Birthday Trip....Part 1

Beings Madge's birthday fell on a Tuesday, Saturday the 26 was the day of adventure...adventure it was! To start off things, Madge invited her 2 best friends, Beth & Carly along for the "birthday girls day out". My "home skillet biscuit" (new words learned from girls) Barbie was our tour guide and chauffeur....I was the photographer. Madge decided that she would like to go to Natchez and see a home or 2 after hearing Barbie talk about them...I myself was interested too. That morning we left around 8:30 and headed out....the girls in their best "tourist" attire....

they also had red hair that slipped in their pony tails . Luckily Barbie and I got away with just wearing the tie....yes, we also had a tie!

We entered the home "Longwood" first. The girls were in awe of the size of the house and old trees with moss.

We were right on time for the first tour to begin. The girls listened to every word the tour guide said. They loved the "shoo fly" fan above the dining room table. They also noticed in the middle of the house, in the ceiling were 5 or 6 round glass type circles....and they could see peoples shoes ever so often. As we went to the next floor they were shocked to see the circles they saw on the ceiling were now on the floor in which they were standing. In exiting the house the girls asked the tour guide what the outer brick perimeter was....and was told it was a dry mote where the air could circulate around the house. The girls rushed down there to check it out.

Shortly I heard a few shrills coming from there and calling for me. We headed their way. The excitement was "this door has a GLASS DOOR KNOB!!!! COME SEE!!!!" They were standing in front of the door as if to surprise us, like we've never seen one before : )

They found interesting things such as a tree growing from a stump.... the "GROSS!" outhouse... which we told them it was uptown because it was brick! They couldn't believe it. In walking around we found a shed with a carriage and other items inside. In walking between the main house and other buildings there were also some pretty trees, some with beautiful flowers and color as this calcumber tree.

The girls had seen a sign "Cemetery" as we entered the home sight, so guess where we walked before leaving? You got it! With the girls leading us astray...I mean leading the way

we headed down the path to the family plots. But as we walked along, I notice my "home skillet biscuit" was having a little alone time with the little seedlings of the forest.

At the cemetery we saw a few graves including this one of the 2 yr. old daughter....

of Haller Nutt...

It saddened the girls to know that a mother had lost her very young daughter. As they stood, very quietly looking, they questioned why might she have died. Barbie took this chance to explain how common death in babies/children were back then due to illness not known, or medical technology to take care of them. After a few moments we followed the path back to the driveway of the house.

By now we are feeling the pains of hunger pretty good so back to where we are parked.....

to head over to our next stop for lunch...

MAMMY'S!!!

Here you can see the great looking ties the whole crew is wearing! This sort of looks like a duck and her little ducklings : )

We had a very full day, so this is not the end of our trip, but the end of my night.

As I thought back about touring "Longwood", how the young enjoyed every minute of the old....how the majestic trees standing tall, with a little slouch in their stature, as we do when we age, and the moss hanging from it's branches, just like the gray hair that hangs where our brown/blonde/red hair use to be....how we learned the history of another generation with words but felt it's presence in vision. Our elderly are the same way. You can look and see the history in their eyes, their body, but you won't know the true story that lies within unless you go to them, walk with them and hear the words they have to share. We may just learn a thing or two.

Proverbs 6:20-23...My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way of life...

Study note explains it this way: It is natural and good for children , as they grow toward adulthood, to become increasingly independent of their parents, Young adults, however, should take care not to turn a deaf ear to their parents---to reject their advice just when it is needed most. If you are struggling with a decision or looking for insight, check with your parents or other older adults who know you well. Their extra years of experience may have given them the wisdom you seek.

Let's remember that even tho the houses (body) may look a bit run down and the moss (gray hair) is hanging off of baring branches...there is LOTS of history (wisdom) if we just take a day to go visit and listen to the tour guide (our elderly).

Have a HISTORY building day!

God bless you....