OPINION? Everyone Has One | A visit from my close relative's kin

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

It ain’t even duck season, deer season or possum season so I just as well put the rifle back in the case and go buy some more groceries!

Yes, my close relative’s kin from way down by the river down south have arrived. They came with their 1973 pickup, pulling their one year older 8-foot-by-12-foot camping trailer and brought half of their pack of coon hounds - seven head - with them. They left some of the kids at home, the ones old enough for school, to be looked after by the ones that were old enough to drop out of school.

Our Grands were tickled to death to hear the kin were here. They could not wait to get to our house and listen to their cousins, twice removed, talk. And then the tales, tales that only those who lived the life could tell! I prayed hard and heavy we wouldn’t have any chewing ‘baccer when the crew left.

This is the time in a feller’s life when you can sure enough test the mettle of the adage about the apple falling close to the tree.

My close relative is not one thing like her relativesfrom the other part of our world except - and that is a big one - they all love the Lord and would do just about anything for anyone in need.

The kin see things differently than folks in our area, such as education and some of the laws of the land. The need for telephones and shoes in the summer, school past the sixth, combs and brushes are not known by them. They had radios and “who needs to see the weather when they can’t even see the weather indoors anyhow”?

Old Dog runs away when he hears their truck turn off the highway and start down our gravel road. He has had all he ever wants of the pack of dogs that travel with the McCoys and, of course, their names have been changed to protect me!

The kids climb the fence and Snip gets ridden bareback by up to three at a time with a string of baler twine around his bottom lip like a Comanche bridle. Naturally, the idea of asking permission is never called up to their minds; they just do what looks like fun.

I killed the fatted calf, or at least went to town andbought a couple of briskets and a basket full of fruit and fresh vegetables for my close relative to cook. I have seen fox eat peaches but not as fast as the McCoys can and did.

We made iced tea by the gallon and they always said thanks when they got more, which was often. I made another trip to town for ice.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, family is always welcome on this place. They stayed three days and two nights and you know they say after three days fish and company begin to smell. We offered shower privileges and tub rights, encouraged it either way, but had no takers. They washed at the barn and hung clean clothes on the barbed wire fence. The next planned stop was the lake and then they would all bathe, I was informed.

Love the family, love the times together and get the pictures out often. And remember to praise your God for your place and your time. Just remember what I heard Mr. McCoy tell my close relatives before they left.

“I wish you’ens could live like we do. Do you’ens ever have any family time or fun? Yeah, I will be thinkin’ of you’ens while I fish!”

Go figure, we all think we have it the best way!

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 09/29/2010