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It
was Monday close upon 8:30 p.m. hoverin’ ‘twix day and night. Slim
had just rung me on my cellular phone and summoned me to The Flat Rock
General Store. Seems Ms. Ida had just handwrit on white butcher paper
and in red marker on the back wall the ought eight Independence Day
celebratin’ schedule for The Flat General Store and for participatin’
by all the community and area folk in hearin’ and drivin’ range. I
was, in Slim’s words, to be the examiner of this final schedule for
promotin’ purposes.
Havin’
Independence Day ought eight come up on Friday, celebratin’ for The
Store folk would come one day past (Saturday, July 5th) for the
conveniences of all local participators. The carrin’ out of the
activities would involve all The Store regulars includin’ Slim, Essex,
Ms.Ida, the widow Cora, Farlow and Willerdean Wedge, "Truth"
and Estelle, Bro., S.R., J.R., "Hatch," and, the music man
himself, Mr. Harley Hood. Additional, my Daddy "pop" C.C.
would there on his Gator to supervise vehicle parkin’ in and around
The Flat Rock Community House. Additional the efforts of several other
community and area folk would be required for the Independence Day
celebratin’.
The
schedule is too long to pencil down completely, but would start for
early comers at 9 a.m. with ham biscuits, pear preserves, orange juice,
sweet milk and music by the Baptist ensemble singin’ quartet. Later
there would be some softball team competin’ ‘tween Wolf Springs,
Flat Rock, Old Bethel, Mt Hope and Hatton. Near eleven to noon, for all
the center-day heat-handlin’ folk there would be Mr. L.O. Bishop’s
straight-from-the-farm pulled pork bar-b-que sandwiches. Then, under the
shade trees, there’ll be horseshoes also supervised by my Daddy
"pop" C.C., the heat and his health allowin’ such.
Toward
3 p.m., Mr. Wilton Fortenberry, (whose been feelin’ poorly lately, but
better now) from over to the PPPP in Russellville, and his crew is a
havin’ a chicken wing eatin’ contest. That’s followed by bubble
blowin’ for all kids from big to little and young to oldest.
Near
’bout six p.m., for supper my buddies Mr. Orland Britnell and Mr. John
Thorn from over to Waco with the help of several other local cattle
producin’ folk would be cookin’ up juicy "Beef Burgers"
with trimmins’. Coincidin’ there’ll be a Homemade Ice Cream Makin’
Contest allowin’ for samplin’ by all folk present and them to be
samplin’ judges.
Concludin’,
as day moves from light to early dark, there’ll be a fireworks shootin’
display. To proper close out the night, Ms. Ida will offer up her
special patriotism words and the Independence Day celebratin’ in Flat
Rock will be topped-off with music by Harley Hood and Friends.
Kick
back with family and friends, do the "Que," make some homemade
ice cream, blow some bubbles and play nerf ball with all the big and
little kids. Then, when you pray, thank God special for all the daily
freedoms we have and for all the men and women who sacrifice in their
lives, and some with their lives, to make these freedoms possible for
each of us… |
