Patsy Kirksey Ross
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10-23-13 More memories of the corn field.

10/23/2013

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Yesterday my long-time friend, Carolyn called me to let me know how much she enjoyed reading my book, High Cotton.  She said it brought back memories of when she was a little girl.  She said she played the same games that Gayle and I played, like building 'frog houses' in the damp sand.  She asked if we ever played 'dolls' with the ears of corn growing in the corn field.  Of course we did, but I had forgotten all about that when I tried to remember  all the games Gayle and I played while writing my book. We picked many regal beauties from the corn stalks, some with beautiful, blond, silky hair and many with red curls.   Surprisingly, Daddy and Mamma never scolded us for gathering our little 'dolls' while they were still green on the stalk of corn.  Gayle and I spent many hours playing with those little 'dolls'.

Carolyn  started telling me that she and her husband had to have their beloved little dog put to sleep last week.  She began to cry as she tried to tell me this.  I had seen her little dog recently and had no idea anything was wrong.  It was a little 'mutt' that they had rescued from the animal shelter a few years ago.  It had little matted curls like a poodle and he whined to sit in Carolyn's lap before she gladly held him as we visited.
  Having lost a beloved cat, 'Sweetie Pie' a few years ago, I can sympathize with Carolyn and her husband.  We get attached to our pets and it is hard when they pass away.  They are like family to us.  I still think about Sweetie Pie and she has been gone almost five years.  We had her with us for eleven years.  She was family.
My husband made a little 'sympathy card'  to mail to Carolyn, like my vet. Dr. Forrest sent to me when Sweetie Pie passed away.  Everyone in his office signed it.  It had pictures of little cats and dogs on it and it meant a great deal  to me to receive it at that time.   I thought it was so thoughtful.  I hope Carolyn's card will help to cheer her.
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John Deere

10/15/2013

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Mamma was wearing her bonnet and daddy was wearing his hard-shell hat as they stripped the dry ears of corn from the stalks.  The John Deere tractor was “put-putting” loudly, almost drowning daddy’s voice when he yelled to Pat to push the clutch lever forward to slowly move the tractor and wagon.  Pat obeyed, with all the confidence of a five-year-old.  When daddy yelled “Whoa!” she pulled the lever back and the tractor stopped.  She was beaming as she watched ears of dried corn being tossed into the wagon.  She felt so grown-up.  She was helping gather corn by driving the tractor!  Her older sister, Gayle, didn’t want to drive it.  She was nineteen months older than Pat, but she had rather pull the ears off the stalks and toss them into the wagon.

Pat’s attention began to wane.  She watched a black and yellow butterfly fluttering from stalk to stalk.  It came to land on mamma’s dress and Pat knew that meant mamma would get a new dress, because she had told Pat so.

Sweat began to trickle from Pat’s bangs down to her cheek.  It tickled and she rubbed it off with her hand, leaving a dirty smudge.

Daddy was calling out for her to move the wagon forward again, bringing her mind back to the present.  Driving the tractor was fun, but she was getting distracted.  Her stomach began to rumble and she thought of mamma cooking dinner.  How could mamma cook dinner if she was gathering corn?

After a few more minutes daddy climbed up on the tractor and slid onto the seat, pulling Pat onto his lap.  Mamma and Gayle were climbing into the wagon.

“You did a dandy job, Gal,” daddy said grinning.  “ When you  get a little older, you can ride on here and sew vetch seed for me, while I drive.  You can be the ‘ little boy’ I never had.”

“I ain’t no BOY, Daddy!” Pat chided. 

Daddy chuckled, “Just my ‘tom boy', Pat.  Just my ‘tom boy'.” Daddy guided the tractor and wagon under the shed and stopped, shutting off the motor.  Mamma and Gayle were climbing out of the wagon. 

“You and Gayle go help your mamma fix dinner.  After we eat and rest a while, we’ll shuck and shell some of the corn,” daddy said.

In the kitchen mamma began to peel red potatoes to fry.  A pot of purple hull peas already sat on the stove.  Mamma had cooked them earlier while she was cooking breakfast.

After washing their face and hands Gayle set the table while Pat got out the bowl for mixing cornbread.  When mamma had the potatoes frying she mixed the cornmeal and buttermilk while Pat brought her an egg for the batter.  Having an iron skillet heating with grease, Mamma poured the batter in.  Pat heard the sizzling sound that she loved.  Next, mamma cut thick slices of salt pork to fry and Gayle laid them in another skillet.  A tantalizing aroma filled the kitchen, making Pat’s mouth water.  Dinner was almost ready.  Pat hoped that she didn’t have to take a nap afterwards.

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    Patsy Kirksey Ross 
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