Down Memory Lane

Sunday was a perfect day for an outing. With sunshine, temperatures in the upper 70s, and a light breeze, nature was calling to come out and play.

So My Love and I packed up a delicious dinner and left mid morning to visit my Mother. When she came home from church, she found us in her kitchen preparing some of her favorite dishes, like scrumptious meatloaf, sweetcorn on the cob, garden fresh tomatoes and broccoli and cauliflower salad. This was followed up by sweet, ripe watermelon and cantaloupe with my Mother's own oatmeal logs as a kicker. Makes my mouth water again just to write about it!

Such a delicious meal demanded a short rest afterwards. Then with Mom in tow, we headed out for a tour of the countryside. For years we have traveled the road between Willey and Dedham with Mom commenting: "I grew up on a farm over there and drove 6 miles to school by horse and buggy." But I had never seen the "farm over there". So we retraced the journey she took each day to and from school. As we went up and down the hills, Mom pointed out farm places, detailing which families occupied them years ago. Many of the farmsteads are no longer standing. Finally we reached the corner where she spent most of her youth. The original home still houses a family, though with some additions and moderations. Mom regaled us with some of the activities that occupied their time during her youth. When I commented that I had never been by here before, she said that it had been "at least 50 years" since she had been there.

From there we traveled to Roselle to visit the cemetery and the graves of her parents and her brother, Norbert. We had been there several years ago, but it was time to return and touch base with some of our family roots.

Then we headed across the countryside to Wall Lake to visit the grave of Mom's brother, Gilbert, who died two years ago. From there we circled Blackhawk Lake, recalling memories of my childhood when we would visit the lake on a Sunday afternoon to swim or enjoy fireworks.

Finally we returned to Mom's home in time for supper. After the day's enjoyable trek down memory lane, we were renewed and relaxed, ready for a good night's sleep. My Love and I made our own journey home, grateful for another experience of God's blessings, for the chance to spend time with Mom and enjoy her company. As we come this week to the one-year anniversary of the hurricane striking our home in Texas, we look back upon so many gifts of God's love that have been ours in these past twelve months, gifts that would not be ours except for the push that Dolly gave us. Thank you, God.