By: Imogene Tidwell Persall
“The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.”-Thomas Jefferson. All of us can certainly relate to President Jefferson’s quote. As children, we didn’t have to worry about bills, shelter, clothing or food. Our parents took care of all these necessities. We didn’t have many things that were worth much monetary value; but we did appreciate what little we had. Ivalene and I cut paper dolls from the Sears and Roebuck catalogs. We made church pews from the pages, also. Families would sit together in the church pews on the bed. We lined them across the bed just like they would be in a real church building. We would sing spiritual songs; and I can’t remember who would do the preaching. Using our imagination was very beneficial to us. After we finished our church services, we had two cardboard shoeboxes with lids to store our paper dolls and church pews in. The cost was nothing; but time well spent playing together.
Sometimes, in the summertime we would make “toad houses” using our bare feet to pile lots of wet sand on top of one foot. It had to be mashed really firm; so it would stand after we carefully pulled out the foot. A door would be made once the foot was out.
Then we would start hunting for two toads to sit in each house. There were plenty around; so it wouldn’t be very long until we had one residing in each house. The weather was really hot; but the houses were cool and the toads liked that. They would sit there for a while before hopping out.
Regina Ann arrived to join the Earl Tidwell household on October 27, 1950. As in any family many changes came about. I became part-time babysitter. And part-time teacher to her. As she became older, she was very eager to learn. There were no kindergartens back then. I taught her to count to 100 and say her ABC’s when she was 4 or 5 years old. Several of the men in our community enjoyed listening to her count and say her ABC’s. Each man would give her a dime, if she would count and “rattle off” her letters. She make several dimes, and had her own money to spend for penny candy, bubble gum or a five cent cone of ice cream at Oden and Shirey Drug Store.
Families were close back in the “good ole days”. Most were “farm families”; and we ate 2 or 3 meals together each day. We had homegrown veggies, meat, real cow’s milk, butter and seasoned everything with lard. Only at café’s, “a little hold in the wall”, could one byt a hambuger or hot dog. Very special to most of us! Only a few families went hungry; and when their neighbors found out, their needs were quickly supplied.
In the wintertime, we all sat around the fireplace after supper and heard stories told by our parents or grandparents. Sometimes, I would get so scared with their scary stories, and be afraid to sit close to a big crack in the floor or walk into a dark room. We, also, would shell peanuts; throw the hulls into the burning fire. Daddy would plant the seeds the next Spring. Of course, we had to eat some as we shelled them. Many nights Daddy and I played checkers. Probably 2 or 3 games. As mentioned in a previous article, I was really a good checker player in my high school days. You might say a champion! (No boasting!)
I used Prince Albert Tobacco tin cans to make hair rollers; so I could roll my own hair. I used scissors to cut strips of newspapers to wrap around the tin strips. That way, I wouldn’t cut my fingers or my hair when I rolled my hair on them. My hair, probably, looked like Phyllis Dillers; but it looked better to me than long stringy hair.
Most farm children made “zu-zu” tops- better known now as buzz-saws- to play with, also. They were made with a medium size button and a strong string raveled from a fertilizer sack. Put the string through the two holes in the button and tie the two ends inot a knot. Then, push the button to the middle of the string and take both hands and sling it over and under several times until the string is tight. Start pulling the string ends back and forth and the button would start spinning and make a “buzzing-sound”. One time when I was playing with my “zu-zu”, the button must have been old and broke into several pieces. One piece of it hit me in my chest and cut a hole thru my blouse and chest. For many years the scar remained on my chest.
Daddy made toy tractors for us from wooden spools after mama had used all the thread. He would take his pocket knife and cut knotches around each end. Then, he would put a rubber band thru the spool and on one side he’d put a pencil or stick. On the other side, he’d put a stick shorter than the diameter of the spool. He’d lubricate one side with wax from a crayon so it would turn, and turn it around and around. We’d put the little tractor on a slanted book or small hill and watch it climb up. So much fun!
Daddy, also, made cute tiny baskets from peach seeds with his pocket knife. He cut a certain part of the seed not quite to the top, leaving the outside rim for the handle. After he cut about half of the inside, he pulled out the little kernel that left a hole similar to the inside of a regular basket. He would continue whittling until all of the basket was smoth. Then, he cut the bottom part straight across; so it would sit on a flat bottom. I have two tiny baskets like these that my, husband, Carl, made or one of our sons, Mike or Jeff.
With the Christmas season rapidly approaching and money becoming more scarce, more people are wanting to look toward a “gloomy” holiday season. But it can really be the happiest ever, if we give one precious gift-ourselves plus some of our time. I would like to suggest about 10 ideal I have in mind. Other folks may add more to the list; or whatever would be best by doing things as a family.
1. Find a widow or widows who need some repairs done to their houses, but can’t afford it.
A. Dad and sons- repair a storm window or door. Replace light bulbs no longer burning. Nail come loose boards on a porch or deck. Cut sagging tree limbs, etc.
B. Mom and daughters- clean houses, cook some food, wash and iron clothes.
2. Older daughters cook a meal or clean house for mom.
3. Older sons rake leaves for dad. Pick up tree limbs or other trash in the yard.
4. Mom and daughters go visit some shut-ins who just might need someone to talk to for an hour.
5. Children make gifts for dad and mom; and for each other.
6. As a family, play games together instead of watching TV for a week.
7. One family cook a whole meal and take it to another family who might be less fortunate.
8. Husbands and wives cook a whole meal together instead of going out to eat as much.
9. Invite two or three couples to your house and have a “pot-luck” dinner together.
10. Have a “clothes swapping” party and bring good clothes you’ve received as gifts and don’t like, some you don’t need or have outgrown. Both adult and children’s clothes.
“It is more blessed to five than to receive.”
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year-2010- to everyone!! God Bless each one richly and our Great U.S.A.!!
