A True Inspiration
Sit back and let me tell you a little story about growing up in the hills of Missouri. It is a special story about a special lady that was important for helping build my character and my positive outlook on life.
You see in my early years I didn’t only get orders from my Mom but had to answer to all my Aunts to. These were strong willed god-fearing women that never took no for an answer, and if you said no you had better have a good reason. If your daily antics required discipline, the rod was never spared because they had a lot of experience at that too. This was true of all the kids in our family. It was just a way of life. You had to answer to all the adults. Knowing all the tricks that had been pulled on them years before made the Youngblood women very wise and smart.
One of my favorite people was my Aunt Lora Dean. Now she lived just down the road from where I lived so she knew me and my childish ways quite well. I loved to visit her and my uncle Clarence. It was so much fun to spend time with them. He was always telling me a funny story in a very low voice hoping she would not hear. It was usually about something that he had pulled on her the day before. She was busy preparing a dish on the stove waiting for company that hadn’t arrived yet pretending not to pay attention and trying her best to ignore what he had to say. Every once in a while too much loud laughter would get us into trouble.
In those days if you visited anyone, the first thing on the agenda was you had to eat. If you didn’t, you would hurt someone’s feelings. I remember one time when she invited me and my wife Judy to dinner. Now I had made the mistake of stopping at another friends house first and of course they had to feed me. When I got to her house, I pretended to be hungry and tried to eat. I was so full from the previous stop. It was hard for me to eat what she had cooked. Of course I tried to fool her and should have known better, It had never worked in the past but I thought that it might just work this time. She knew what I had done right a way and looked me right in the eye and said, young man you ate before you got here. I got a good scolding for trying that. I still laugh about that today.
She was kind of a pioneer in the Neighborhood where I lived. Having been a teacher in the early years of her life at the little Ridgedale School. She taught many of the local people that were our family and friends. That is where I first started to school. Although life was hard at Ridgedale we were a close family. Every weekend we would all get together and have a big reunion at my Grandpa and Grandma’s house. It was always fun to listen to the tall tales everyone would tell. There were lots of laughter and many good things to eat. She was an excellent cook. The highlight of the party was making homemade ice cream.
One of the things I remember was whenever I had a problem I could always go to her for advice. As a matter of fact I got her advice if I wanted it or not. When she looked at me, I knew I had better tell the truth because she would know if I was telling her a lie. I still cherish the time I got to spend with her and my uncle Clarence. She always made time for me which made me feel important.
When I come home, I still like to drive up the old highway, to the house that sits across the road from the little church that is nestled in the trees. I still see the old wooden barrels at the end of the driveway half buried in the ground filled with cold water where uncle Clarence would put his cans in after milking his cows to keep the fresh milk cool, waiting for the truck to pick up and take to the plant in town. I look at the big picture window and sure enough there Aunt Lora Dean stands with her apron on, busy cooking something good and waiting for family or friends to drop in. I want to pull up in the driveway, walk in and give her a big hug. I don’t even have to knock because the door is always open to me. The old cellar that I love to go in that was used to store vegetables and fresh meat is still there. I have to keep reminding myself.
She doesn’t live here anymore. She had to move to town a long time ago for health reasons, but I still like to dream and pretend. She is such an inspiration to me and the highlight of my day is to hear her voice on the phone. I try and go home as often as I can.
Some kind of a strange force always seems to guide me up the hill to that little house where she now lives. There she sits in that old rocking chair with that same smile she has had for years that I have come to cherish. What a life she has experienced. It’s such a privilege for me to have lived in an era with her and my Uncle Clarence. Isn’t it great to be able to reminisce about the good times with special people that you love?
Aunt Lora Dean through your wisdom and understanding you has affected not only me but many people. You are my inspiration. My family all loves you very much and want you to know just how special you are. May your days be long, may your years be many, and may your body be free of pain and suffering. I will continue to honor and love you for the rest of my life.
God Bless You.
Your Nephew
Max
