Long ago and in a far away place
People did not need to have an invitation to visit
Nor did they have to call before they came
Sunday afternoon after church and a long lunch
“Well why don’t we go see who is home?”
We would all pile in the old car
And we would go to the houses of family and friends
They would welcome us gladly
We would stay and stay
Always something to eat
My dad had six brothers and three sisters
Counting spouses, kids, in-laws, friends and strangers it was a bunch
Dad, my brother Bob, cousin Earl and some others
Would go fishing
The boat they had built from just planks
Up to Possum Creek or one or more of the other sweet spots
They would catch many pounds of usually Crappie
The word would go out that the fish fry would be at our house
The big black wash tub would be filled with lard
Bob would make the hushpuppies including beer
Obviously beef was only for hush puppies
The women would bring the slaw etc
And of course from Uncle Escol’s store lots of belly washers
We kids were underfoot listening to the grown up stories
We learned a lot about life there
The dress was very casual
Usually what they had worn fishing or working that day
When the fish was done we stopped
One of the Acuff brothers told the Lord we were grateful
Were we ever?
