Seacrist Family Reunion

My few days at the old home place were just wonderful. So many of you have asked about it.  To you it might not have meant a lot but to me it will be another lasting memory. Family members that I had not seen in too many years, all products of Henry and Lydia Seacrist. I'm not sure of the numbers but there were between 50 and 60 of us there. Many more that would like to have come but distance, jobs, health and simply age got in the way.

Most of the ones of us from out of the area stayed at the same motel,The Country Inn,located about 15 miles from Holly Grove. The service there was outstanding, allowing us to have as many guest as we wanted, whether it be the pool, a good breakfast or the use of the kitchen area or the meeting room just to visit, and that we did, all of the above. There were no special shows or events to attend, even if there were, our interests were each other. You could see and feel the love that surrounded every person there. Four of my five children, two daughters in law,my only son in law, six grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and more nieces and nephews then I can count. Each and every one has a special place in my heart. Some I grew up with and baby sat with them when they were young, some baby sat or grew up with my kids, Juanita, the niece who is my guardian Angel made it possible for me to go, along with her daughter who did the driving and her great granddaughter, eleven years old was by my side all the way, making sure I was safe. 
 There was music and singing, my eleven year old granddaughter could belt out a song when you could talk her into it.

The mountains are so so beautiful.  We were not far from the beautiful gold dome of the state capitol. Then there was Holly Grove in contrast, not much change since I last saw it, one year ago, the house looks so lonely, the front porch still there, much smaller then it seemed years ago. As tears welled in my eyes I could see my brothers singing  hymns there on a Sunday morning. I could almost feel the cool rain water on my bare feet,in the low places in the front cement walk that my dad had made. The peonies and snow ball bush that my mother had planted as far back as I can remember are still there. The house is in bad shape and probably won`t be there too much longer. Nobody lives there now. The woman that lived there lived like a hermit, always depended on others to do things for her and her grandson told us that she wouldn't pay to have any work done. She was a hoarder and the whole place is awful inside, at one time there was even a copperhead in the pantry. She passed away in a nursing home and I have heard that she had a million dollars or more in the bank. Needless to say there is a lot of fighting going on in that family. I'm not "mean mouthing" her, she was my cousin and I cared very much for her.

I was tour guide for different groups that wanted to see the cemetery as well as other places of interest, mostly things that are no more. Our picnic at Coonskin park had to end after two thunderstorms, that's when we ended back in the meeting room at the motel. There was family there from Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana and New York. Lots of stories and laughs crammed into 4 days. The best of any vacation is getting back home. Can`t be away from my BEST FRIEND RICHARD for very long, as well as the rest of my Waterford family.

Kittie, My Sister, My Friend

I wrote this in Feb.2007, for Kittie's memorial service. I still miss her so very much.  She was the last of my family to leave.

   Almost 78 years ago we became sisters and as far back as I can remember,we have been best friends. We were proud to be coal miners daughters. We grew up through hard times,but we didn't know it. However, it made us appreciate everything later in life.

 At a very early age I became her mother figure, even though I was 9 years younger. She was the prettiest one in the family. When new babies were born, if they were pretty, they looked like Kittie.  If they were a little ornery, they were just like me.  Anyway we stood by each other in happy times and sad times. I always wanted to protect her and help fight her battles. If you don't believe it, ask her boys. She would do the same for me when she could.

 She was a classy lady,always proud, had beautiful hair. There were times we'd be waiting to take her to the hospital, and she would say "where is my pick?"  She could be a little bit hard to please. The clothes I'm wearing today, I sent to her for her birthday a couple of years ago.  She loved them EXCEPT,the pants were too hot and the tank top wasn't right. After she went to Millers Merry Manor, she said I could have them back, the pants and tank top but she was keeping the shirt. So here they are Kittie,I'm wearing them in your honor.

She loved to sing [we were like our mother that way] We sang when we were happy or sad or whatever was in between. Even after she lost most of her voice, she still tried to sing with me.
 In the last months there were times when I had to get tough with her but that's what mothers do.
She was a favorite aunt to all her nieces and nephews. Until she was forty years old, they were the ones for her to "dote" on. Then suddenly she had three wonderful boys of her own, She would always say her life truly began at forty. These big guys and her five grandchildren were her life. Her kids and my kids were "our" kids.

I know I will think of things I should have said here, but it would take too long. So many times in the past few years, she would say,"Lois it's just you and me against the world." I'm truly thankful that we had those years to travel that road together, sharing our deepest thoughts that are only known to us.

Anticipation

As I write this on Thursday June 4th, I`m thinking about a week from today.  If all goes well my nieces and I will be on our way to our Family Gathering in Charleston WV. There will be lots of reminiscing when we get together. Some of the nieces and nephews that I baby sat with now have grey hair and are gettin up in years. Even my children are all past 50 and some of the grandchildren are not far from 50. Where did it all go.
    The creek that I used to wade across is still there but with the exchange of property almost 70 years ago in order to build the first " car" bridge closed the path to that part of the water. I sometimes dream of those days when shoes were unheard of for kids in the summer,wading the cool clear water in the creek or ruts in the road after a warm summer rain.
  The 2 room school where my older siblings went to the 8th.grade. When I was old enough to go ,only one room was used,went through 3rd. My oldest children went there for a short time. The building is gone forever but so many memories remain,playing games,hopscotch,marbles, "Andy over the pigs in the clover,can`t get him out `til the ball goes over",as we threw the ball over the building. The hand water pump in the school yard,the his and her`s out houses. Who could forget that.
  The small hill where most of us attended church is still there but the building is no longer. The lot is empty where my grandma lived,and I spent many happy hours with her. She died when I was 12 When I see the spot it brings it all back like it wasn't that long ago. The house that I was born and raised in still stands, the paint is all chipping and the wood looks like it is about done for.The outhouse is still there. The swing is gone from the front porch  where we did some of our "courting" or just sat in the evening listening to the frogs, hoot owls,crickets and whip o wills. Also in summer people would gather around our fence to hear my brothers and sister in law sing hymns.
My mother always welcomed everyone,there was always food,nobody could ever make food as tasty as my mom.
  There are the fields where my dad and his mule tilled the ground and raised our food,all empty now,only the ground and memories remain.
 We will visit the cemetery hill where the population has grown in so many years. It will be bittersweet,with even more memories.
  I am so happy to be going back and it will be fun with lots of laughs and good to see the ones I haven't seen for many years.  Maybe speak to many times about remembering,but some day there won't be anyone to remember or even know about  OUR  memories.