THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS
(also, if you'd like to join me and would like to use this graphic header you're more than welcome. Click here to save it.) And the link for the posting of your Thursday Thoughts URL is on my sidebar!!
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Remember Pearl Harbor Day!
Yesterday, we had company(a 'co-worker' of my hubby's that is on his way to Miami for the holidays) arrive for two days, so as with yesterday, no doubt I won't be online much today either. He says that Colorado has been cold!! Hehehehehe, I know just how cold, too!!! I'm glad we're not living there anymore!!
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This week, I had some thoughts about discussing my feelings of how families are these days, and want to forego with that idea. Maybe some day I will, but not today. Today, for Thursday, my thoughts are taking me back years---back to my Colorado youth.
All week, I've felt a bit melancholy. Ya know, it's that time of year when you remember all the good times of family and things you've shared in the past, what you will share with those loved ones today and looking forward to the future holidays that you can spend with them.
Yet, my thoughts today are of my family that has left us. I so miss them, and if I could I would turn back the clock of times past so I could change some things, say things I've neglected to say and should have, do more things that are worthy of my family and treat my parents and grandparents with much more respect! Yes, melancholy has struck! Today, it struck hard.
This past week, I posted about the world in "Black and White" and how simple things were when there was no stress, with childhood. Everything was seen through rose colored glasses. The world was charming, fun and hopeful. While watching this flash video of days gone by, I happened upon the still of the TV program "The Real McCoys". There was an elderly man who played the grandfather on the program. At the time I was a child and watching this when I was around, I remember mentioning to my mother that "he looks a lot like grandpa"! And yes, he did! So close of a resemblance to my grandfather it was uncanny. As days and years passed, of course, my beloved grandfather left the physical world. He lived to be 97.
Then, I became a wild and crazy teenager. Busy with school, a part time job, hanging out with friends. Unaware of what lays ahead...yet anxious to grow up to adulthood.
One evening after school, and working part-time afterward, I was driving home in my car. As always, I had the radio on full blast....that's a teenage thing I think. But, for my own reason for not liking the group that was on one station, at a stoplight, I was fiddling around with the dial on the dashboard, and changed radio stations. I can recall this day still, so vividly. I stopped turning the dial when I came upon a country/western station. A song was just beginning to air. It had a nice 'western tinkle' to it. I stayed there on the station to listen. The light turned green, and I made it through the intersection, heading down the road---a few more miles to go yet before turning up the driveway at home. We lived in the country--many miles from the city, in the foothills.
The song was sung, actually it was really NOT singing, but more or less dialogue with music in the background. The man who was doing the song was the same man that played the grandfather on the Real McCoys!!! Walter Brennan. I recognized the voice right away....so really, I found myself listening to his words he was reciting.
By the time the song was finished I was bawling, literally. I still, to this day, do NOT know how I made it down the road without going off the shoulder and into the ditch or causing an accident....but I did make it safely home. I really don't know when it was first recorded, but that day was the first I heard it.
The song, the lyrics, the recording, reminded me of my grandfather!! Once again, my grandfather came to me through this song. Remember, I'm a teenager at this time, without a care in the world. Yet, that day, I know I grew up a bit. All because of a song!! It made me realize right then that life is way too precious!! I had an experience with that song, and it changed my life. From a rebellious twit to a human being with respect and awe of my elders.
Now, coming back to viewing the video the other day and seeing Mr. Brennan again ---looking at that picture, as I've aged throughout the years, the man NOW REMINDS ME OF MY LATE FATHER! And the song came back to me! I can recite the song from memory still. And once again, the tears flow!!
The song that has made me so melancholy is one I vividly remember on one particular day when mentally, I grew up!
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"Old Rivers"
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE I FIRST SEEN OLD RIVERS?
WHY, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN HE WEREN'T AROUND.
WELL, THAT OLD MAN DID A HEAP OF WORK;
SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE WALKING PLOWED GROUND.
HE HAD A ONE-ROOM SHACK NOT FAR FROM US,
AND WE WAS ABOUT AS POOR AS HIM.
HE HAD ONE OLD MULE HE CALLED "MIDNIGHT",
AND I'D TAG ALONG AFTER THEM.
HE'D PLOW THEM ROWS STRAIGHT AND DEEP
AND I'D TAG ALONG BEHIND,
BUSTIN' UP CLODS WITH MY OWN BARE FEET --
OLD RIVERS WAS A FRIEND OF MINE.
THAT SUN WOULD GET HIGH AND THAT MULE WOULD WORK
TILL OLD RIVERS'D SAY, "WHOA!"
THEN HE'D WIPE HIS BROW, LEAN BACK IN THE REINS,
AND TALK ABOUT A PLACE HE WAS GONNA GO.
ONE OF THESE DAYS I'M GONNA CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN;
WALK UP THERE AMONG THEM CLOUDS,
WHERE THE COTTON'S HIGH AND THE CORN'S A-GROWIN',
AND THERE AIN'T NO FIELDS TO PLOW.
I GOT A LETTER FROM BACK HOME THE OTHER DAY --
THEY'RE ALL FINE, AND THE CROPS IS HIGH --
AND DOWN AT THE END MY MAMA SAID,
"YOU KNOW, OLD RIVERS DIED."
ONE OF THESE DAYS I'M GONNA CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN;
WALK UP THERE AMONG THEM CLOUDS,
WHERE THE COTTON'S HIGH AND THE CORN'S A-GROWIN',
AND THERE AIN'T NO FIELDS TO PLOW.
I'M JUST SITTING HERE ON THIS NEW-PLOWED EARTH,
TRYIN' TO FIND ME A LITTLE SHADE.
AND WITH THE SUN BEATING DOWN, 'CROSS THE FIELD I SEE
THAT MULE, OLD RIVERS...AND ME
Melli * Carmen * Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess * Unknown * Gattina * * Lazy Daisy * Cuidado *
8 Comments:
WOW! What a great memory Wys. Ya know... the melancholy moments have their purpose too... not entirely a bad thing... help us with our perspectives. I always try to sort of snuggle in to melancholy...
I always loved Walter Brennan, and the Real McCoys was one of my favorite TV shows EVER! (i'm always amazed at how many people don't remember that one too) Bit I am stunned that with all the years that I've spent listening to country music, I do not recall EVER hearing this song! I'm going to have to go FIND it now so I can hear it!
Have a great day dear - enjoy the company! And... where's my clue????
i'm watching something about Pearl Harbor on TV now. I'll be visiting it in 30-some odd days.
Yes, for sure I remember that song and of course Walter Brennan and the Real McCoys. I always watched that show when it was on. I thought the song that he talked through was great but very sad too.
I also thought he looked like a great person to be my grandpa. He always looked like someone that I could climb right up on his lap and he would not mind one bit.
It is okay to be a little melacholy at times. It just takes you back to times when you were young and carefree....thanks for sharing today. Sandy
Thanks for the reminder about Pearl Harbor Day. I remembered yesterday and forgot today!
This is the time of year for melancholy moments~and it's OK to do that. I experienced something very similar with my Dad. Please visit this http://www.sharemytestimony.org/smt/testimony/129/
and read what I had to say.
I've also shared a little funny on my regular blog if you like a little giggle.
Unfortunately I don't know this song but I know very well that sometimes when you hear a song it's related to something you have lived in the past especially the good moments.
I don't have nice childhood souvenirs the good thing was when I lived it I didn't realize I only realized it when I were a mum myself.
Great thoughts! The old man on The Real McCoys was played by Walter Brennan. Gosh your grandfather lived to a ripe old age. I wish my father could have lived that long, and my husband too.
Can't beat all the old programs on the Tele. I miss seeing alot of them.
Happy Thursday.
Memories are sweet comforts to a life well lived. May all your memories be sweet. Stop by for some Christmas Wishes.
A sleepy Santa
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