Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Childhood memory



When I was a kid we had a one horse wagon like this wagon. We used it to haul all sorts of things on it. It was an absolute necessity to us. Once in a while the rims (hoop rings) would start getting a little lose on the spokes so we would have to take the wheels off the wagon and lay them in a stream so the water would make the wood swell and make the rims tight again. We also had an old rim (hoop) that we played with all the time. We'd get that thing out and roll it down the dirt road that went to our house and have a great time. You can see the old dirt road in the pictures above. The last time my wife and I were in TN we walked back up to the old home place and sat down for a while. While we were sitting there I said to my wife "Listen" and she said "I don't hear anything". I said "That's the point..... the only thing you hear is just the wind blowing through the trees." See below for a very short video...not very good quality. I always have such fond memories when I return to that place even though we barely had enough to survive.

7 comments:

Louise said...

There is nothing more wonderful that being in the country. This looks like some of my favorite childhood places, too.

Carletta said...

Hubs and I took a drive a couple of weeks ago to the farm his family used to own. It was sad to see the old house and barn going to ruin. They are still standing but won't be if the owner doesn't repair it. As we stood there he told me where the garden used to be, the fields, how he'd added the addition to the barn - he was still of high school age then. We actually ran into an old friend of his from high school. They laughed about what they had done. People often say you can't go home again and literally you can't; but the memories live on inside of you.

Tina said...

Neal,
Wow that is some wagon.. the ride must have been pretty bumpy!! I didn't know about soaking the wheel in some water to make it fit again.
It's great you still connect with all those memories of your childhood..good and bad..we have to know where we came from to know who we are..staying grounded is what I call it!! Neat post!!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Awe the memories, Neal.... We did have such interesting childhoods, didn't we? We didn't have a wagon --but I do remember cows grazing all over our yard and town BEFORE they passed a law preventing that...

Great photos and video. I'm glad you get to re-visit your homeplace. Someone bought ours and renovated it.. I have a hard time even looking at it now. It's NOT 'my' home anymore.

Betsy

George said...

It's wonderful that you have such great memories of your home place. I think one of the nicest things about the mountains (and Plateau) of Tennessee is the silence that can be found if you only look for it.

Rose said...

These always look good to me...

Tom said...

I've seen a few pictures now from your old home Neal. Each time the place looks so inviting... I should think it is a mixture of feelings to be back there... I know I'd proberly shead a tear or two for the old place and times gone by.

I always enjoy looking back with you and your Rose.