Vendor Writing

Cattle Call

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

My regular readers are familiar with the stories about my Pop - how he ran a pool room for years in the small town of Ashland City, Tn. a popular hangout for young and old alike, since there wasn’t much to do in such a small town back then.

He was also a hard working farmer who also tended the neighbors cattle, (that’s why he had a milking stool made for me), and when he was fulfilling those duties you could often find me right by his side.

Until I came along, I heard he wasn’t very tolerant of children. He was often perceived as cold and distant, but that was not the case when it came to me.

Born 2 and 1/2 months premature, weighing only 3 pounds 9 and 1/2 ounces, (which today with all the medical advances wouldn’t be a big deal, but back then, those babies usually didn’t make it.)

For that reason, my Pop referred to me as his ‘miracle baby’, as such it was as if I could do no wrong in his eyes.

To give you an example, once I was sitting in the kitchen as my grandma who was busily going about her daily routine.

Meanwhile, I was messing with an antique bowl full of loose change sitting on the counter nearby.

My mom seeing what I was up to kept telling me to STOP! I didn’t listen. What happened next should come as no surprise.

The bowl fell to the floor and shattered into a million pieces, sending change rolling in every conceivable direction. Before my mom could give me the spanking I deserved, my Pop intervened saying ‘don’t you dare lay a hand on that baby, she didn’t mean to do it, it was an accident!’ That was true, but still, that being said, there were a few times when I even tested his boundaries.

As I said before, you could often find me by his side as he went about his daily chores.

On one occasion I attempted to call ALL the cattle up to the fence. I’d seen my Pop do it countless times but I was told they’d only come for their caretaker. I thought to myself, we’ll just see about that! So I went to the pasture and began calling, "Come on everybody, Come on," waving my arms as I’d seen him do SO many times before-and what do ya know, ALL the cows came to the fence in no time at all! I was SO excited! I rushed into the house to get my Pop and show him what I’d done. When he saw what I did he wasn’t excited or proud AT ALL. Instead he was, well, I don't exactly know how describe it. He was exasperated or frustrated - I'd never seen him look or act that way before.

He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, a man of few words all he said was, "youngin’ I sure do wish you hadn’t done this, now they (the cattle) expect to be moved to another pasture," (one much farther from the house). Oops! I guess I hadn’t paid much attention to what came AFTER he called the cows up.

It WAS NOT my intention to put even more work on the man I loved and respected SO much, and yet that’s EXACTLY what I did!

Well, you can rest assured I NEVER did that again, though I’m sure I did other things that increased his workload exponentially, but he never complained, he loved me just the same!

Is it Summer Yet?

BY JUNE P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

My two best friends. You know them. Ms. Cheesy and Mr. Cheedar want it to be summer now. They say they're sick of the cold snow, the rain. One day its in the 80s and the next day is 50s or 60s. No wonder we all feel sick, down, depressed and lower. Ms Cheesy said we all need some Vitamin D in the sunshine.

I know I feel better getting to go out and not being stuck inside all day or sometimes two or three days.

My friends want to come to work with me. I think the staff here would like that. Oh, there are a few down there that would enjoy the play.

Well, I had a friend that was going to take me to see my great mema. In her special little box at her grave. But, my friend fell Saturday night. She is still in the hospital. They told her she had two strokes. Not good at all.

Please say some special prayers for her. She was running herself crazy taking care of her husband. They are waiting on him to pass. Now her. But please pray for her. And him. Her name is Sharon and his name is Jerry. Thank you so much. I'll finish my story in another issue. Have a Bless Day everyone!