Beebe Remembered...no place like the home of my childhood.

In the movie, "Wizard of Oz," Dorothy clicked her heels together, closed her eyes and repeated, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home."  When I hear the word, home, my thoughts immedately return to the place of my childhood, Beebe, Arkansas, even though I have not lived there in over fifty years.

Beebe was a small town when I was growing up.  It has grown in population since then, but, at that time, there were less than 3,000 people living there. I have only fond memories of the many wonderful people who played a role during this stage of my life.  There are so many stories I could tell, but I want to save them for another time.  The story I want to tell has to do with the little church in this picture.

Anyone who frequented our home knew, without a doubt, that my mother's favorite color was blue.  (Ironically, she had the most beautiful clear blue eyes, also, so when she wore the color blue, they were the first thing about her that you noticed.)  Anyway, the majority of her clothes were blue, as was her jewelry, china patterns, bedspreads, towels, etc.  I think you get the picture.  In our home, the walls were all a very pale blue throughout.  However, the walls that are remembered by most would be the wood paneling in the kitchen.  

Our home was on College Street.  This street took you directly to the downtown area where you could go to my daddy's grocery store, Warren Brothers, Belew's Cleaners, Olmstead's Hardware (where I stole plastic cars when I was 5), Powell's or Huffaker's to buy clothes or even to the post office.  You would also go to Main Street to get your hair done at Reba Nell's Beauty Shop, something fun at Morton's Variety Store, ice cream at Mac Young's Drug Store, or, in my case, reluctantly to the dentist office to see Byrne Garrett, or when I was little, his daddy, James Hugh.  I can't leave out Dr. Kinley's office on the corner where I still laugh when I think of how he had to corner Jeannie Baker in order to give her a shot! Oh, and I can't leave out Westbrook Funeral Home where my best friend, Pam, introduced me to my first dead person! (Wow, I didn't realize I would go there in my writing.)

Because of the location of our home and the welcoming spirit of my parents, friends of all ages often stopped by to visit and to have a cup of coffee.  If there was not a pot brewing, Daddy would start one.  It was not abnormal for folks to stop by at 10:30 at night.  If the kitchen light was still on, they knew we were still up.  Why?  Because that was the last light that was turned off before my parents went to bed.  So, many wonderful meals, coffee, and conversation took place around the kitchen bar in the room with the pale blue paneled walls.  It was within these blue walls that my parents modeled to me what was meant by unconditional hospitality and grace.

In 2001, a tornado hit my small town and did some serious damage.  Our home was not blown over, but it shifted so that it could not be saved.  My brother and I salvaged as much as we could and then made arrangements for this home, which held so many priceless childhood memories, to be bull-dozed.  Without my knowledge, our dear friend, Byrne Garrett, went to our home and salvaged several pieces of the blue paneling from our  kitchen that had meant so much to so many people. 

So, now look again at the picture of the little church.  This church, along with a birdhouse, was built using the blue paneling that Byrne rescued for us.  When Ron and I got married, The Garretts and the Loveladys came to our wedding and presented us with this gift.  When I pulled the pieces out of the bag, I knew immediately where the wood was from!  I still, thirteen years later, do not have the words to describe the joy that filled my heart.  Talk about a treasure...As the Mastercard commerical would say...PRICELESS!  

So, I agree with Dorothy.  There's no place like home.  And, for me...home will always be Beebe.

FOLLOW-UP STORIES: 

Your "There's No Place Like Home" hit home for me. First memory of baby Rosalie is seeing you dressed, swaddled in a pink blanket, but best of all, Mrs. Mildred had taped a blue bow on top of you head. She and mother talked about how you looked "just like Robert!" I love my childhood memories and your family was a big part of my growing up years. Ask Robbie if he remembers the two of us on top of the building behind your house when the China Berry tree was in full bloom. We were covered in berry stain when Mrs. Mildred discovered us, she was between laughing and crying! CLYDINE MITCHELL PENNINGTON

 I remember our very own private concerts in the room right off the kitchen! We threw out names of songs and she could play all of them! Robert, sitting behind us would always request, "Twilight Time". What lovely, delightful memories for us!!! Thank you, Rosie. Sandra will love this....yesterday was Byrnes birthday. - CAROLYN LOVELADY

Beautifully written, Rosie. I have so many wonderful memories, both as a child and an adult, of the times spent with you and your family. I still remember the "burning of the letters" ritual from our teenage years! Thanks so much for sharing this~ I'll never forget the look on Mildred's face...of course, when Rosie sat down at the piano, it was like one person with four hands.KATHY MITCHELL RODGERS

Rosie, this article is excellent. I will never forget the kindness of your parents. I still have a letter somewhere in this house, that your mom sent me, when mother passed. Something I remember in that home was a wall of photographs filled with family pictures. PHYLLIS HALL - 

This is AMAZING! I had almost forgotten how super welcoming they were to guests! I remember that from my childhood! And I wasn't aware of that gift. Greatest gift ever. - ROBERT VERA (my older son)

Such a sweet story, Rosie. Your emotions for your childhood home mirror my feelings about our house on Center Street, also lost in the tornado. Sweet memories! - CONNIE WHITE CHOATE

This was great ! I could have kept on reading forever ! Age has a way of making generations appreciate being brought up in a small and where their roots truly are !!! Our daughters have reached that age. Not long ago I read something that they had posted on Facebook that indicated how much they enjoyed growing up in their hometown of Beebe. I'm glad I saw their comments A few years ago they couldn't wait to get out of this small po-dunk town. Lol !! Enjoyed this, Rosie BETTY BELEW

Amen!  I feel the same way about Beebe. - JEANNIE BAKER LATTURE


Great string of memories!!  Goes to show you can take the girl out of the small town but not the small town out of the girl!
KAY PRUITT ALLEN

Rosie, I can't tell you how many late evening cups of coffee I've had because the kitchen light was on. Can't overlook the fact that I was a member of that elite fraternity of young men who had the privilege of working for the Warren Bros.
MIKE GOFF

Loved the story !!! Loved your Mother and Dad . one of my favorite places to work was Warren Bro. 1973 - 1980
ROSE RICHARDSON

As you know, I used to sit beside Mildred on the organ bench when she began to have vision problems. We were at the wedding rehearsal for Buddy and Sandy Guyot's daughter. Mildred made the comment that when you're older than God, you can't see the music. Gerald Hammet never missing a beat, responded, "When you play better than God, you don't need the music!" I nearly fell off the bench laughing!!! KATHY MITCHELL RODGERS

WAITING FOR THE ICE TO MELT...AGAIN!!

Last Monday I was looking out of my hotel window in Franklin, Tennessee, at ice everywhere on the ground and roadways.  Today, it is Monday again, and I am looking out the window of my home in Highland Village and...you guessed it!  I am looking at ice everywhere on the ground and my street.  I have heard that history can repeat itself, but seriously?  Ask me if I am having fun.
Now some might say that they would welcome a day at home to "curl up with a good book", watch tv, drink hot chocolate and such.  Well, I have done all of those except substitute cups of  coffee for the hot chocolate.  I have also done some UNT work, talked on the phone, surfed social media, did some personal writing and oh, of course, "listened to music".  Let's not exclude what I COULD be doing:  laundry, cleaning out drawers, closets, organizing our paperwork for our taxes, and maybe even actually cook something exciting.  I have no grounds for having cabin fever.  I have plenty to do here inside this cabin!  In fact, I don't even have anywhere to go!  I think the major symptom of my fever is that I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to because I am trapped by ice!  Ice!!  Not a favorite subject at this house.  

Looking out the front window of my home.

My spot today!

If I am completely honest, this is a fever that remains with me whatever the elements are outside.  No one loves a kickback day under the blanket better than I.  However, I don't do inactivity for very long in mind or in body.  So, what are my options?  Well, I could get up and dance.  I could go outside with Alex who is now barking at someone much to the joy of our neighbors.  I could tackle those closets or do laundry.  Nope!  I am a powerfully, strong woman who can make it through this day without resorting to the mundane.  After all, I have a fabulous Patsy Clairmont book to finish and then The Voice comes back on tonight. And then there's dinner, and more coffee, and so on, as I wait for the ice to melt. Yes, as I wait...

View from inside of my hotel room in Franklin, Tennessee

Freezing in Tennessee...Who Would've Thought?

It is 10:42 p.m.  I am in my hotel room determined to be productive and not lie on my bed continuing to accomplish very little.  I actually went downstairs a few minutes ago to walk around and actually step outside for a moment.
I have been here since Sunday afternoon for the purpose of attending a writing workshop in the home of Women of Faith speaker/writer, Patsy Clairmont, here in Franklin, Tennessee.  Franklin is about twenty minutes from Nashville and is overflowing with charm. If the weather had been normal, I could have done some shopping after we finished today because I am not due to fly home until tomorrow (Tuesday) around 6.  However, the weather in not normal...it's FAR from normal.  The Nashville area is completely iced over.  The airport is practically closed.  All flights out were cancelled today and logic says they will be cancelled tomorrow, also, since the weather is only going to get colder.

We were able to visit Patsy's home on Sunday night for the beginning of her workshop entitled, "Shaking the Tree".  Our group was small...six members from Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee.  It so happened that one of the members was from Flower Mound, Texas.  We live minutes from each other, came on the same plane, were put in hotels rooms across from each other, and are scheduled on the same flight back.  We did not know any of this until we began to talk on Sunday night.  Very small world.  Oh, and I can add to that...one of the ladies was born in Arkansas.  And, I must mention, that even another group member is an advocate for transplant doners and has a sister who is a Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor.  Those of you who know my history will certainly raise your eyebrows to that.  Small, small world...

The whole experience was wonderful and I learned so much about tapping the stories of my own life. We were, also, taught how to take the steps to publish our own writing.  It was fascinating, absolutely fascinating.  It is so great to have new directions to travel in this thing we call life.

Three of us were going to have dinner tonight but the adjoining restaurant closed because the employees could not get to work.  Fortunately, this hotel has breakfast and a quick snack type meal around 5:30 which consisted of meatballs, pasta, salad, baked potatoes, hot dogs, etc.  Since the area was full of held over  elementary aged hockey team players and their beer drinking parents, we decided to go each to her own room and have a quiet dinner.  From that time until now, I have surfed the internet, talked to American Airlines, texted with friends and read.

I learned in a writing workshop this summer that when you blog, it is supposed to be somewhat short and then end with a question.  So, this may not really be a blog.  It might seem more like a report or an account written by someone who is a little restless and curious about tomorrow.  I already know I won't sleep well, so I might as well do some writing here and place my pictures at the end.

Tomorrow morning I will beat the hockey players to the oatmeal and pancakes by going early.  Then, I am going to grade papers that I happened to place in my bag at the last minute and wait...Yes, wait to see what American Airlines tells me that the rest of my week is going to look like. It may be time to work on my creativity!

DAYS LATER:
As it turned out, my flight to Dallas was one of the few that was not cancelled.  I did spend a very long Tuesday in the hotel but in the end, it turned out fine.  The neatest part was that Jason, the driver who Brenda and I met in October and who had picked me up at the airport, came and took me back to the airport.  Jason drives for many of the country stars.  His main clients are Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Rascal Flats.  In fact, after dropping me off at the airport, he was going to go pick up the bass player for Rascal Flats!  He was such a nice guy and treated me as if I were important!

It was a great trip and I look forward to going back to Nashville.

You are more than you know...

Unfortunately you can't see that there was a beautiful fire lit in the fireplace.

Gathering around the table with a cup of coffee to talk about writing was pretty special.

Our Wildly Inventive Ladies!

The famous tree...

Patsy read us a poem she wrote about this little sculpture in her living room.

Listening to the guru!

Patsy sitting in the chair where she writes...her office, she says.

Patsy and I are deciding where she should sign my journal.

Not sure what we were sharing, but I am sure it was profound. :)

Patsy Clairmont, the Adorable!

This is what spoiled my shopping day in Franklin on Tuesday.

The nicest driver in the world....Jason.