Sweet Tea & conversation... a lovely way to spend a day

December 07, 2010

There is a place I pass almost daily now that was an unexpected blast from the past . Although this precise location was unknown in my childhood , its type is most familiar . I'm speaking of the roadside picnic areas . Surely you remember the slight detour from the main road...an eyebrow-shaped bit of land that enclosed grass carpeting the feet of tall trees , whose leafy branches shaded rough wooden picnic tables set at discreet distances ? Can you see the old car's trunk and its collection of Scotch Plaid coolers and jugs full of iced tea...that ever-present car blanket (smelling faintly of motor oil) and sheets to cover the picnic benches and protect the unsuspecting from splinters . What an amazing feast emerged from humble containers...fried chicken , sandwiches and good half-sour pickles , old fashioned potato salad and all those wonderful "sides"...that glorious chocolate cake that defied gravity and country roads to emerge perfect in every way .
Somehow we managed to feed our family without the benefit of the Golden Arches and entertain ourselves without technology...to enjoy running around under the trees playing tag or statues or whatever else seized our imaginations . We waded in the little streams and watched for frogs or minnows , listened to the birds and really enjoyed the family time and the day... the chance to be together and just play . Songs were sung , tales were told and everyone there belonged . A collective sigh was heard as the time came to leave and again take up the threads of daily life . We had created something wonderful and timeless...good memories ! Those memories , tucked away for all those years , drift up unexpectedly...as fresh and lively as ever . Can't you still feel that sun warm on your face ?
Smell the crisp , clean air and faint bit of pine ? Hear the wind rustling in the trees , the birds' cheery calls and the dear voices of those long gone ?
As I sit here , hearing the wind howl outside and viewing the season's first snow flurries ( the Summer Girl is not amused !) , I'm so grateful for that connection to the past . For those of you with little ones , I encourage you to sweep them up , unencumbered by the modern things that surround us , and go make some memories of your own...go out and be delighted together !
Let me know how it turned out...


2 comments:

  1. Annie8:35 PM

    It's snowing? Who knew. Sticks head outside.

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  2. Anonymous10:36 PM

    Hi Katy,
    You really took me down memory lane with this one.
    Our roadside parks were often in Kentucky on the way to see our gramma's in the mountains of Tennessee. There was the old picnic table and there was always the watermelon Dad had stopped earlier for. He would always stop at a roadside fruit stand and pick one up usually without us knowing about it and slip it into the cooler in the trunk. In the deep resources of my mind, I think some of the watermelons sold were already on ice in some old galvanized bin. While we would be busy eating a peach, or a plum or something equally as yummy as that. Back in the car we went..and traveled some more. Then there it was! The roadside area with the old picnic table. Always, there was a water spout coming out of the mountain side where we could scoop up handfuls of the ice cold water and have a nice drink. Often we could run up part of the mountains on the little paths behind the trees and exercise our car weary legs. I can still smell the leaves and the pine trees.
    You bet I can still hear the dear voices of those long gone.
    Thank you for the memories !

    p.s. my blog is really not at all what I want it to be right now. I am considering starting something completely different.

    I hope you have the most wonderful Holidays ! Bless you, you are a dear one ! ♥

    {{{huggs Sandy }}}

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