It is a wonderment
Life.
It bobs and floats
Jerked under by joy
Only to reappear
Floating calm
For just a bit.
It is cotton candy,
Living.
Tasty and sweet
Melt in your mouth
Sticky faced life.
So wispy
So very good.
It is a treasure
Being.
Knowing you are.
Rolling "I am"
In your hand.
Pearl of great price
Jewels of existing.
It is a wonderment
Life.
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Annie Pankey's New Youngin'
Well, Cousins,
Y'all may know Annie Pankey. She runs "Pankey's Hankies" downtown in Beloved. It is a shop filled with antique lace, quilts, linens and cloth goods as well as the occasional antique. If you ever been in, you know Annie Pankey is sometimes different than other folks.
She moved back here about ten years ago when she retired from bein' a lawyer up in New York. Annie started out in Clay County, went to Berea College and made good as a fine New York lawyer.
In the last year or so she started readin' about that "in vitro" fertilization and started hankerin' to have a youngin' of her own. She read up on all that "in vitro" stuff an' went to them Doctors over to Lexington to the University of Kentucky Hospital. She told them she wanted her a baby an' wanted them to pump her full of hormones an' all an' "in vitro" her.
Well, we don't talk about that sort of stuff back home. I don't know where she got such talk.
They laughed at first, but when she started talkin' her lawyer talk and accused them of age discrimination, well...they gave up first.
So,them Doctors did what she wanted an' Annie found herself with child. There was a lot of talk went on in the churches an' businesses of Beloved, I'll tell you for sure. Annie walked proudly among us, tellin' anyone who would listen that she had been "in vitro"'ed an wasn't livin' in sin or such as that. Folks finally settled down an' even got real excited for her. Not many 75 year old women have youngin's in Beloved. I only know of one or two myself.
The day came an' Annie had her youngin'. It was a baby boy - 8 pounds an' 6 ounces, 21 inches long with the prettiest black hair an' deep blue eyes. It looked like Annie's Daddy, Judge Ancil Pankey, one of the finest men to ever live in Beloved, Kentucky. Annie did real well for a woman of advanced years. She said it was turnip juice an' clean livin'.
After she came home, the women of Booger Holler Holiness Church came to pay a call on Annie an' to see the baby. She came to the door an' told them the baby was asleep an'
they had to leave. They figured she was just nervous, bein' a new mother an' all. Honest, they was worried that her health might be poor. She was 75, y'know.
A few days later, Sister Hazel Nutt Budder, the preacher's wife stopped with Evelyn Collins who brought cheese grits an' some broasted chicken from over to the Henney Penny Restaurant. Don't you know the same thing happened. Annie didn't even open the door all the way an' told them the baby was sleepin' an' shut the door.
On Friday of that week, Sister Hazel an' three women from the Womans Missionary League stopped by. They were not goin' to take "no" for an answer.
When Annie came to the door, she told 'em the baby was a sleepin' an' started to close the door. Sister Hazel was ready for her an' put her foot in the door. It was real lucky Sister Hazel had her steel toe Hush Puppie walkin' shoes on, cause Annie 'bout crushed her toes as she closed the door.
Sister Hazel asked why Annie wouldn't let anyone see that baby. Folks were sayin it was ugly or somethin'. Annie said it weren't ugly, it was just asleep. Sister Hazel said they would tiptoe in an' just look.
"No, y'all can't" Annie said.
"But why, Annie? We'll be real quiet like." promised Sister Hazel. The other women shook their heads in agreement.
"Y'all can't see him cause he is asleep...an' I don't remember where I put him!"
Ain't age a curse?
Y'all may know Annie Pankey. She runs "Pankey's Hankies" downtown in Beloved. It is a shop filled with antique lace, quilts, linens and cloth goods as well as the occasional antique. If you ever been in, you know Annie Pankey is sometimes different than other folks.
She moved back here about ten years ago when she retired from bein' a lawyer up in New York. Annie started out in Clay County, went to Berea College and made good as a fine New York lawyer.
In the last year or so she started readin' about that "in vitro" fertilization and started hankerin' to have a youngin' of her own. She read up on all that "in vitro" stuff an' went to them Doctors over to Lexington to the University of Kentucky Hospital. She told them she wanted her a baby an' wanted them to pump her full of hormones an' all an' "in vitro" her.
Well, we don't talk about that sort of stuff back home. I don't know where she got such talk.
They laughed at first, but when she started talkin' her lawyer talk and accused them of age discrimination, well...they gave up first.
So,them Doctors did what she wanted an' Annie found herself with child. There was a lot of talk went on in the churches an' businesses of Beloved, I'll tell you for sure. Annie walked proudly among us, tellin' anyone who would listen that she had been "in vitro"'ed an wasn't livin' in sin or such as that. Folks finally settled down an' even got real excited for her. Not many 75 year old women have youngin's in Beloved. I only know of one or two myself.
The day came an' Annie had her youngin'. It was a baby boy - 8 pounds an' 6 ounces, 21 inches long with the prettiest black hair an' deep blue eyes. It looked like Annie's Daddy, Judge Ancil Pankey, one of the finest men to ever live in Beloved, Kentucky. Annie did real well for a woman of advanced years. She said it was turnip juice an' clean livin'.
After she came home, the women of Booger Holler Holiness Church came to pay a call on Annie an' to see the baby. She came to the door an' told them the baby was asleep an'
they had to leave. They figured she was just nervous, bein' a new mother an' all. Honest, they was worried that her health might be poor. She was 75, y'know.
A few days later, Sister Hazel Nutt Budder, the preacher's wife stopped with Evelyn Collins who brought cheese grits an' some broasted chicken from over to the Henney Penny Restaurant. Don't you know the same thing happened. Annie didn't even open the door all the way an' told them the baby was sleepin' an' shut the door.
On Friday of that week, Sister Hazel an' three women from the Womans Missionary League stopped by. They were not goin' to take "no" for an answer.
When Annie came to the door, she told 'em the baby was a sleepin' an' started to close the door. Sister Hazel was ready for her an' put her foot in the door. It was real lucky Sister Hazel had her steel toe Hush Puppie walkin' shoes on, cause Annie 'bout crushed her toes as she closed the door.
Sister Hazel asked why Annie wouldn't let anyone see that baby. Folks were sayin it was ugly or somethin'. Annie said it weren't ugly, it was just asleep. Sister Hazel said they would tiptoe in an' just look.
"No, y'all can't" Annie said.
"But why, Annie? We'll be real quiet like." promised Sister Hazel. The other women shook their heads in agreement.
"Y'all can't see him cause he is asleep...an' I don't remember where I put him!"
Ain't age a curse?
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Daddy Song
Heartache of heartaches,
My Daddy is gone.
My soul cries out to him
But no answer is heard.
He has cast off his frailty
Like an old worn shirt.
Yet I cling to the hollow,
Afraid to let go.
His spirit left this place,
Fled to the mountains of home.
Walked one more walk
Neath the sweet sourwood blooms.
Washed his feet again
In the clear creeks up the holler
Ran like he did as a youngin'
Up the road to the homeplace.
Like a young deer his spirit
Jumps and leaps and runs free.
Clear eyes look at a cabin
Gone now for fifty years.
There, through the twilight
He sees the lights of home.
His loved ones wait, patient
Smiling at spirit found freedom.
My Daddy turns and sees us
Wants to say goodbye.
He waves like he always does
Then walks back up the holler.
His steps are easy now
There is strength anew.
He runs towards the lights of home
Turns once more, smiles.
"I'll be waitin'" he says
And grins his grin.
His eyes have a twinkle
Like he knows somethin' we don't
My Daddy is gone.
My soul cries out to him
But no answer is heard.
He has cast off his frailty
Like an old worn shirt.
Yet I cling to the hollow,
Afraid to let go.
His spirit left this place,
Fled to the mountains of home.
Walked one more walk
Neath the sweet sourwood blooms.
Washed his feet again
In the clear creeks up the holler
Ran like he did as a youngin'
Up the road to the homeplace.
Like a young deer his spirit
Jumps and leaps and runs free.
Clear eyes look at a cabin
Gone now for fifty years.
There, through the twilight
He sees the lights of home.
His loved ones wait, patient
Smiling at spirit found freedom.
My Daddy turns and sees us
Wants to say goodbye.
He waves like he always does
Then walks back up the holler.
His steps are easy now
There is strength anew.
He runs towards the lights of home
Turns once more, smiles.
"I'll be waitin'" he says
And grins his grin.
His eyes have a twinkle
Like he knows somethin' we don't
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Springtime in Beloved
Cousins,
Y'all may find it hard to believe, but Spring just came bustin' in to my hometown of Beloved, Kentucky in the past few weeks. Winter wasn't much snow to speak of, but it was dreary.
If you go through town you'll see dogwoods blooming white, pale pink and a deep pink just like the cheeks of a blushin' country gal. The magnolias have bloomed and a few are droppin' petals already. Underneath each magnolia there is a carpet of petals like cotton candy snow.
On the hillsides surrounding the holler Beloved sits in, a feller can see redbuds bloomin' and wild dogwoods darin' the other trees to come out to play. When we have a frost in the mountains you can look out early in the mornin' and see a line markin' where the frost ends on the hill. It is like each hilltop is sprinkled with sugar.
Down at the one end of Main Street you can find "Precious Smoked Meats". Folks drive by just to smell the wonderful smells of apple, hickory or maybe some pecan wood smoke comin' from the barbeque pit. Wakin' up an' walkin' down there to get a fresh biscuit and country ham sandwich with a cup of coffee is a treat you can't miss. Seein' the wood smoke rise up to meet the mist comin' down the hillside makes a grown man want to swear he will never leave this magical little town.
Annie Pankey owns "Pankey's Hankies". She sells antiques, linens and old time lace goods. Annie ain't quite right sometimes, so most folks just smile when they see a plastic jack o'lantern filled with daffodils sittin' in her window.
Over to the Henny Penny farmers gather early for breakfast and to talk about plantin', rain an' politics. Plantin' and the weather is usually the more important topic. Most folks 'round here have learned that politics and politicians are 'bout all the same and as necessary as the mange on a dog.
The day is bright today and songbirds are on every tree right now. It is a day to stop and think to yourself, "This is the day the Lord has made. I reckon I'll rejoice an' be glad in it."
Yes sir, He makes 'em all mighty fine here in Beloved. When you come, stop by an' stay for a while with us. I'll fluff the feather bed an' put on a couple nice quilts just in case.
Y'all may find it hard to believe, but Spring just came bustin' in to my hometown of Beloved, Kentucky in the past few weeks. Winter wasn't much snow to speak of, but it was dreary.
If you go through town you'll see dogwoods blooming white, pale pink and a deep pink just like the cheeks of a blushin' country gal. The magnolias have bloomed and a few are droppin' petals already. Underneath each magnolia there is a carpet of petals like cotton candy snow.
On the hillsides surrounding the holler Beloved sits in, a feller can see redbuds bloomin' and wild dogwoods darin' the other trees to come out to play. When we have a frost in the mountains you can look out early in the mornin' and see a line markin' where the frost ends on the hill. It is like each hilltop is sprinkled with sugar.
Down at the one end of Main Street you can find "Precious Smoked Meats". Folks drive by just to smell the wonderful smells of apple, hickory or maybe some pecan wood smoke comin' from the barbeque pit. Wakin' up an' walkin' down there to get a fresh biscuit and country ham sandwich with a cup of coffee is a treat you can't miss. Seein' the wood smoke rise up to meet the mist comin' down the hillside makes a grown man want to swear he will never leave this magical little town.
Annie Pankey owns "Pankey's Hankies". She sells antiques, linens and old time lace goods. Annie ain't quite right sometimes, so most folks just smile when they see a plastic jack o'lantern filled with daffodils sittin' in her window.
Over to the Henny Penny farmers gather early for breakfast and to talk about plantin', rain an' politics. Plantin' and the weather is usually the more important topic. Most folks 'round here have learned that politics and politicians are 'bout all the same and as necessary as the mange on a dog.
The day is bright today and songbirds are on every tree right now. It is a day to stop and think to yourself, "This is the day the Lord has made. I reckon I'll rejoice an' be glad in it."
Yes sir, He makes 'em all mighty fine here in Beloved. When you come, stop by an' stay for a while with us. I'll fluff the feather bed an' put on a couple nice quilts just in case.
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