Kidder Creek Summers

 

As I look outside from my favorite living room chair, the colors are so storm like.  The greens are so green, almost translucent.  The storm clouds have been building all week.  Some areas of the valley have experienced the summer time reward--rain.  My dad said "the North wind is blowing and has been every day in the afternoon" after a shot pause he continued "as long as the North wind blows, we won't get much out of this storm".  Experience. Awareness.  Longevity.  That's what my dad has.....all of those traits.  As dad sits in his chair mostly all day long, napping, praying, thinking, healing, I pray for healing, strength, and even further longevity for him.  I'm not ready to give him up.  A few years ago I read in the Bible about a man by the name of Caleb.  Caleb was one of two Israelites who made it into the Promise Land.  Caleb was positive, hardworking and lived a Godly life.  His finer qualities and his love for the Lord gained him favor.  He was strong because his work ethic was so refined.  At 80 years old, he was as strong as a 40 year old.  This is who I liken my dad to.

My baby sister and I took dad to the doctor today.  So funny.  Here we are, making sure all facts were put out there, talked about.  Everyone on the same page?  Yep. Tests scheduled.  Appointments made.  I'm thinking our parents will be well cared for in their latter years. 

Von was driving.  We'd pass a place that held a childhood memory for her.  She'd tell her boys.  "Yep, went to grammar school here", "yep, used to climb in that tree with cousin Ashley and throw apples at the passing cars".  She stopped at a large three story house in town "yep, that was the Lloyd's house.  You used to have to ask to swim there.  They'd look you up and down to decide if you were clean enough".  It was good to hear her share her memories with her boys.  The funniest one was when we were driving through the field, following the cut-off road dad has created for us to get to his house quicker.  Von said "hey, we used to play with that pipe thing over there."  The boys wanted to know what in the world she used to do with it.  "We used to stand it on it's end, roll it around.  Oh yeah, and start a fire in it."  At that, I looked at her in amazement.  Really?  You'd really tell your boys you started a fire in something?  Probably not a good thing to divulge.  I'll have to remind her that she's the one who planted that seed.  LOL.

Over the years, when the nieces and nephews come for a summer time visit, there are certain things they must experience.  One is a dip in Kidder Creek.  Most years KC is very cold and it takes a certain amount of grit to go in past your thighs.  But once you've conquered the cold and submerged, the feeling you get from this cold mountain creek is not something you ever forget.  Many memories have been made at the creek.  When I was a little girl, we used to go to the creek as often as possible.  Watermelon consumed at Kidder Creek is unsurpassed by none.  When you wash your hair in the creek, it is squeaky clean.  When you jump from a rock you labored to climb to the top of, the feeling is rushing and frightening at the same time.  When that late summer time snake pops up next to you as you swim around, the quickness you suddenly have to get out of the water is one that makes you laugh...while shuttering. 

As we watched the thunder heads gather together overhead, we didn't have much of a thought for the storm.  The boys had discovered a game my boys used to play at the same swimming hole in Kidder Creek.  Sink the stick.  Rock after rock, pummeling.  Laughter, competiveness, teamwork.  That's what it's all about.  Well, not all but it helps~