A friend asked me what is my most memorable place from my childhood. I didn't even have to think about it. My MawMaw and PawPaw's home, known as "The Home Place," will always hold the very best memories of my childhood. All the major holidays were spent there. The house was two story with all the bedrooms upstairs along with a very large bathroom. The largest one I've ever seen in all my 63 years. There was a living room and family room. The family room was cozy with its overstuffed couch with hand made cushion covers and MawMaw's recliner. On the wall was a cuckoo clock with a bird that popped out on the hour. The two weights on chains looked like dog poop dangling on the chains, and I had that same thought every time I looked at the clock.
Every holiday was spent there. Christmas morning we opened presents at home and by around 10:30 or 11:00 mom and dad packed the four of us up in the car and off we went to the home place. We were allowed to bring one toy with us, but I rarely played with it at MawMaw's house. I was too engaged with family. I loved being with my cousins. We ate at noon, and the huge dining room table held all the adults and teenagers. I never made it to the adult table. Kids under teenager ages were in the kitchen at the country farmhouse table, which was also pretty good. We could see and hear what was going on in the dining room so we were still a part of it. MawMaw cooked and baked everything on the table. She served turkey and ham with every side dish known to a country grandmother, and everything was delicious. She baked cakes, pies, candy, fruit salad, she made punch made with lime sherbet, pineapple juice, and 7-UP. After the meal, mom and her sisters hand washed all the dishes. It was fun watching them giggle with each other, act happy and silly, and were full of love for each other. After the dishes were done, the sisters and MawMaw sat around the dining room table and chatted while the men watched football in the family room. All of us kids were scattered around the house, playing with each other. We went home in the afternoon and then everyone went back over for the same meal heated up for dinner and more family time. All the women cleaned up and everyone took leftovers home, enough food to feed a small army.
Easter was pretty much the same. After church we went straight to the home place in our Easter dresses but changed soon after we got there. We had the same big foods and desserts and after we ate, there was a big Easter egg hunt in the yard.
Summer holidays were spent in Ashland Central Park with several picnic tables full of fried chicken, several salads and desserts, and lots of pop. Holidays were the only times we were allowed to drink pop. We played on the playground and then went to the football field to watch my funny uncle play Donkey baseball. Yes, it was baseball while riding a donkey. Then on to the Hallmark type town for the craft tables, homemade baked goods, and games. That evening there was live music and dancing in the streets, mainly clogging.
I wish my kids could have enjoyed those types of memories. As a Navy family, our holidays were spent with just us or other Navy friends. They are still good memories, but oh how I would love to have shown them our old fashioned family holidays at the old home place.
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