I have this memory from when I was four, maybe five. We were getting ready to leave, and my dad was carrying me out to the car. As we stepped onto the front porch, there were icicles hanging from the overhang. He stopped at the top of the steps, reached up, and broke one off just for me.

I was thrilled. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world—eating an icicle straight from the front porch.

It’s funny how something so small, something so ordinary, can stay with you forever. Tonight, when I walked outside and saw icicles hanging from just about everything, that memory came rushing back.

It made me sad. But it also made me smile.

When we grew up in the 50’s, Table Rock was a lonely back woods area.  Our nearest neighbors were Mancel, Tincy, Junior, Claudette and Robert - and the Meece’s.  I remember cold mornings waiting for the bus together on Hickory Hollow Road where we often built a fire.  All of us drove school buses in those days when we were old enough.  I moved away after high school, but Mother would tell me news about Junior and occasionally he helped her with things after my Dad passed.  She was very fond of him.  A lot of time slipped by and I regret that I only talked to Junior a hand full of times over the years.  He always seemed like the guy I knew growing up and happy to talk. He was a good friend to me when we were youngsters and I’m sorry for your loss.  

Regards,

Lee Chastain