No Lights, But Bright Coins And A Garden

I know this is a strange title, but it makes the point so well, if lived, as I did, and my young innocent children, and with my husband. Wonderful memories come with this title.

We were in Clarksville, Tn,  and had just been evicted (yes, we were poor and could not pay the rent) from our last resident. We had enough money to move to a new place, a house, but, we did not have the money to pay to connect for utilities. Our children were so young, and this concerned us, but I think their memories serve them well, and they will remember this story, as it was hard on us all, but exciting as well, for all of us, and we experienced  memories and  close family bonds.

Renee was 8, Cameron was 6 , and Crystal was 3. (Picture of them shows them at ages 10, 8 and 5) It was the summer of 1988. We moved to a small 3 bedroom white house, that sat on a small hill. At the top of the hill, once we parked our car, was a garden beside the driveway that feed us, and feed us so well. The prior occupants that left that house, had planted a huge garden, and left us with everything we needed to eat. (If they only knew) Cabbage, red and green, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, cantaloupes, green beans, peppers, watermelons, and so much more, to include trees that reached over from neighbors yards to give us fruits of pears and apples. We cooked out for nights, and held our children dear, and told them stories, and stories they explored, and in return, told us theirs.

I hope they remember some of this, as we do as parents that loved them so well. Our best friend, Earl, came by every day, and never needed a reason. But when he did, he always emptied his pockets of his small coins, and told the children he saw shinny coins and treasures in the back yard. Their eyes became so bright, and ran to find what he said he saw, and excited came in to show us the bright coins they found in the driveway. I will never forget their bright eyes, and needed smiles.

We all feel asleep each night in the same room upstairs by telling stories we made up. And now when I think of them, all the stories, were all so positive and exciting and full of imagination. We laughed and talked about the stories for days, with so much to remember. Our youngest, middle and oldest, had stories they made up and told. I wish I had kept a diary then, and recorded their innocent and thoughtful and exciting plots. No one was allowed to go to sleep until each told their story, and when the story was over from us all, we all slept so well.

We saved and found away to turn the lights on. And we all were excited in this. Yet, at the same time, sad. The bedtime stories seemed to stop.

We did not live very long at the little white house on the hill, before we moved on. Just long enough to enjoy the garden, and coins, and stories, and cookouts, but, with me and Jim, this is a most remarkable story to tell.

This is one of my most wonderful memories with our small children, and marriage so new to us. No electricity, thank God for summer, Earl throwing coins, garden feeding us, and the stories we all told on that little white house on the hill.

And life went on, with other stories to tell.

Katie

Sept. 4, 2005

Sept. 9th, 2005. I told my oldest daughter that I had written a story on this, and she was glad that I did, but wanted to point out to me that she remembered this time also, and was actually angry and mad (possibly sad) that Earl had emptied his pockets full of change that they all looked for, as they thought they really found treasures. I guess this it like telling them "There is really no such thing as Santa Clause." I do understand her feelings.