sweet tea—includin’
iron skillet fried chicken, grilled steak and/or pork chops. Hey ya’ll
hungry??? Then let’s eat!!!
As
for religion, Bro. was a passin’ out flyers ‘bout Mothers Day
celebratin’, recognizin’ and recallin’ down to the Baptist church
two Sundays into May or the eleventh of ought eight. This brung ‘bout
memory recollections from some of those folk present ‘bout their
mothers, both livin’ and deceased. Bro. summoned folk to come to the
Mothers Day service and even to pass on these flyers seekin’ other
folk’s attendance.
‘Bout
this point folks had gained a days full of learnin’ and begin’ to
disperse out for afternoon callins’.
As
I headed out to my pick-up toward some ‘fore dark chores, I
recollected the true specialness of my mother, Lizzie Allee Masterson
Potter and the bunches of life lessons she taught me. This is
what my mother would always say—
Write
things down and keep them
To remember and enjoy at a later day
Homework,
then farm work, before you play
Tomorrow is another school day
It’s
bath time, wash behind your ears
Brush your teeth, then to bed right away
Sister
on the bus first every day
It is just the gentlemanly way
Use
your manners, yes ma’m, no ma’m
You know what to say
Do
good in school today
I want you to go to college one day
A
little birdie told me about your mischief today
See, it just doesn’t pay
Ask
your Daddy anyway
Make sure he say’s it is O.K.!
Say
your prayers every day
We are blessed in so many ways
Other
special things she would say:
Birthday wishes, Christmas Eve gift
Nighty
night, Snookie Ukeum
Don’t let the bed bugs bite
Hope you sleep real tight
Good
night son; God is near!!!
Everything
is O.K.!!
I
wish for each Mother—-a special, blessed Mother’s Day filled with
your family’s complete love on this day and all through this year and
life!!! To all those Mothers passed, "Thank you!!!" We miss
each one of ya’ll dearly and daily…
REMEMBER
YOUR HERITAGE,
ALWAYS, THINK GOOD MEMORIES.
Joe
Potter is a former vocational agriculture teacher, FFA advisor and
retired county agent (Colbert County). |
