Decoration Day




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" April 1, 2004 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com. Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart." You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. All new subscribers will receive a free downloadable copy of the e-cookbook, "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover." To join, send an e-mail with subscribe written in the subject line to: subscribe@write2theheart.com. Do you have a heart-touching or inspiring story to share? Send it in the body of a plain email, no graphic or colorful backgrounds please. Write 'submission' in the subject line. Don't forget to write a brief bio to introduce yourself to our readers. You may include your family friendly websites, information on your books, newsletters, and upcoming projects. Email to: moderator@write2theheart.com. We always love to hear stories from new, first time writers. From now until the end of June, I have a writer's appreciation gift of a bookmark and pin. There is a limit of three per author. Many of you may remember Laura’s previous story, A Daughter’s Story, which can be found in Write 2 the Hearts archive. Once again she offers fascinating glimpses of her youth and her family history. Decoration Day By Laura Lowe As citizens of the southeastern United States, we have the wonderful opportunity to experience all four seasons. It is obvious that the seasons have always inspired human kind as evidenced by the myriad of artistic expressions down through the ages. The Baroque composition by Vivaldi entitled "The Seasons" is just one example of a musical salute. Other expressions are in poetry, paintings, and breathtaking photography. Personally, spring is my favorite season. Being raised on a farm, my experiences with all the seasons are intimate. My birth month is March so the celebration of my birth and the land's renewal are delightfully intertwined. No other season offers such hope. Naturally this time of year stirs within many of us emotions of joy and sadness. It is a time of religious ceremony and exaltation in Easter and the Passover. It is a time of tragedy and triumph, an echoing of ancient ritual and a feeling of timeless connections. Keeping connections alive enables traditions to be passed from one generation to the next. One lovely tradition that has been lost to my family and others as well is the tradition of Decoration Day in the rural south. It was a day when the entire church community would gather to tend the local cemetery at our church, Oak Bowery, that was located in south central Alabama near a tiny hamlet called Fort Deposit. For rural folks who were mostly all farmers, each season had its traditions or rites. Decoration Day was a rite of Spring that everyone eagerly anticipated. Decoration Day usually dawned bright and dry. If it was raining or threatening rain, there was no need to journey back into the cemetery. The road was and still is dirt. When it rained on that dirt road, it became impassable for cars. We didn't have a car. Daddy would hitch up our two mules, Della and Frank, and we rode the wagon to the church ground. Of course the wagon would get mired in the mud too if it rained. Sometimes Momma would complain that those who consider the clouds never reap. I believe it was a reference to letting rain deter one from the task at hand, but I only remember days filled with sunshine on that special day. Momma and the other churchwomen would pack picnic lunches of fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, butter cakes, apple pies and gallons of tea for everyone. My family also supplied the flowering plants and bushes that the workers planted among the graves. My brother and I looked forward to Decoration Day because our daddy would tell us cemetery stories on that day. When he would take a break, he would take us on a tour of the graves and tell us stories about the people buried there. We always started at the graves of our paternal grand parents, Isaiah and Emma Roper. Isaiah Roper was born in 1850. He and Emma raised a huge family of which daddy was the youngest of thirteen. Grandfather owned his property and was evidently prosperous enough to hire additional laborers for the harvesting. Other stories were about the death of young twin girls. Their graves had cement slabs covering them. It was such a sad story of how the girls had been drowned in an overflowing creek when the wagon they were riding in overturned. The person who was driving the wagon had ventured into the swollen creek not realizing how treacherous the rushing waters were. As a child my imagination conjured up a church with two white coffins side by side and how the sounds of weeping must have frightened the forest animals in the nearby woods. There were many other stories and daddy told them all so well. Sitting in church on Sundays, my mind would wander to the graveyard and I would relive the stories. It was not too difficult for my mind to wander during services. My uncle was the pastor and he must have preached for hours. It was boring beyond words, but imagination and the ability to daydream was comforting and made it possible to endure the services. So this year, I once again revisit that old cemetery in my mind. Later this Spring I will travel down that same dirt road and visit the area. The cemetery is still there, but is horribly overgrown and neglected. There is no one to care for it any more, but their spirits are still there and for a few moments out of my busy urban life, I shall remember the people who all came to help tend the graves on Decoration Day. Laura Lowe llowe @ rivercenter.org My name is Laura Lowe. I am a free-lance writer who lives in Columbus, Georgia. I have been writing since I was a little girl. I write for Columbus and the Valley Magazine. I was most pleased with an article I did on the actress Ester Rolle in 1993. I was on staff at our Knight Ridder Newspaper from 1997-1998 as an editorial writer. I continue to publish free-lance. I am a poet who is a member of The Rivertown Poet Society and was their featured Poet recently. I work at a our new Performing Arts Center, RiverCenter, where I write press releases and edit the volunteer newsletter. You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com. Letters From Our Readers Cheryl, I enjoyed Janet Seever's descriptive encounter with the two strangers that supported her with prayer and encouraging words in her time of need. What an encouraging ending that her husband is still alive and well this very day. Thanks, Janet, for sharingyour story of God's comfort anddeliverance in your time of need. Annettee Budzban I read with interest the story of Comfort. What a wonderful testimony! I love to read story’s written by our missionaries. I know it is hard work and I admire anyone that answers the call. Carol Military Prayer Reminder As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Jonathan P. Wells Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Josh Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. Copyright © 2004, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.