Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

From "The Journey: A Calendar Book" we read for April 11th, "Take a walk around the old neighborhood".

I'm from a small town of around 3,500 nestled among state forest land and surrounded by coal mines. Growing up I attended a small co...mmunity school where my graduating class was no larger than 35 students. Each year the entire town would congregate around the square for the annual BBQ where adults catch up with old friends from high school and children enjoy carnival rides, cake walks, and try pitching ping pongs into small fish bowls housing goldfish so they can brag about it to their classmates at school the next day. Looking back on it, for me it was the kind of place children SHOULD grow u.

As a child in the 1960s and 1970s we children could roam free. Walking to school, walking to church, walking to friends' houses to get the view Saturday morning cartoons on a television which was color; one was easily familiar with every street and alleyway in town. The experience of growing up in such an ideal environment could always be counted on for those "warm, fuzzy" feelings we need from time to time.

As a young adult, when I would go home to visit my parents I would often trace those same steps from my childhood around town; over Dorris Street, down Walnut Street, up Trim Street....there's where Mamaw's house used to be. Down Hall Street, take Alexander Street, over Flower Street; there's where the old ball park used to be. Along every walk I'd take I could smell the same smells, say hello to the same familiar townfolk, enjoy the same "warm, fuzzy" feelings I did as a youth.

Take a walk around the old neighborhood. Remember where you come from. Never forget your roots for it is only from knowing where we come we can realize where we're going.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ