Although we lived in a few different towns when I was young I don’t really remember any of them. I know we lived in several different houses when I was young, but I have no clue what they looked like or where they were. I can visualize the house we lived in just west of the S curve on the way to Wellman. For some reason I can even remember looking out the screen door and seeing a rattlesnake on the front porch. Other than that house I can only recall two houses we lived in, the one that belonged to Allen Byrd, and the one mom and dad built when I was around ten years old. As you can see my memories of growing up are pretty much confined to two houses in one very small West Texas farm community. Loop, Texas, is, and always will be, home.
I haven’t lived there since 1980, and to be very honest I don’t have any desire to live there again, but I sure have a lot of fond memories of “back home.” Mom, and Dad don’t live there any more, they moved to Texico, New Mexico about two years ago in order to get closer to my little sister and her family. It was a good decision for them to do that, even though they are both in pretty good shape we all know that the day may come when they need to be taken care of, and Deon and her family will be able to do that.
The church I grew up in is slowly shrinking. We visit there once a year, and love to see and hug the folks there. The Loop congregation even pays for our Honduras mission trips every year. It hurts a little to go back and see that are no longer any children there. When I was growing up there were quite a few of us. Never the less, the Loop church of Christ is where I learned to lead singing, it’s where I was baptized into Christ, and it’s where I taught my first lesson. I can still see each family. I can tell you where each of the elders sat. One of them, Robert Slaughter, gave me my very own leather bound songbook.
The school is still there, and like most small towns the community revolves around it. On Friday night the folks will head to the football stadium to watch the game. During basketball season the home side of the gym will welcome them all back to watch and support the kids. I checked with Tim Smith a couple of weeks ago to see when homecoming is this year. Turns out it’s this weekend, Friday September 25th. You know, I think I’m going back home this weekend. I don’t remember the last time I was back for homecoming, but I think I’m going back. I have no idea who I’ll see when I get there. I expect to see a few old classmates because they still live there. It will be interesting see friends I haven’t seen in years. I’m looking forward to shaking their hands and giving them a hug. Paula won’t be able to make the trip, and my kids all have a life and family of their own so it’ll just be me, catching up with old friends.
Folks, let me encourage you to take the opportunity’s you have to catch up, to renew. We all have fond memories of people who helped make us who we are. I believe relationships, whether old or new, are a gift from God. I encourage you to enjoy that gift.
Yep, I’m going back home.
Till next time,
Grump