Resolutin’ T’ward Twenty-Eleven In Flat Rock…

by Joe Potter

It was a nearin’ 7:00 in the mornin’ time when Slim rang me on my cellular phone. Beyond a good mornin’ howdy he started talkin’ t’ward me with a full list of recollection questions. Do you "recollect when—"

…was the last year The Store sold a pure dozen 6-foot pick sacks?
…we got our one-row International Harvester cotton picker?
…there was near a full dozen or more cotton gins in 20 miles of Flat Rock?
…my Daddy, "Pop" C.C., bought his bran’ spankin’ new 3020 John Deere tractor?
…the tri-county corner of Colbert, Franklin and Lawrence Counties was flooded near five feet deep?
…Essex’s mamma passed?
…hail and high winds leveled the cotton crop?
…old Rev. Allen led the last tent meetin’ in Flat Rock?
…Farlow and Willerdean started their truck haulin’ business?
…Estelle opened her beautifyin’ Hair Factory?
…we squirrel hunted in the Borden Bend?
…Mr. Joe Gargis died?
…the first year we used a module builder for cotton gin haulin’?
…"Hatch" moved to Flat Rock with his g-mother?
…fire destroyed most of Moody Hill and the Berryman Place?

Here Slim stopped for a talkin’ breath and I quickly offered to him that my ear needed some serious word restin’. I promised to think on his "do you recollect when" questions and get with him personal down to The Store in the evenin’ time. He noted such, but ended with one final do you "recollect when" question—the year we started the New Year’s resolutin wall b’hind the old potbellied heater down to The Store? He further offered it was time for Flat Rock folk to start their resolutin’ list on The Store wall for twenty-eleven.

I finished off my now cold breakfast, dressed, got in my pickup and headed out for some mornin’ chores. I recalled some personal recollections from a poem I wrote several years back.

I was tall and thin,
Hula hoops and yoyos were in.

The radio was just A.M.
B&W TV was on from six till ten;
The channels were five, six and ten.

I would ride my stick horse
Alongside THE RIFLEMAN,
Could even outdraw MATT DILLON.

My heroes were a masked man,
A dog named Rin Tin Tin and
FRIDAY, a policeman.

In summer I would WRITE letters to my friends.
Vegetables grew fresh in the family garden.

I told Mom that girl was just a friend.
My goal was SIXTEEN and my driver’s license.

Self-service gas stations first begin.
AC and cruise were considered high- end options.

There were riots, marches and sit-ins;
Vietnam took a close friend.

Graduating college became a dream.
I remember what I thought earning
One hundred fifty dollars each week would mean.

There was no such word as live-in;
When certain things were sins.
And I thought computers were just for them.

Do you remember way back then?

Do you "Recollect When" life was simpler? You felt safe on the street or road at night, would even consider pickin’ up a hitchhiker; sins, murder and divorce were not everyday words and just maybe you thought world peace was a possibility. You would just pencil down two or possible three New Year’s resolutions and hopefully you could work hard and keep them.

I wish for each of you a very Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year Twenty-Eleven.

REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE!!!
ALWAYS, THINK GOOD MEMORIES!!!

Joe Potter, Potter’s Mud Creek Farm is located at 5840 County Road 339 (County Line Road), Russellville, near "Our" Flat Rock, in Lawrence County; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .