Staying with my Mom's mother in Oklahoma in June was not what you would call a vacation. My grandmother looked at us as free labor. So we canned the fruit that was ripe, we cleaned out a couple of closets she was meaning to get to, and mopped floors, all in the heat and humidity that I have come to hate. In the afternoons when I could sneak away I would take Shannon in our car and drive the 6 miles to Okema where my Mom had gone to school and see the town that was closest to where she had grown up on the farm. The town Castle Oklahoma has a building at a crossroads that consisted of a small store/post office/gas pump/feed store. That was all there was to Castle, Oklahoma. The best part was the Coke machine out front. It was one with ice in it? You pulled out one of the 6 ounce bottles that were so icy and cold. That's what I remembered from when I was little and used to go there. But for everything else? You drove the 6 miles to Okema. They had three blocks of shops and a 5 and dime store. They had all the schools too, but I never went to them.
Also, I wanted to escape my Grandmother's matchmaking. I got up for breakfast the first morning and there was a man sitting at the table. I thought it was a cousin or such. Nope, it was the meter reader for the water company. Apparently my Grandmother knew his mother, and had invited him to meet the poor divorced woman from California. After that there was the Preacher's son from her church, the tax assessor who just loved kids but couldn't have any, and the kid from Mrs. Kerry's brood that was not good in school but a good farmer. Even my 4 and 1/2 year old was beginning to roll her eyes at all these guys. She would make excuses for me and we would go off to the "city" to get something for my Mom or for us. Mostly we wandered the isles of the 5 and dime amazed at what they carried. Shannon and I could not explain half of it.
She met alot of my cousins and her great aunts and uncles. My Mother for most of the trip and been telling me how much I had in common with my Aunt Sharon, how sofisticated she was, how I would really like her. Now, I was raised in California. I am educated, but I am NOT a snob, I am NOT uppity. I say this because I love my relatives and had fun with my Uncles but really didn't share the interests with my Aunts of being married and knitting and sewing quilts. I worked everyday, so my life was different then theirs was all! There I go defending myself again.
Anyway, when my Aunt Sharon came to visit, I was so excited. Then she came in and Shannon and I about dropped dead from laughter (which was very mean of us! Bad us!) My Aunt Sharon was wearing a lavender polyester jumpsuit with matching shoes, matching purse, lipstick, eyeshadow and bow in her very very blonde hair. She promised to take us to all the great 2nd hand stores where she found all her good buys when we came to visit her. She also wanted to take me to her hairdresser so I could have my long hair done up and off my neck like hers (almost a beehive). Shannon had to go outside so as not to laugh. Now, I have nothing against shopping at the thrift stores. I have nothing against any of it, it was the buildup that my Mom had given her. I was expecting Nordstrom's or something from Dallas, and I got something from Hee Haw. That's all. My Aunt Sharon is a great person and I had a great time with her and my Uncle Dan. I just had to put aside my expectations of what I thought they should be.
My Uncle Red (Uncle Coy) took us all to a barn dance before I left. I was surprised when they said Shannon could go too. But since it is held in a real big warehouse thing, and it is a dry county, everyone comes. It is a social event every month. So it being so hot, I wore a halter top dress. My aunt told me most would be wearing jeans, but if I was going to be dancing I wanted to be cool so she wore a dress also so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable. We drove 56 miles to this place. My Uncle Jerry brought vodka and tequila from another county where you can buy liquor. We bought the mixers there. And the country band played. There were people from babies to 95 there. Everyone danced.
We all had a good time. I met alot of people that night. I was introduced to everyone. Saw the Preachers son again and danced with him a few times. But then there was Hollis. He had to 6'8" and 320 if a pound. He asked me to dance and I was polite and said yes against my cousins shaking their heads no. We talked a bit and he two stepped me around the floor. That's when I realized he was drunk. He literally picked me up and swung me around the dance floor. When the dance was over he hugged me and said, "I sure do like you! You need to meet my Mama."
"Ok, but could you put me down please" I asked.
"In a minute, you need to meet my Mama." and then he started to walk toward the door,
My cousin Coy (yes, I know he laughs about it too.) started to follow us as I began to yell.
"Hey Hollis? Where ya going with her?" he asked
"I want her to meet Mama."
"She here?"
"No, she's home"
"Uh, Hollis, you can't take her home with you."
"She want's to meet Moma" he explained
All the time I was slung over his shoulder in a short dress. I was not feeling good about this at all.
"Did you tell her that you were taking her home?" Cousin Coy asked him
"I dunnno, dont matter, I'm gonna marry her so its ok."
"WHAT! Put me down now! " I yelled
Hollis lightly slapped my butt, "Don't yell, Momma says you shouldn't yell"
By now two of my other cousins had joined Coy and my Uncle Red had shown up.
"Hollis what are you doing?"
"Sir, I'm taken her home to meet Momma, cuz im gonna marry her."
"Did you ask her yet?"Uncle Red asked him
"No, I wanted to ask Momma first."
My Uncle scratched his head, and then crossed his arms over his chest "Well Hollis, I can't let you take her home tonight as she needs to be in church in the morning with us, so how about I bring her by after church tomorrow and then your Momma can meet her then?"
"No, I want Momma to see her now." His grip tightened on me.
"Hollis, I can't let you take her, and that means Coy and the others would try to stop you. (Hollis laughed) I know you would kick their butts but then my Momma would call your Momma and then they would be mad at each other over it and then we wouldn't be able to go fishing in the pond anymore. So, do you think maybe we can do this tomorrow instead of tonight then we can all still fish? I'd hate to not go fishing, What do you think?"
Hollis thought about it, "Well, I sure do love to fish in that pond of yours. I guess I can wait until after church." He sat me down and then explained it to me. By that time the blood had rushed to my head not to mention the tequila and I was dizzy. "Tomorrow, after church you meet my Momma ok?"
"Ok" then my cousins led me away as my Uncle kept Hollis busy. My Mom never even missed me.
The next day I never saw Hollis at church. I asked my cousin about it.
"He won't remember it. He is probably still asleep in his truck somewhere."
We had a big Sunday dinner with all my Aunts and Uncles and cousins at my Grandmas after church. Fried Chicken like I remember and all the trimmings. I ate until I couldn't move! it was the best meal all week. We started back across country with several jars of jams and tomatoes and pickled things that I had never heard of.
I never got back to the farm again. It was an experience that as an adult I think of as a peek of my Mom's past. I now know why she was happy to leave the farm. It is a hard life. I have new respect for those that choose it. I don't think I would have the gumption to live that life.
No comments:
Post a Comment