Days Gone By

Some things are handed down from generation to generation perhaps by chance, perhaps out of sheer innocence.

I was a very inquisitive child. One day when I was about 7 or 8 years old, my mother was standing at the sink doing dishes. I can still see her in my mind as if it were yesterday. She had on pedal pushers (Capri pants for newbies) and a halter-top. She was slim and trim and beautiful.

I would do anything to glean some attention off my mother, not that I was lacking in the attention department, because I wasn't. I guess I just wanted more or was a pesky child, regardless I walked into the kitchen and asked innocently enough, "Mommy, what was it like in the covered wagon days?"

My mother retorted in a cool but obviously irritated voice, "I have no idea! Go and change your clothes!"

I was shocked by this outburst of sorts! My mother NEVER shunned me like that or talked to me in such a chilly tone. My feelings were hurt and I immediately left the room. It didn't take long to get back into her good graces, which I hastened to do as soon as I felt it was safe - maybe 10 minutes or so? LOL!

Anyway, I have always remembered that shared it with mom when I became a teenager. Naturally she didn't remember it, but we got a good laugh from it.

One afternoon, many years later, I was standing at my kitchen sink doing dishes.  Stevie, then 7 or 8 years old came sauntering into the kitchen and out of the blue he asked, "Momma, what was it like in the covered wagon days?"

I was catapulted back 20 years into the 1950's. Suddenly, I was that 7 or 8 year old child standing next to my Mother asking that innocent question. I picked up a dishtowel and dried my hands. Smiling I looked into the wide eyed innocence of my little boy's eyes, and said, "I don't know honey, let's call Grandma and ask her!"

When Mom answered the phone, Stevie posed the question and I could hear her laughing from where I stood beside him.

I wonder if Madison will someday ask, "Daddy, what was it like in the covered wagon days?"