This is one in a series of writings telling of the factors God worked together as told us by Paul in Romans 8: 18-28 building the story of my life.
Being a mid-century child would fashion my life facts
i.e. we always carried groceries home in a paper sack.
Hence the paper sack, in your graphic above shown,
with a truck that's long gone and a car that I still own.
(that's a sun deflector in the car windshield)
We were drilled randomly to curl beneath our desk at school
while around most of America racial prejudice was the rule.
In our little country school we weren't taught any of that,
8 scholars made the student body, 4 were white, 4 were black.
Nation fought against nation, this old world had lots of strife,
But in our little corner of the earth doing good was a way of life.
Folks naturally reached back and forth, hands and hearts were joined.
We did "random acts of kindness" before the phrase was coined.
We moved to Armourdale and Daddy's work after the flood of '51.
Affording to buy a flood-house, knowing the work needing to be done.
Friends and neighbors would meet us at the house, getting it livable inside.
And we would help anyone who needed us, doing things in kind.
(Armourdale is a section of K.C.K. bordered by the Kaw)
Newcomers to our neighborhood received a meal when moving in.
I don't remember anyone worried about being fat or keeping thin.
Weddings & births were celebrated up and down the block.
And when tragedy would strike, helpers arrived by the flock.
When a new neighbor's dad drank a bottle of Iodine and died
I played with one of their little boys and held him when he cried.
Adults helping the parents deal with their own grief.
Organized so help would stay till others came in relief.
(never a thought of getting paid for anything that's done)
Yes, we were poor, times were hard, sickness came and went,
and people had their squabbles about which they would vent.
Pop music was rock and roll and sock hops considered wild.
All in all, it's not been all that bad, being a mid-century child.
Leola Boyd © 28 October 2011
pictures and graphics Leola Boyd
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