Ramblings of a "good girl" of days long gone

Two things that Mom told me about when I was a baby were:
1) I Always had my foot in my mouth when in the crib (imagine that)
2) I always screamed when put in the church nursery

I grew up in church and learn to love it. I was at church every time the doors opened. Sunday school, G.A's,
Training Union (night church) and even the choir even though I could not sing. I was afraid of Mr. Red and if he caught me trying to leave church on Wednesday night before choir practice, I ended up in the choir loft.  I was always preacher's pet and teacher's pet in church and school. I loved school and could not wait for the first day of school.  I lived next to the school . So, every year before school started, I would go meet and help my new teacher and visit with my old teachers. The only negative remark on my report cards would be,"she sure likes to talk." Really?

I had one preacher when I was a preteen that had me condemned even though I was always there,  even on Saturday nights for Youth Rally's   and was a good girl.  He had three reasons.
1) I wore my skirts too short
2) I like to square dance
3) I worked in Tobacco

This kind of confused me.  After all I was a little bitty thing and was not showing anything inappropriate. Square dancing was a safe environment where no smoking, cursing or drinking was allowed.  My  big brothers  were always there and  kept an eye on us.  Mom and Daddy felt safe  about letting us go. And working in tobacco was a country girls way to make money in the summer that would last all year. For Mom and Dad, with six kids, it was free baby sitting and kept us out of trouble. We were at the Herring family farm and we had a blast.  Four girls and about a dozen boys working and playing together. It was hard work and very hot.  Lunch meant a touch football game or water fights.  After noon snacks were water melon or on rare occasions, Mr H would come out in his truck with soft drinks and snacks for all of us.

Mom was a bookkeeper and a smart teacher/Mom.  She kept a note pad in a drawer with our names at the top of the page.  She put all our money in the credit union where she worked.  If we wanted money for activities such as the movies or skating, it came off our column. When made money babysitting or in my brother's case catching chickens at night, it would be added back into our column.  No fighting or fussing or begging for money.  We could see our column and our money had to last all year.  That included our one week vacation to Dekle beach with pin ball machines and candy/ice cream store.

We had such a great childhood with plenty of play mates right at home.  We did not realize that money was tight.  Neighbor kids were always in the front yard playing stick ball, foot ball, croquet and other games including hidden forts in bushes and space ships in trees. We could walk any where we wanted and play on school play ground  or the bowl (a sink hoe ) and walk to town with out any worries.  We could also walk to the soft ball field for games all summer.  We came inside when it was time to eat.   After school T.V. was Flintstones, Little house on the Prairie, That Girl , Walton's,  I dream of Jennie, Flipper and such. There was always a board game going somewhere in the house.  Chess, checkers, Chinese checkers (mom's favorite) and if Daddy was playing penny poker. We all had a jar of money with our name on it that stayed near the table.  If I lost as much as 50 cents, it was time to go to bed. Monopoly  sometimes lasted for days with board staying on the table for days.

I know that I sound like an old fuddy -duddy, but I wish kids today still had some of these advantages of not
 being so advantaged with  so many toys and gadget  and  organized teams. With time just to play and stay innocent a little longer.   My Daddy has been gone a very long time and would be shocked by most of what is on T.V. today.

Family is important and time is one of the most important gifts that we have been given  and that we have to give.   Ramblings of a good girl of days long gone  that is turning into a pretty good old girl.