It had been the birth place of my great-great grandparents, and now it had been passed down to my family.
Many a winter night we sat around the table talking. Candles throwing bouncing lights. Casting beams of light on each pair of eyes.
Everyone sitting close together around the table. Eating pop-corn and drinking kool-aid or coffee. Snow falling and blustery winds could be seen and heard outside our old wooden door. Rattles of shutters knocking on the frame of the house. This provided the perfect scenario for living memories of the past.
Pictures would be scattered on the table as we went through them as the adults would spin their tales of their past. I always looked forward to these family nights. They didn’t happen often as there was always plenty of work to be done on the farm.
Repairs were being made to the home, inside and out. Gardens being tilled and worked. Land being chopped, plowed and seeded. A creaky barn set to the west of the homestead. This is where years of horses were raised. Plows, rakes and hoes stood erect in the corners while spiders made their homes during the quiet months.
Babies were born. A large amount people had lived on this land and born their offspring. To the east and behind the house sat a family cemetery. Each family member was carefully placed here. Wedding after wedding took place in the front yard between the dogwood trees.
Today, as I huddle together with my brothers and sisters under the kitchen table. I hear the horrific words of the powerful tornado that was passing over our part of the country. We went to the neighbors because they had a bigger home than our family.
It felt like we hid here for hours. My back began to hurt as I stayed crunched in one position. We each took turns at rotating our positions but had been warned to not come out until we were instructed.
At last the order was given. We were relieved of our position. Coming out and working to stand up we went to the windows and looked outside for damages. Our bicycles were no longer standing against the framed porch. We saw large tree branches tossed around the yard. It was if they had a party of their own.
The skies were still dark but not as gray as they were earlier. Off in the far distance we could see the peeking sun. A rainbow was forming in front of our eyes. This was a sign of hope mom had always said.
We asked the adults if we could go outside and they said, “Yes but be careful”. We went out and walked around. We started looking for our bikes and did find them nestled in the tall grasses near the barn. They were a little twisted but still able to be ridden we thought.
The adults came out of the house and told us,”We are headed over to our farm now. Let’s go children”. Making the trip didn’t take very long. Everyone was walking with a quicker step as we all were anxious to see what had happened.
Once we all arrived we stood in awe. The home that had held so many memories, so many people was nowhere to be found. Only remnants remained scattered showing us proof that there was once a house.
We gathered closely together and held hands in a circle. One of the uncles started praying. Us kids stood very still trying to understand the complexities of this situation. The prayer ended the men walked off to find salvageable goods and start a burn pile for the bad pieces.
The memories are here with us. The cemetery is still in tact. Only two of the dogwood trees are missing. We are safe and healthy and with the help of our elders and our memories our new home will be built very soon.
You came up with all those words from one picture! Excellent. 🙂
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I guess I have a vivid imagination! thank you Sarah
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Isn’t it amazing what you can come up with from a pic?
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Yes, Jennifer, it really is. I really enjoy these prompts. Brings out my wild imagination. LOL
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I would have gone in another direction. It is such a powerful image. Then again, I recently drove through the aftermath of hurricane Sandy — so I may be a little tainted In My perspective of an image like that.
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that is what is so awesome about writing! each thought is our own. our own pictures in our mind. i love so many other blogs as they have a different way of looking at life
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You are so prolific!
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thank u Julie!!!!
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Great writing, Terry!
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thank you so much Sean!!!
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Pingback: Free Write Friday #19: Image Prompt « catnipoflife
Terry — wow — you evoked memories and emotions for me — living in Tornado Alley, I spent many long nights in the storm cellar wondering if there would be a home left when we emerged to the light of day…as luck would have it, the house always still stood and stands today. Thanks for this trip down memory lane and walking it in your story.
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I live in Tornado areas also. I am kind of sad that I brought you memories of your past tornado days but I am thrilled that your house always stood strong. thank you so much Annie for stopping by to chat with me.
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Fantastic piece of writing – I loved the fullness and richness of life that you brought from that picture
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thank you so much A.B.!!!!
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Woman, you’re talent … just through that picture! Amazing. I admire those people that year after year .. have to live with those storms … don’t understand how they do .. in Florida, Louisiana and Texcas .. and not only there – now they hit NYC too. Brilliant writing again.
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thank you so much Viveka!!!!!! We live in Tornado country here where I am. I have been in one and one was enough
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Very imaginative, Terry. We have occasional tornadoes here, too. I remember watching out the window of my apartment and seeing part of the roof come sailing down and slide between two cars on the parking lot. The power lines came down across the road shortly after. Another time I was at the hospital in emergency with a friend and when I drove her sister home several hours later (they kept my friend in hospital) the streets were strewn with branches and we had not even known there was a storm. Years ago when I was on holidays in Florida a small city not far from here was hit and a whole section was destroyed in the path of the tornado. They are so devastating.
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once when i was at church camp a tornado went through the center of our town. we were having vespers in the tabernacle while the tornado took the girls dorm and completely destroyed it. we all had to go home much sooner
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That tornado I watched through my window was on a Sunday. I think I may have told you about that. We had no power in our part of the city and were scheduled to have coffee and refreshments after the evening service. Someone in the church did have power so took the coffee urn home and made the coffee. We had church and fellowship by candlelight. It was certainly different.
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you were fortunate to be able to have the coffee at all
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That’s for sure. Some churches would have just closed for the evening.
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Where God is alive, there will be a way provided
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Great story of how memories will always be with us. Thanks for sharing, Terry!
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Hi Mark. Hope you are doing well this weekend. Thank you for a wonderful comment!!!
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Great story. I lived in the Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas most of my life growing up and found so much in your writing that reminded me of many long days and nights. Great story and great ending with prayer and hope of a new future! Blessings!
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thank you so much Carri!!!!!!
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Your writing really transported. I was right there with the family. Well done.
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thank you very much Suzanne!!!
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so good!
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thank you Marilyn
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NIce story. I really liked the bit about the bikes. They can be so important to kids. It was a nice detail that added an extra layer to your story.
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this makes me smile. the comment warmed my heart. thank you
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