Days of old drift back to me on wings of golden memories, taking me back to old times, happy times and family times, as the love of family runs deep in my veins and deeper in my heart…
Treasured memories of childhood hold fast and true, as the sounds of innocence play softly in my mind…sounds of silly giggling and little legs running to hide on a warm country night, as we played hide and go seek…”Olly Olly Oxen Free.”
Growing up I had cousins by the dozens and lots of Aunts and Uncles….the above photo was taken on my 3rd birthday here at the house. My Grandma is sitting on the red sofa next to my Uncle Ron and Uncle Rich is sitting in the red chair that was my Dad’s…and to the right of the photo you can see the skirts of my aunts…you can’t see me as I’m surrounded by cousins…I have the short hair with the striped dress sitting on the floor.
Dad had six brothers counting him and three sisters making Dad’s immediate family a family of 11 and they all lived in this area. As a family tradition, we got together for Thanksgiving and again for Christmas Eve, it was always a very large gathering of around 60 plus family members, with Aunts, Uncles and their spouses and lots of cousins. It was an incredible gift to be part of a huge family as I grew up…as family was very important. Being an only child I was on cloud nine each time we got together for the holidays or for my cousins birthdays…those were the best years of our lives!
My Dad is standing on the left side with the cowboy hat on and his five brothers…two nephews sitting in the middle in front and two young nephews standing with their Dad on the right side of the photo taken here about 1960.
When I began grade school in our very small town, 8 miles from our house, there was one of my cousins in each grade from 1-12. I loved it as my older cousins were plowing the path for us to follow along! It was incredible to experience that…if one of us got hurt or upset we could run to find one of our cousins for childhood support! Our school was lucky to have a 100 kids enrolled in 12 grades. Most classes were under 10 kids. FYI, I was thrilled when Mom finally told me I could grow my hair out if I took care of it and I did and still do:)
As we cousins grew up, went to college and got married, we began a new chapter that was very foreign to us. In the last few years, we have buried our parents together. It’s hard at times to fathom that we are now the older family members and yet…we still feel like that same group of cousins, laughing and calling out “Olly Olly Oxen Free”…young at heart…life was good…we had each other and we had our parents and we had lots of Uncles and Aunts to tease us and keep us in line. The picture above is only half of my cousins!
The last week has been bittersweet as we lost a family member who was very much loved. He was my oldest cousin, but because of the age difference, we called him our Uncle Gerald. He was always in a good mood and had a smile for everyone…if you showed up in his shop he would offer you a meal and something to drink…he loved his family and he worked hard his entire life. He was always there with a smile and a wave as he drove by…I will miss him.
The picture above is at cow camp in the old log cabin. My Mom always cooked up a storm…using a wood cook stove, with no running water and no electricity…she was amazing! Gerald is sitting with his back to the picture, my Dad is pouring us lemonade and Gerald’s son Jerry is sitting next to my Dad and cousin Matt is sitting next to me and yes…that is me with the dorky glasses and pixie haircut!.
In remembrance of my Uncle Gerald…the picture above says it all…he was a good husband, a good father and a super grandfather and friend to many…and the best Uncle/Cousin you could have. He will be remembered for the caring love he had for his family and for others…and the great sense of fun he had in life…he lived his life fully with honor and with the simple love of family.
Time passes by and before you know it those whom you love are gone. Wherever you are…reach out to your family and to those that you love…as time gets shorter each year and before you know it, time passes by…Kathy Mattea sang the song below…it is one of my favorites and so very true.
Dreams drift away like leaves on the water
They roll down the river and slip out of sight
Too many times we do what we ought
Put off ’til tomorrow what we’d really rather do tonight
And later realize
Time passes by, people pass on
At the drop of a tear, they’re gone
Let’s do what we dare, do what we like
And love while we’re here before time passes by
Thoughts are like pennies we keep in our pockets
They’re never worth nothing ’til we give them away
But love’s like a promise in an un-opened letter
Where nights full of pleasure seldom see the light of day
When life gets in the way
Time passes by, people pass on
At the drop of a tear, they’re gone
Let’s do what we dare, do what we like
And love while we’re here before time passes by
Time passes by, people pass on
At the drop of a tear, they’re gone
Let’s do what we dare, do what we like
And love while we’re here before time passes by
Have a wonderful week with a bit of whacky….as the whacky will keep life interesting! HRCG over and out for now but not for long!
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Feb 07, 2014 @ 09:55:26
Thank you HRCG! I pride myself on being a good person & a compassionate one too!!! If I am 1/10th like my Nanna I am good 😉
Have a lovely weekend.
Sherri-Ellen & Nylablue xxx
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Feb 07, 2014 @ 10:29:12
Hugs:)
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Jan 28, 2014 @ 17:23:33
How great to have such a large and cohesive family! Are you an only child, just curious? Having all the cousins and aunts and uncles around must have been the best. My entire family is from Colorado, and I was the only child to be born in California, and raised far away from the rest. Thus, I don’t have much connection with anyone anymore at all, except my mom, dad, and sister. Love the old pics; they are so wonderful! XOXO-Kasey
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Jan 28, 2014 @ 18:33:23
It was an incredible way to grow up. I was an only child so it was me and my parents….and my horse:) I didn’t always get to see my cousins as we lived with the cattle in the mountains during the summers and my cousins lived down here as their Dad’s farmed our wheat fields while my Dad took care of the cattle part. Christmas Eve was always fun as we all got together in town at my Aunts house, she took over having the dinner etc. after my Grandma passed away…my Aunt was the oldest girl and she took that seriously to continue on with tradition and I am so happy she did that:) Thanksgiving was rotational between my Mom and my three Aunts who used to live out here…and it was always fun too. As we all grew up in the last 15 years now we have lost our parents and that has been hard. Sounds bad but we cousins seem to only see each other now when something bad has happened…most of my cousins live away from the ranch now with their own families etc. I’m the only girl cousin still here and I have three male cousins here too…only one is married.I’m glad that you have that family connection with your parents and sister….that is the most important one overall:) Big Hugs!
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Jan 29, 2014 @ 10:02:28
Wow. How wonderful! It does sound like the best childhood; such a way to grow up. I’ve been thinking so, so much lately about the world today…the media sensationalism, our kids growing up too fast….I’m so grateful that I, at least, live in a town now that is considered small by most standards, with a preserved downtown that has a family-style atmosphere. I’m so grateful that I’ve been mindful of giving Maycee opportunities to be a kid and stay a kid, that techno stuff doesn’t rule our lives, and is in fact, a minute part of it. That horses are a huge part of our life today, and they keep us grounded. We have a tiny little family between the two of us, but nonetheless, it is so important and worth nurturing and protecting! Keep sharing these wonderful stories and photos! I love them! XOXO-Kasey
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Jan 29, 2014 @ 10:48:37
It was a great way to grow up:) I’m glad that you are keeping the world out of Maycee’s life. I know that they probably have to work on computers at school but that is ok as you can set the boundaries with that too…and I agree that in this day and age, the world is not what it used to be even 20 years ago let alone 30-40 years ago. WB and I have seen things change here in this small community…for one thing all that live out here used to get together more and now I am lucky if I see any of my neighbors even once a year. Everyone seems to be so busy and always on the go…with all the tech stuff and what is on TV I am glad our kids are grown…can’t imagine how hard it is to build not only boundaries but keeping the evil out. We have satellite and our TV is large but I do not care for TV so my hubby will watch the History channel or discovery and I like them, only “if” there is something good on…for the most part I can take it or leave it. Growing up I was always outside either on my horse or exploring…was never a TV kid or house kid either. Sending hugs and prayers your way:)
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Jan 28, 2014 @ 06:01:38
Sad to say that I have no treasured memories of childhood. My treasured memories didn’t start until college.
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Jan 28, 2014 @ 17:09:16
I am glad they began in college and I am sorry for not having good ones in childhood…that would be hard.
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Jan 28, 2014 @ 03:24:34
Sorry to read about your cousin 😦 huge hugs xxx
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Jan 28, 2014 @ 17:08:01
Thank you:) He was a very special man and was loved by all.
Hugs and Kitty Loves:)
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 10:41:48
The older generation is almost gone in my family … so many faces from childhood. I still remember thaem as they were when I was a child. Young.
That picture of you when you were little — I think I had those same eyeglasses 🙂
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 16:45:12
I know….it kind of hits you in the face…one day you are 30 and have lots of family around and then next it is just you. I have great memories growing up with my cousins and family here but we do nto see each other much now…everyone has family living else where so on holidays etc. we all go different directions..I am the only girl cousin still living here…so it is different now…and the holidays usually are WB and me along with Minnie, Ellie and dogs and horses:) I know those glasses were the deal back then….I had a few different colors before I outgrew them:)
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 16:50:57
We ARE the older generation now and that feels pretty strange. I’m not sure when it happened. Sort of crept up on us. Garry is the senior member of his family and I’m the senior of mine, since my brother died.
I think there wasn’t such a big choice of frames for kids back when we were growing up. I think I had the same eyeglasses right through high school … until college when wire frames became available (again).
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 16:53:18
Yeah and it is weird to realize that…I am still getting it through my head that yeah we are older now and we are my parents age when I thought they were old….but….we are still young in our hearts and spirit:)
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 17:04:56
I think we just defined cognitive dissonance 🙂
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 18:48:48
🙂
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Jan 27, 2014 @ 08:54:47
Another lovely “looking back” post – great photos and fun times with family. I didn’t have a large family – and it actually now consists of six people. Never had bunches of aunts, uncles, cousins – no grandparents……so I read posts like this and wonder what it would be like to have SO much to share with SO many. My friends are my family – maybe that’s my “extended” family! I’m always happy to read posts like yours though…..and guess what – those glasses you have on (the cats eye ones) are JUST LIKE ones I had….mine were pink metal frames…..!! I’m so sorry for your loss of a Cousin…..I’m sure you’ll see him in the clouds Marcey……
Hugs, Pam
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Jan 26, 2014 @ 21:52:05
This was a brilliant post… yes all to often we lose contact with family members and in today’s world almost forget them … the way of life and the easy of relocation have blown families far and wide… such a pity we don’t still experience those days of our youth…
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Jan 26, 2014 @ 22:25:37
Thank you much:) I agree as it is easy to loose touch which with all the modern technology we have….you wonder why…and back in the old days we had party lines and somehow stayed in touch better. I think part of it is due to the ease of travel and people just kind of do their own thing anymore. I have seen it even here in the middle of no where country. I am thankful that my cousins do stay in touch…and we still have the connection…not sure if it will carry on after we are all gone.
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Jan 26, 2014 @ 18:17:08
The Heavens! Very nice image.
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Jan 26, 2014 @ 19:12:32
Thank you:)
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