What are your favorite movies?

As a young person, I would watch musical movies over and over. The music, dancing and happy themes of these movies was enticing. As I grew older, I began to be a bit more inclined to watch for things that I found distasteful such as vulgar language or inappropriate scenes that turned too intimate for enjoyable viewing. Since my time of TV movie watching is here and I rarely go to a theater to see a movie, I have the option of quickly changing channels if such appears.

Now to my FAVORITE movies, Anything with John Wayne starring which can be a western, war, history or any other theme, so shall we say I enjoy a good Western movie. Also some of the old musical movies, most historical based stories showing the way our country was when it was wholesome (or not-ha), Civil War Movies, romance movies as long as they don’t contain the aforementioned sounds or visions. Biblical movies if they remain true to God’s Word are also a favorite of mine.

To name a movie I enjoy most is not easy so I shall just say that with the types of movies listed above, I find those to be my FAVORITE.

How did you get your first job?

The first day I lived in Gordo, Alabama, my neighbor across the street, Sabra Powell, asked me if I would like a job. Well, yeah!! So I go downtown and apply at the Yellow Front Store & am hired IF I can get a work permit from the principal. I go with Daddy to the school & ask Mr. Gibbs for a permit, acquire the same, & go to work the next Saturday.

I worked there through the first semester of twelfth grade & enjoyed every minute of it. Was the work hard? Sometimes. But the things learned & friends made worth more than any difficulties.

What was your Dad like when you were a child?

 My daddy was strict but loving. He sometimes cried when he had to discipline us. He read the Sunday funnies out of the paper to us until we learned to read. One time (I was two), I took my little round pointed scissors & cut little nips along the crease in his pant leg. It was a new suit & we sure did not have enough money to buy him a new one. I think Mother was more upset with him than me. I was a ‘baby’ & he should have been more observant while he read the funnies. I have NO memory of this but it has been repeated many times.

Daddy was manager of the Yellow Front Store until I was about eight. Then he & a cousin, Hilburn Pollare bought a store.

While Daddy & Hillburn had the store, Daddy took Billy Joe & me to Memphis with him. He had gone for animal feed for their farmer customers. When we got to the feed mill, the truck broke down. The salesperson was nice. He was a Christian & a Mason & saw Daddy’s Masonic. He invited us to spend the night with him & his wife. They had no children & his wife seemed to be glad to have two children for the night. Billy was 12 & I was 9 (I guess). Anyway, that night, I had my very first inside bathtub. Since Daddy’s plans were to return home that day, we had no pajamas or toothbrush, etc. Our hostess let me borrow a sundress to sleep in that was identical to my nightgown at home. Daddy took us to the zoo that afternoon until the man of the house came home. During the night, a gas station blew up & a big boom woke everyone up. We had a lovely breakfast the next morning & were able to return to Hamilton. Hamilton had no pigeons at that time & we were fascinated by them. Of course, Daddy let me take a pigeon home. Billy rode in the back of the truck & there was Daddy, me & my pigeon UNTIL the pigeon needed to use the restroom & since I was holding it, you know who received the ‘gift’. The window went down real quick as Daddy was laughing at me. Since it did not make it to Alabama, I am NOT responsible for the over population of pigeon

We were in church every time the doors were open. Mother & Daddy took us to church & stayed with us for study & worship.

Daddy was a volunteer Fireman while we lived in Hamilton. One time he fell through the upstairs of the house that was burning & Mother seeing him fall, thought he’d fallen into the downstairs that was flaming big. His Masonic ring caught on the hose he was using to fight the fire & his fellow firemen drug him back up. Mother had already fainted & been carried home when he was brought to safety.

Having worked for Yellow Front before being drafted, Daddy returned to that company when his service to the U.S. Army was over. Including the time he worked as a student , he was with the Yellow Front store for 11 years.

Then he began what is now referred to as job hopping. He worked with Hilburn for a while in the store, worked as a breadman for Hardin Bakery & ran the peddling truck. We took the truck to Amory, MS., & he worked there for two years. When he saw a decline in the need for peddling trucks, he sold his. Next, he unloaded freight cars for Hodo Brothers,. His back that had been broken long before with subsequent surgery at age 21, would not hold up for him to continue with that job.

    He & Mother then sold aluminum alloy waterless cookware. It was & is great cookware. It was “party” cookware & they would prepare sweet potatoes, white potatoes, carrots, cabbage & fresh green beans to cook at night the day of a party. Mother made up cake batter & pancake batter for use in demonstration of that cookware. Then at a party, they cooked everything in front of a home gathered group. The problem with that job was that Billy & I were young enough that we needed someone to stay with us at night. Details of how long they held that work are not clear but at least for the school term.

We moved back to Tuscaloosa & Daddy worked for Hardin Bakery that school year. When that school term was done, we moved to Gordo where he sold standard Coffee. After the Standard Coffee job, he worked for a life insurance company. He worked for them my senior year & until I graduated & got married.

Daddy went to work for the State of Alabama & retired as Manager of the laundry at Partlow School for the mentally challenged.

We were ALWAYS in church with all moves & knew we had food & clothes & a place to live with parents who loved us after God. God was first place in their hearts. They were the best!

Did you get along with your siblings as a child?

 I only had one brother & as younger children, he was my hero. He was responsible for me as we roamed Hamilton, Alabama with Jimmy Wayne & HarborJean. When we went to the movie on Saturday afternoons (it cost ten cents each), he was to walk me there & back to the store where Daddy & Mother were working. One day, he dropped one of the dimes & quickly declared that if I did not find the dime, I had to go back to the store for the afternoon. It was a cheap babysitter for Saturday afternoons for working parents. Mr. White Bedford was a deacon in our church & he was manager of the theater, he made sure the children behaved & were safe. He always told Billy Joe to leave before it got dark. We stayed through the movie all afternoon.

Other times, because I was younger than the other three, I was ‘allowed’ to play alone when they played games above my age level (they were only one & two years older but we were all like brothers & sisters so they felt superior to me). An instance of this is mumble-peg which is played with a pocket knife. (I might get cut.) Outside, we played marbles, made houses out of leaves in the woods (the outlines of rooms, no walls of course), swung on vines, & played Tarzan & Jane, many games with balls, things children today are totally ignorant of because they all have electronic games on computers, phones, I-pads, etc. I feel sorry for our children of today for missing out on games where their imagination could run rampant in their lives. I have seen some of my great grandchildren who have wonderful imaginations in their games & I have to commend their parents for encouraging this.

I wish my great grandchildren could experience some of this. Yes, even the times when we did not have running water & indoor plumbing. The walks down the path were what almost everyone we knew was doing so we were like our neighbors & relatives. But, making mud pies and ‘sandwiches’ out of two large leaves with a different smaller leaf as the inside of the sandwich. NO, we did not eat these. We served them to the other children & NO, they didn’t eat them either. Ante Over where we threw a ball over the house for the other team to try to catch it or Red Rover, Red Rover & the games listed above were so much fun. We played whatever our imaginations could think of & we had vivid imaginations. Kids gathered around the radio (if they were lucky enough to have one) & listened to serial shows; The Green Hornet, Dick Tracy, The Squeaking Door & others. On Saturday nights, the Grand Ole Opry was on & anyone who enjoyed country music listened. Minnie Pearl was so funny. She always had funny stories about relatives.

Oh, yes, I got along with my one sibling & my other almost siblings way back then. Billy Joe left us for a better place 14 years ago today 12-6-2008, Jean left 1-25-2010, Jimmy Wayne on 11-27-2022. Robert Hugh Mays who was part of our group when everyone was gathered together died 6-21-2008. So that leaves me as the only one of the Musketeers alive.

Speaking of being the one left, Billy Joe was Ma & Pa Davis’ (Dave & Savannah - Vanner) grandchild. I was next. The only aunt I have left is Aunt Tommie Lou Berryhill Davis. She is 92 & still beautiful. She is the oldest family member of Dave & Vanner left. I am next. The responsibility for being the oldest can overwhelm you sometimes. I feel so honored that God has left us this way. My love for all the family, not just Dave’s branch, but every one of the branches of that family. Genealogy is important to me & I pray that I will be able to complete my second Genealogy book to have a record of the births, lives, marriages, babies, & deaths of our family. YES, it is OUR family. It belongs to every member who has ever or will ever become a part of this wonderful family.

May God bless all who read this. It is a blessing for me to share my life with you. My second Genealogy of the various families connected to the Davis family is an undertaking of love.

This book is a blessing for Scott who is my first grandchild & he is the one most likely to walk where I am walking now. Every member of my & Thomas family is special.!!!

What are some of your family traditions?

 My family has few, if any, traditions. We gather for holidays. Dianne or Katherine have me in the earlier part of Thanksgiving Day with both their extended families.

Tim has me along with his entire family for Thanksgiving also on Thanksgiving day. Our Magan takes a family picture on that day that is used on the Christmas cards.

Tanya & Joe come home when they can.

Thomas & I went out West when he was able. I went every year or two for a long time after he died.. Covid stopped that. I go to California when I can now but have not been in a few years. Thomas & I went hot air ballooning with Tanya & Joe for years. After he died, I did go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta & crew for two of our German pilots. Our friends, Elisa Bustamante Paulk & her husband, Ken were the Zebras & were Launch Director for the Fiesta that year. That was so much fun. The feasting post ballooning is so o o o o good. I have only been a few times since then when Mike & Brenda Prentiss were able to fly. They are special friends who usually fly in Temecula, CA. They come to town for a meal when I am at Tanya’s. Good friends.

I guess following Christ to the best of our ability is our number one tradition. I can’t imagine how people who don’t know God and His Son, Jesus, get through hard times. God the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit!! How Awesome!!

We celebrate Christ’s birth. I spend time with Tim, Rene’ & their family. I spend time with Tera, Kenny & their family. Maybe when Tanya retires & they move closer, I can spend time with them.

Each of the children have wonderful friends who are part of my extended family. I treasure my children & their friends. So many of these young friends are truly part of our family & loved.

God is truly good to me & my family is, too.

Where did you go on vacations as a child?

 My parents worked six days a week until I was about 12 so we did not take more than a day or two away when we would visit relatives.

One year, we went to Paris (Parish, Alabama) to visit my Aunt Ruth. She had several boys. Aunt Ruth was really my first cousin, but Pa & Ma Sanderson raised her after her mother died. She was close in age to Mother (Myrtle) & she was ‘my aunt’.

I’m not certain if it was the same year, but we also went to Kansas (it was Kansas, Alabama), not the state of. Other than that, we went to Ma & Pa Davis’ house. We did not go as a family, I spent time with them alone. It was wonderful. I went to Zion Church back then in a horse drawn wagon. Recently I visited Zion with my aunt & her family. I saw one of the friends that I made when I was probably 9 or 10 years old. Irene & I go so far back, I’m not certain. Her sister-in-law is also a friend, but she moved from Hatley, Mississippi when she married Irene’s brother. I did not know her when we lived at Amory or Hatley. I saw her again at the church when I went recently. Sue is a wonderful friend from a long time ago. The other’s with whom I played at Zion are gone.

Other ‘vacations’ were spent with my first cousin, Jean Sanderson. She has been mentioned in previous stories of our life at Hamilton before we became nomads. Uncle Vick & Aunt Exar lived in several houses around Hamilton. The two I remember were a ‘shotgun’ house (three rooms & a lean to room) one room wide with the three rooms lined up. We had so much fun. Jean & I would go to bed with gum in our mouths & when we were ready to go to sleep (quit talking), we stuck the gum behind the headboard of the bed. I’ve often wondered if Aunt Exar was able to get all of that hardened gum off the headboard. We played with Jimmy Wayne Sanderson, another first cousin. Incidentally, Jim passed away Friday and was buried (11-23-22). That leaves me the last surviving cousin of the four musketeers. Of course, when Robert Hugh Mays was in Hamilton from Birmingham, we became five. He, too, is gone. Anyway, I always had a wonderful visit with Jean & Jim as often as I could get back to Hamilton. Of course, Jean spent the night with me before we moved.

There was one ‘vacation’ I took with Aunt Exar, Uncle Victor, Jean & her husband, Tommy. The day following my 16th birthday, Jean & Tommy came to Gordo & picked me up to go to Zion, Illinois with them for a month’s visit. I would spend every other night with them (newly weds) & the other with Aunt Exar & Uncle Vick. They all worked either in Zion or across the state line in Wisconsin. Both couples had one room. Jean & Tommie did have a place for me to put my pallet when I was with them. I’d roll up my ‘bed’ & take it to the other place the next night. Having been raised with folks sleeping on pallets, that was fine with me. With all the kids I knew from Hamilton living in Zion, I really enjoyed that month. I dated Gary Lindsey a good bit. For someone who had never had a vacation, it was great! I kept house for both couples & cooked supper at whichever place I was spending the night. Jean’s stove was small, gas, & set too close to the wall. One day, I had a pan of corn boiling & the flames got to the wall & set it on fire. I tried to distinguish the flames without success.The owner of the building had a business downstairs & I ran down & got him to put out the fire. During the day, I had Jean’s car & would do whatever I wanted. There was a fabulous bakery close-by & I got a big sweet roll every morning for breakfast & a large (BIG) coca cola for all day. We went swimming in Lake Michigan & it was not even luke warm. IT WAS COLD!!! So, you now know that for the first 18 years of my life, I took one real vacation.

Which sports teams were you a fan of as a child?

 At age 12, I was introduced to sports. We had baseball and basketball at Hatley High School, no football team at that time but it didn’t matter to me. I was not used to sports at that point. I certainly got involved during basketball and then baseball season! We cheered our teams on and most games were during the day because folks didn’t have transportation (not many cars) and night travel for the majority was limited. Away teams came to HHS and we attended the games.

BASKETBALL: I truly enjoyed (& still do) the game of basketball. Billy played on the basketball team and gained the name of “Slick” (which lasted long past high school days) by some of his ‘Slick’ moves. It is fast paced and the players are excellent athletes. Some of my grandchildren played in high school and I knew a wee bit about the game because I had watched at Hatley. We made many friends with the opposing team members.

BASEBALL: In the spring, we had baseball and it was so exciting. The only thing I knew about baseball was vacant lots or homemade diamonds where we played by the rules of the oldest players. That was a great year all round.

When we moved to Gordo for my last four years of school, Billy played football and basketball. I don’t recall if he played baseball. I never missed a football game that last four years. Being in the band, we were taken to the game in the ‘band bus’, just a school bus. WOW! What fun. Of course, basketball was great, too. Billy was again called “Slick” and even Chief (Lollypop) Hood called him Slick when he stopped him when he was headed for Valeria’s when on leave. Chief Hood was so excited to see his buddy Slick. The Hoods had no children but I guess every kid in Gordo loved them because they loved the kids.

Of course, I didn’t get to see a ballgame on TV because we didn’t have one but sometimes listened on the radio and we cheered for Auburn because my Davis side of the family (Uncle S.L.) had graduated from Auburn. We cheered for Alabama (when they weren’t playing Auburn) because several of Gordo’s boys were playing for Alabama. Ronnie Davis was one player who was drafted to play for Alabama. A few years after I graduated, Larry Blakeney (a cousin of Thomas) went to Auburn on scholarship. Larry played and later was assistant coach there. He retired as head coach at Troy State. We were all proud of Larry’s success in athletics.

That’s about it for what teams I was a fan of as a child. Until age 12, none. Thereafter, Hataley High School, Gordo High School and Auburn, Alabama.

What about being a child do you miss the most?

 The answer to this is that I miss my parents. There are some friends I have not seen or talked with in 74 years. It would be good to see them and “catch-up”.

Having had responsibilities since I was a small child and as an adult, I still have responsibilities even though they are different, I don’t miss earlier life-stage responsibilities.

School was almost always a good thing for me. Eighth grade is not even a memory. Martha Evans and I walked to school together and were best of friends. I ran into her at the hospital one of the times Daddy was hospitalized. We didn’t really have time to visit. It was wonderful to see her. She is about the only memory I have worth recording in regard to eighth grade.

As soon as we moved to Gordo, I began to LIVE. I had a job immediately that I enjoyed for four years. I was immediately in the band even though I had to learn to play the tenor saxophone. It was difficult and never fully mastered. BUT percussion... I enjoyed snare drum, base drum & cymbals. Although I was not proficient in them, it was rhythm & I liked that.

I dated several boys the four years in Gordo; most had the last name of Junkin. There was one Elmore boy and I guess he was related to Mama Junkin since her maiden name was Elmore. Most Junkin families were related someway and the same for all the Elmore families. I even dated Ralph Junkin before I dated his big brother and I have to say that he and I did not “date”, we just “went out” a couple of times.

The band trip to other schools, competition, one Jacksonville State homecoming game, the band marching in the inaugural parade the last time Big Jim Folsom was Governor. My high-light each week was the football game.

My job was a cashier on the grocery side of a store that also carried dry goods. At Christmas time, my boss would have me work on the dry-good side because I was a good sales person. After all, I had been raised in a store for years before I turned 14 and went to work at the Yellow Front Store. In those days, the cashier had to add the tax to the total in their head. Thankfully, back then, I could do it. We had NO computers, just a cash register. There were NO scanners and as I emptied the basket onto the counter, I punched in the amount and slid it a short distance and went on to the next item. When all had been punched in, I added the amount of tax, totaled it and got the money. If the counter filled and there was no ‘sack boy’ that day, I also sacked the groceries. On most Saturdays, everyone for miles around came to town and bought a BIG basket full of groceries. If folks wanted coffee ground or cheese or bologna cut, that was also on my duty list. If he was available, Mr. Buckalew would sack groceries, and do the other things when I was checking a customer out. It was hard, but it was FUN. After I got off work, at 7:00 p.m. until I was 16 and then 10:00 p.m. I could go to the midnight movie with a date but he had to walk me home straight from the movie. Most of the boys I dated didn’t have a car. Sometimes, he would have the family pick-up or car.

So what else do I miss about childhood? The MOVING. (Thomas & I moved about 20 times the first ten years of our marriage and then only to Good Hope after 40 years in one house) nm . Of course, I adapted well to changing schools. Maybe because I enjoyed school or maybe I just liked meeting new people. Each time we moved, it was an adventure. No matter how hard it was for my parents, they always did what they always did; unpacked, found a church, already knew something about the school and went to work. Life was always good and hard at the same time. I had my chores and didn’t mind that. When I cooked, Mother washed the dishes. We had a wringer washing machine and I either helped or did laundry. We always had a clothesline for hanging the clothes. Part of my tasks was bringing in the clothes and ironing. I STILL enjoy ironing.

That’s about all. Life, as already stated, was good. Great parents, big brother who sometimes was not good to me. Thankfully, he did change with maturation.

What is the farthest you have ever traveled?

 I believe Hawaii would be my answer to that. My children, Tim, Tanya and Tera took/sent me to Hawaii for my 75th birthday nine years ago. Tim & Rene’ flew with me and were with me the entire trip, driving us places and enjoying the trip with me. Katie and Mark came later and stayed a few days after we left.

God’s beauty of the island is displayed without measure. The flowers were beautiful. We ate wonderful food and saw sights I never thought to see. The black sand beaches were different. Rene’ and Katie went swimming in the ocean. I sat on the beach. We watched whales play in the distance.

My children did not allow me to spend one cent except for gifts for friends and souvenirs for myself. I bought some jewelry for myself and T-shirts for friends.

Visiting the beautiful island was a special time for me. There was a luau one night and it was beautiful and interesting. Having seen luaus in movies, it was a delight to see one in ‘real life’.

So many wonderful memories of a time my children shared a love for Mama and one a Mama truly appreciated. I have the BEST children and my love for them grows as I grow ‘wiser’ (not older) ha.

Did you ever get in trouble at school as a child?

 Once, in fourth grade, and outside of school hours or property, yes. I used God’s name in vain with initials. Never having heard that at home, I must have heard it elsewhere because when someone called me a SOB, (& I sure did not know what that stood for) I added a G in front of it and said if I was the first, they were the second. They reported to Ms. Arny Robinson (our fourth grade teacher) that I had used the four initials in reference to them. Apparently, they didn’t tell her they had referred to me as the first. She made me stay in the cloak room at recess for a week during recess. That lesson has never left me. It makes me cringe for anyone to use God’s name in vain. That was a valuable lesson.

In ninth grade, the home-ec teacher was in her first year of teaching (& she retired from Gordo High). Daddy and Mother gave her a ride to Guin when we were going to Pa’s and Ma’s house so she could catch a Greyhound Bus. There was not a Greyhound route through Gordo. I thought Ms. Cooley and I were friends. I had always been on friendly and respectful terms with my teachers. One trip, our electrical system in the car caught fire. We had several gallon jars filled with various vegetables that had been prepared for cooking with water added to keep the vegetables fresh. Daddy was using the water from a jar to put out the fire. Ms. Cooley kept yelling at Daddy to “Get my clothes out of the car” with no regard that not only HER clothes, but everything else in the car AND the car was what Daddy was trying to save. Daddy Bill (without stopping his efforts to put out the fire) ,”I’ll get your damn clothes when I get the fire out”. He extinguished the fire, we continued our trip, dropped her off at her bus station and continued on our way.

Next Wednesday: I walk into Home-ec. I am early, which is my habit, so I can visit with my ‘friend’. I am greeted with, “You are excused from my class until you apologize for what you said to me yesterday.” “What did I say?”, I asked. “You know what you said and you can apologize now. Go to the office and see Mr. Gibbs. He is expecting you.” I went to the office not knowing what was up because I thought and thought and could not imagine my having said anything to offend Ms. Cooley. Mr. Gibbs said I could not go to ANY class as I was being suspended until I apologized to her. Well, I asked what I had said and got the same answer she had given me. So...when I went home and told Mother and Daddy, they were astounded that she would falsely accuse me and Daddy said she’d had her last ride with us anywhere because they knew I had not said anything rude to her. The next day when he came home, Daddy said he knew exactly what I had said, NOTHING. She was angry at me because of what HE had said to her when she was yelling like a banshee to get her luggage out of the car when it was on fire the Saturday before. I finally said, “If I offended you, I am sorry and I would still like to know what I said”. With that kind of apology, I was allowed back in school. Since I was teachers’ aid in almost all of my other classes, I was glad to get back to typing test-stencils and grading papers.

That is the only two times I was ever in trouble at school. I DO recall one incident that I might have gotten into trouble and did not. Mrs. Durrett taught chemistry. I was not her aid and had to really study HARD to make a passing grade. I made a 100 on (I think) a semester exam. She marked off points for my not dotting an “i” where she thought I should have. I told her, “If you are going to teach English, you need to go to the other end of the school. The English room is down there.” Oh, yes, my loud mouth could have gotten me in a LOT of trouble had I not USUALLY had enough sense to keep it SHUT.

Who had the most positive influence on you as a child?

 I am not certain who had the MOST positive influence on me as a child but there were many influential people in my life when I was growing up.

My parents were influential in that they EXPECTED me to be ‘good’ and to obey them and GOD’s laws. They always went to church and took Bill and me with them. I was taught that people were expected to obey what was taught in church and the Bible. If I did something I was aware was not ‘good’, it was not repeated. I always wanted to be ‘good enough’ to be loved. Where that idea came from I do NOT know.

I’m 84 and still want to be good enough. Knowing now that through Jesus' sacrifice I AM good enough certainly helps but I want to be reaching unsaved so they will know it is not HOW GOOD we are but how justified we are through Jesus Blood on Calvary. Oh, how I want to tell others that they can share in the JOY we have through that gift!! GOD is SOoooo Good every minute of every day. The Holy Spirit is with us all the time. If I feel sad or burdened in any way, a few minutes of singing to my Savior brightens that feeling to JOY!!!!

Back to the question of WHO had the MOST influence to me, I add that Pa Davis was a leader and a warrior for our Father and our Savior. Any and all he met knew about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ when they left Pa’s presence. Dave Anderson Davis was a 5 Star General for Jesus. Vannah Davis was beside him always. With NO formal education, she had read her Bible numerous times. That was her Blue Back Speller and first reader. She & Pa sang ‘old book’ songs (the notes & usually the words afterwards). We sat on the front porch when Pa came to the house for ‘dinner’. He usually took time when grandchildren were there to ‘rest’ a while after eating before returning to the field. He & Ma could harmonize so beautifully. What a joy to have been their first granddaughter (second grandchild). It was four years before Barbara Jean was born and five when Sue & Sharon were born. Added later were the rest of their family. But I was allowed to be the first!! What a privilege!!

SO, you answer the question. WHO WAS the most influential person in my youth? I think I’ll have to say my Parents, Grandparents and GOD were all influencing my growing up. Did I always adhere to my upbringing? Unfortunately, NO. There were times I almost lost my way and walked in a dual direction. I continued to attend church and encourage my children but, at times. I also followed after the worldly ‘THINGS’. How much stuff we can get to be sure of the future is one thing that is so worldly. STUFF does not work for our happiness and certainly does not bring any joy. Thank the Holy Spirit for His guidance in getting me back on a single narrow path to follow after God wholeheartedly. Life is GOOD. God is BETTER. HE is GREATER!!! To my grandchildren who read this, do not think less of me for my indiscretions of youth. I AM Human!! I WAS for a while worldly. I am most grateful that I no longer desire the worldly things. Stay TRUE to GOD. HE will see you through the rough patches like no other can. Do not take dual paths. Stay on HIS path where you now walk. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! HE loves you even MORE!!!

What did you hide from your parents as a child?

 Nothing. In the first place, children in my childhood were more concerned with minding their parents or getting a swift and painful (at least to the psyche) discipline. We were taught to respect God, our parents and every adult human on the face of earth. We were allowed many freedoms children of today are not permitted to indulge due to the change in many things. Streets in my small town of Hamilton, Alabama were SAFE. You did not hear of child molesting, kidnapping, rape, and shootings. Our most newsworthy things that happened were sad things such as an accident that killed someone (or a family), fire with death or the loss of everything, a broken bone, a dog gone rabid that had to be put down or such as that.

All the neighbors ‘watched out’ for all the children. If you played with the Pollard children, Chloe watched out for you and if Joann and Brenda Gail played with you, whoever was caring for you that day, probably Aunt Exar, watched out for them. If Myrtle wasn’t working, she was at home watching out for Billy Joe, me and whoever happened to be playing with us. Billy played with Ray Knight most often. Mavis and Dorothy Jean Jeffers played with (me). When we played board games at someone’s house, we might be 10:00 getting home IF on Friday night. We had to be home by the time the sun went down on school and church nights. Even if you lived next door, you took a flashlight because it got dark and a stumble could hurt. Older siblings looked out for their younger siblings in those days.

After we left Hamilton and moved to Amory, Mississippi, I don’t remember about playing out at night but we DID have street lights at night. We played ball in the vacant lot next door. It was safe in Amory.

In Tuscaloosa, unless Martha Evans and I were doing something together, we were always home after school. Billy and I played with the Davis kids in a park not far from the house. Patsy Davis and I were close. Her big brother, Athen, was my sweetheart. He was my first proposal. I was 13 and he asked me to marry him and I told him I was too young, I had more living to do. Ha. I was allowed to go to Sunday afternoon movies with him IF Patsy, his sister, went also AND if I had gone to church Sunday morning.

We moved to Gordo and life was quiet. Bill played football and I played tenor saxophone & drums. We both had many friends. Billy Ray Junkin was my first beau in Gordo. He and I went to the Saturday night midnight shows after I got off work. He walked me home and hitched a ride hime. I went to a prom with Joe Elmore and wore a borrowed gown. When I was getting out of his truck after the prom, my heel caught in the gown and tore it. Mother repaired it as good as she could but I NEVER borrowed a gown after that. I bought a gown that was second hand until my junior year and we went to Brown’s Bargain Basement and bought me one that was marked down. More about that later if I haven’t already covered it in an earlier story.

When I was sixteen, my friend, S, asked me to go on a double date with her. My date was her beau’s friend. We were to go to the drive-in movie to see “The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing”. We did NOT go to Tuscaloosa to see the movie. We went instead to Columbus, MS. to beer joints. S, & I drank so much 7-UP that night that I still don’t care for it. It was getting late and I thought we should leave and said so. My date said, “You’re the biggest 18 year old baby I’ve ever seen” - I shall never forget that or my response, “Well, in two years when I'm 18, I may not be a big baby”. He literally jerked me out of the chair, almost dragged me to the car with Sabra and her date running to the car. We drove to Alabama in short order!! It was against the law to take a minor across the state line and I found out he was 25. YES, I kept that from my parents!! When Mother lived with me after Thomas died, we were talking one night and having a good time remembering old times. I confessed that to her. I added that after Tim and Tanya were about 4 & 5, Louise Roberts and I took our children to that movie while Thomas and John D. were at work one night.

Another time, S, asked me to double date with her and her date with a boy whose name was similar to a popular comedian. She assured me we would not go to any beer joints and we didn’t. They went and parked and they got out of the car to climb the fire tower, leaving me and my ‘date’ alone. It was not a fun evening! I survived by using my head and went home unscathed but I DID keep it from my parents, telling Mother the same night I told her about the other incident.

I NEVER double dated with S, again although we remained friends. She and her steady were going to the only football game the band did not go to in the four years I was in the band. She asked if I’d like to ride to Gorgus with them. That was to be the car’s occupancy. However, we picked up J.J. who was hitch-hiking to the game. He was a student at UA. Of course, there was room only in the back seat for him. I have not fully identified some of these folks for obvious reasons. I was NEVER on a date with an occupatus like J.J. He had more hands than anyone I’ve ever seen and I was totally disgusted by the time we got home that night from the game. I do not remember much other than we had to share a quilt because the car had no heater and it was frigid that night. I kept that from Mother until we were in one of our remembering talks at night. J.J. was later officially the father of a child to an unwed mother. I was ashamed of him for how he treated my friend L. She had a little boy who looked like his biological daddy but was raised by a wonderful Christian who loved and married L.

I don’t remember any other incidents that were kept from Mother and Daddy. She watched as Ralph Howell was walking me to his car one night when my dress caught on the broken fender of my 39 Hudson and tore. She met me at the door to help me change dresses. She said while she was with me changing, “Well, it looks like he could have kept from tearing your clothes off until he got you in the car”. She was soooo funny!! Another time I was on a date with Ralph when we ran out of gas not far from home. We walked to our house and I woke mother up to get a key to drive Ralph to his home to get a can of gas (farmers kept gas at home for equipment). Mother got up and dressed and drove us for the gas, back to his car, and after he got his car started, I rode home with her. As soon as we drove away from him, Mother said, “I trusted you out with him but I didn’t trust him out with you!”. As previously stated, Ma Myrt had a real good sense of humor.

So...those are the only two things of consequence I kept from my parents growing up. If there were other things, I don’t think they were memorable, at least not after over 65 years.