Summertime Moments {Blogger of the Month}

By Miss July 2014, Dorothy Johnson

Remember When

I grew up in a great neighborhood in a time when we enjoyed a freedom that today’s kids will never experience. Occasionally, the flicker of lightning bugs, clatter of cicadas or unmistakable smell of honeysuckle transports me back to those early years. It happened recently, inspiring me to try to capture such a day in verse.

neighborhood collage summertime

Summertime Moments

 Shifting shadows and a cicada chorus stir

Up recollections of early years before

Mom worked and being out of school

Meant sleeping late and

Eating buttered toast at the end of the kitchen, then

Rocketing outside barefoot to play

Til Noon when we’d straggle back

In for bacon and tomato sandwiches on white bread, slathered with

Miracle Whip, not mayonnaise, because Daddy liked it better.

Even now I can taste that juicy-tangy-savory staple.

 

Mostly we ran in a pack, that is, until the

Ornery boys sped off on their bikes, leaving Judy and

Me to hunt for 4-leaf clovers, or play jacks—all the while, steeping in

Envy of their freedom because they were bigger, but

Not too big to later play Mama, May I? and Swing the Statue until

Twilight when we chased fireflies across the lawn.

Such are the thoughts that drift in on honeysuckle breezes.

HoneysuckleCourtesy of Debbie Hoofman

This is my last post as Miss July. Being featured in this spot has been the highlight of my summer. I’m grateful to everyone who took the time to read my posts. I also want to say thank you to the women who connect us with one another and new writing opportunities. Thank you for all the time you devote to the Arkansas Women Bloggers’ website and for the way you continually coach and encourage us. You Are Awesome!

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the AWB University in September!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

10 comments

  1. Debbie says:

    I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts. This one, especially, brought back lots of sweet, summer memories for me. See you in September:)

  2. Jane Gatewood says:

    Creative to the Max and Nostalgic squared!
    One might think we grew up in the same neighborhood. Such is the magic of small town Arkansas, whatever end of the state.
    You are a beautiful Miss July

  3. Rita Dortch says:

    I enjoyed this so much. I have a picture almost the same with an old truck back in 1948/49. Life was sure different back then– some good things /some bad things. Life really is fully of changes. You place a special sweetness on the things I’ve read.

  4. Grace J says:

    Reminds me of so many things in my childhood. Making chains of clover, tying poor June bugs on a string, playing Red Rover or Tug of War. lying on the grass and looking up at the stars, taking shower baths in the rain, knowing not to dare throw our ball into the yard of the neighbor or walk on her grass, making paint from clay,and ink from Elder berries. Your poem was great too.

  5. Gene Barnett says:

    Hi Dorothy, this takes me back to the wonderful years we had as children growing up in Searcy. What a good time we had and by todays standard we had “Nothing” but, we had caring parents and love abound and too many friends to mention. Thanks for sharing your post with us.

    geno

  6. Ramona Riddle says:

    Dorothy, you nailed it. This was life in small town America. What a period of time to grow up in! Brought back so many memories of wonderful times! Thank you !

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