do you remember?

Many of you may have already read this poem on my facebook page...but I felt compelled to post it here. I truly believe that my sisters and I had a very unique childhood considering that a fish tank containing a big rock, a gold fish and a small catfish sat exactly where a television would have been sitting on that old ugly red carpet in our living room. We absolutely LOVED being outside, it was our playroom. We'd spend all day inventing games or letting our imaginations take us on wild adventures in the pasture behind our house in Gallion, Alabama.

I have 3 older sisters. Rayanne, Kimberly and Rachel....and this particular poem was written by Rachel who is 2 years older than I am. She gave it to me for Christmas one year along with a picture of 4 jonquils...or daffodils depending upon your green thumb. Jonquils surrounded our house...and when I say surrounded...these things wrapped around our house in one giant, uninterrupted square and then there was a small circle of them within the square that sat to the side of the house. These 4 framed jonquils represent four little girls with bare feet...long, tangled hair...and endless possibilities.

I was 11 years old when we moved from that house, but the memories have yet to fade. I'll certainly elaborate more on them and share our adventures...but for now, here is her tribute to our childhood and those fancy flowers...

Do You Remember...

As I look at the four flowers
in this picture, images of four little sisters
running around, laughing~pulling up these
sweet, smelling flowers for Mama, laying down
in the circle of clovers, looking at the faces
in the clouds. As I look at this picture, I
remember, do you remember how these flowers
circled our house, as if they were guarding our
childhood, our memories of each other, every spring.
I remember running through these flowers
with you as we were "going on a bear hunt'
I remember smelling these flowers with you as
we were doing the "rain-dance," remember that
book? I remember twirling baton and dancing,
I remember playing circus on Smokey, while you
"waved" your skirt as if you were a famous matador
I remember, do you?
I remember trampling these flowers, as we
dragged our sleeping bags to our favorite hill, I
remember tripping over these flowers with you while we
fled from the Boogie Bear, but most of all
I remember growing up with you, as you look at the
flowers
Do you remember too?

--Rachel Leigh



This was probably taken in 1979?



This is the picture she had given me...it hangs in my guest room now along side the poem. Christmas, 2001.