We've had some rainy days this month but, so far, it looks as if May will end quite a bit drier than did April.
Our rains this spring have caused damage at the homes of both my sisters. Mary Alice reported the driveway at her farm in Anderson was badly rutted and Nancy and Marlin had a culvert wash out and a crossing destroyed.
Governor Hutchinson, in a recent column regarding the flood damage, praised the resilience of Arkansas citizens. Area residents do seem to have an amazing ability to bounce back from the hard knocks Mother Nature sometimes deals out. Another quality I admire is their willingness to pitch in and help one another. Some of the friends in our congregation have been doing remediation on flooded homes in Anderson, putting in long, hard days to assist others.
Jim's work has experienced some delays because of the weather too. He worked in Noel the first of last week, repairing a privacy fence that had been pushed over by floodwaters. Then, at midweek, a couple of sunny days gave him the opportunity to install a new exterior door for a friend and former neighbor in Decatur. Lawn mowing has had to be worked in between storms, and now several large limbs litter the yard, blown down by high winds at the end of last week. They'll have to be picked up before the next mowing.
Graveside services for my uncle Holland were also put on hold because of the rains. Mama's last brother died in Kansas City April 28 and services were held for him there a few days later. Because of wet conditions here, his graveside services and burial at Bethel Cemetery were not held until Saturday, May 13. Several relatives came from Kansas City and Springdale and three cousins, two from Tulsa and one from Broken Arrow, attended. Visiting with the cousins after the service, we expressed our regret that the only time we seem to get together these days is for another family funeral.
I took some old photos and family mementos to the cousins at Holland's service. A few days later I received a letter from cousin Jack thanking me for the items. "They bring back memories," he wrote. Retired from Amoco Oil Company, Jack's not in very good health. He and his wife Sandi still have their home in Broken Arrow but are planning to put it on the market later this year. He's been staying with son David at his farmhouse just outside of Henryetta, mowing the large five-acre yard and caring for David's big dog. Jack's writing a Bible commentary from a scientist's point of view. When not occupied with that, he describes a peaceful life watching the Longhorns out back or the Angus in front and the many birds.
The pastoral life Jack's enjoying ties in with a book I've been reading the last few days. "Your Cabin in the Woods" by Conrad Meinecke describes some practical cabin building techniques, but it goes much further. In an age when so many people are looking for a haven away from the hectic pace of the city and expense of urban living, Meinecke emphasizes communion with and respect for nature. He advocates a simple, contemplative life. In our few trips to Branson the last couple of years, Jim and I have stayed at nice hotels, but we've been hoping to make a trip and get reservations at one of the snug, rustic cabins similar to the ones Meinecke describes.
Fred Starr used to write charming stories of rural life in the Ozarks. He lamented that his city cousin Hettie, even after spending several weeks in his country home, would never understand the satisfactions of his life. Too busy keeping up with the Joneses, she failed to comprehend the simple truths he advocated. He had learned by living here in the hills, he said, that one can be contentedly rich by wanting little. "That is something I am afraid Cousin Hettie will never learn from dealing with her ledgers and cash registers," Starr reflected. "City folks appear to be extremely nearsighted when it comes to values."
The weather dried out enough that I was able to join a few friends Saturday in doing some seasonal maintenance in flowerbeds at Hillcrest Cemetery. We dug out weeds, raked up dead leaves and picked up fallen limbs. We spread new mulch in about half the beds but, with energy waning at midday, we postponed completing the job for a few days.
I've also got gardening chores waiting at home. Most of the flowers in the beds Jim built for me around the front porch died out last summer. A friend I visited last Thursday gave me several cockscomb seeds, and I plan to dig up the soil in those beds and plant the seed soon.
Susan Holland is a longtime resident of Benton County and a reporter for the Westside Eagle Observer. She may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 05/24/2017