Fielder’s Choice

I drove by Pop and Mom’s old home-place the first Saturday in May

It looked good – well taken care of by the owners.

I was happy.

But at the same time, I still had regrets of not buying it several years back when I had the opportunity.

The timing wasn’t right then, for yours truly, but I really wish I had went ahead and taken the chance.

It’s located in rural Marion County, Ala., about 15 miles from any town. And I have the best of memories of that place, where my grandfather and grandmother, Emmett and Banner Burleson, once lived.

Pop died July 7, 1969, when I was 7 years old. Mom had passed a few years earlier.

During our most recent visit to Marion County and in particularly Hackleburg, Ala., on May 1, we went to Cedar Tree Cemetery.

Decoration Day is an annual observance at many southern cemeteries during which families place spring flowers on the graves of their loved ones – honoring their memory. Families also reunite, hold reunions and enjoy fellowship and meals

The first Sunday in May is always marked on our calendar. This year we made the trip a day early.

As we visited the grave of my grandparents, on the Burleson side, I made sure I pointed out that I was Pop’s favorite.

Later in life, he came to live with us. He was my hero. As far as I was concerned, he hung the moon.

One of my most prized possessions is Pop’s walking cane. It rests in the corner, beside my bed

Driving by the old homeplace a couple of weeks ago, I once again admired the huge shade tree in the front yard. In my mind, as a child and today, there’s not a prettier, larger tree anywhere. It’s perfect.

Then I glimpsed out back. The barn was still there, too.

The dirt road to the left of the house, leading down to the creek, had a wire barrier across the entrance. I can understand that – in this day and time.

But back then, in the ’60s, it was wide open for going and coming. When we’d gather at Pop and Mom’s, we’d always have to walk to the creek.

It was the perfect creek for wading – cool and refreshing – and just right for playing around as kids, too.

As I grew to a teenager, and Pop was gone, we’d ride our motorcycles to the creek and across it, taking the dirt road deep into the woods. We’d often just pitch a tent and stay the night.

We visited the gravesite of Pawpaw and Mawmaw Frederick on May 1, too. And then we drove to where their old house used to stand near downtown Hackleburg. It was destroyed in a tornado 10 years ago.

Leaving, we drove through the downtown area. Pawpaw used to own a general store there where shoppers could basically buy anything and everything. I particularly liked the toys and the candy.

Another of my prized possessions is an old candy jar from Pawpaw’s store. We keep it full of candy at our house – for ourselves and our guests. The old store, too, was wiped out by the tornado

Some of the sites are still there. Some are gone. But the memories linger. Thank God for those memories.