Editor’s Corner: “A country girl at heart”

By SANDRA BRAND

Town Courier Editor

Welcome to Springtime in the Delta... especially Mississippi County!

I am a country girl at heart. I love the simple things... especially in the Spring. I love long walks in the woods or old forgotten cemeteries; roasting marshmallows on an open campfire; picnicking in a field of daffodils; sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River just watching the barges go by; four-wheeling down an old dirt road; and eating fresh tomatoes right out of the garden.

Fresh baked apple pies cooling on the window sill... newly laundered sheets blowing in the wind on the clothesline in the back yard... soft music coming from the radio on the back porch... I can close my eyes and see everything clearly; I can feel it with my heart... my childhood in Arkansas.

Among my greatest memories are rainy days. I didn’t sit in the house and listen to the rain drops on the tin roof. I ran full blast into the rain, turned my face toward the sky and stretched my arms wide... I would jump in the mud puddles with both feet, splashing the water in every direction. And yes, I would end up falling face first, giggling so much my mom would come running. She never stopped me. She would just shake her head and tell me to “leave your clothes on the porch when you come in.”

I vividly remember the day my dad taught me how to fish when I was barely able to walk. Dad, mom and I took an old green Johnny boat out on the Black River. The wildflowers were weaving their magic along the banks. The scent of wild roses was lingering in the air. When a fish got on my line, I was so excited I almost fell out of the boat. Dad grabbed ahold of me and reeled me and the fish in.

I remember spending hours searching for four leaf clovers to bring me luck and dreaming about my future husband as I blew on the dandelions. I would make necklaces for my mom by tying together the white clover flowers. And, I would often spread a homemade quilt on the front lawn... laying for hours in the cool breeze reading my favorite books.

The kiss of my childhood... beautiful memories.

It was actually early Spring (mid March) at Lake Charles when I first learned to swim. There was a diving dock a fair distance beyond the swimming ropes. I was always begging to go to the dock with my older siblings. Then one day, when I was four, one of my brothers let me ride to the dock on his back... even though none of us were supposed to be in the water.

When mom called everyone to dinner, they all left me. Dad came looking for his baby girl. I was sitting all alone... on the verge of tears... freezing. Even today, I can hear my dad say, “You wanted to come out here, now swim back.” He then picked me up and tossed me into the deep waters. I miraculously kicked my way to the top and began to dog paddle as fast as I could.

When I arrived at the shore, I looked up to see where my dad was. He was where he had been the entire time, by my side. I’ve been back to that dock hundreds of times... and with each stroke, I hear my dad’s voice. I lost him when I was 26.

From that moment on... as soon as the temperatures begin to warm up and the flowers begin to bloom, I’m ready to find a swimming hole.

So, come join me... Dare to shake off the cobwebs of winter and walk barefoot on a fresh bed of new grass in the early morning dew... or maybe take an afternoon dip in the blue waters of your favorite swimming hole.