These memories came to me today, lined up and then lead me from one to another, and another.
Dusty, the Family Dog, was half dachshund and half terrier. He was redish brown in color with a golden tint seen when the sunlight was on him. The last time I saw him was when I returned home from Vietnam in 1970.
I remember wondering, if he would remember me. As I entered the Kitchen where his bed was, he was just getting up raising his head so slowly, then after a couple of tries he stood up, he made it up from his bed, and stepping out he walked ever so slowly. I thought, “He is so old now.” I noticed that hair along his snout, end of his ears and along the ridge of his back, all had gray hair mixed through the redish brown.
I said, “Hello Dusty, ol’ Buddy.” to him, and as he looked up, his eyes glimmered, and he looked as if he was smiling, but that could have been my imagination. I could see his tail wag slowly.
I knew he still remembered. That made me smile. I sat on the floor of the Kitchen and held him in my lap, and holding him close to me. This memory will be with me forever.
He pasted away a few years later at the age of 13 years (at 91 if you count 7 yrs to our 1).
And How Could I Forget…
Playing with my Brother Ralph and the Whitehead Brothers, riding and fixing up our old bikes and playing in and around the stockyard and railroad tracks.
After a hot Texas day, laying on the freshly mowed cool green grass at the corner of the yard and staring up at the night sky with my Brothers. Listening to the stories Kenneth would tell us, discussing the stars and how far away they were, as the Big Texas Moon smiled on us.
Making Homemade Ice Cream on the Front Porch, at 502 Thomas Street, with all our cousins and friends, taking turns sitting on the top of the ice cream maker, adding the ice and salt, and of course turning its handle.
Going to Uncle Red and Aunt Wynonia’s in Harbin, Texas, across the tracks and up the hill, turning onto Farm to Market Road 847 then after a short spell crossing the railroad tracks again and then up another hill and then turning right on County Road 249, a hop skip and a jump and we were at Uncle Red;s House. What wonderful times were spent in and around that house the Luther Cline Built.
Playing Monopoly with Frank Luther. Seemed he always won, by coincidence or fortune not sure, but he was always the Banker.
Hide and Seek with Mona, Connie, Ralph, Barbara, Silvia and Bill in and around that ol’ House, I can still hear the giggles, and laughter now.
The below the ground Wine Cellar with two doors setting at an angle facing the sky, which when opened its steps leading to the cellar were filled with cobwebs. Still it was neat to go down those decaying steps.
Playing in Connie and Mona’s Room (first floor – right front), while the “Grown-Ups” played cards in the kitchen.
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Funny how the Brain works, as it wanders through the cluttered files of memories, waking these traces after opening the folders labelled accordingly.
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The Poppadillo Blog, is the blog page for the Texas Tortilla Factory website, and its stories have been written by Mike Vauthier, and Administratively Approved Authors.
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©2007 Mike Vauthier – Texas Tortilla Factory