CoffeeLove
New Member
- Location
- Texas, USA
One of my favorite stories about my Uncle Wood:
My mind has been filled with memories of all the times spent at the Canton Trade-Days (Canton, TX) … or as we called it, The Flea Market. Back then it was simply open acres of junk. Lol. A massive yard sale.
When I was about 10 or so, it was a typical Saturday morning to get up at 3 a.m., get all the chores done, beds made & dishes washed, then load up the car around 5 a.m. and drive to Uncle Wood & Aunt Ola's house for the day. They lived only about an hour away, but my daddy NEVER drove over about 20 mph
So it took a while to get anywhere! LOL
This particular Saturday, Uncle Wood was waiting outside for us, standing by his pickup truck.
As soon as I got out, I ran to him for one of his bear hugs.
He said, "Margaret Lee, get in the truck."
No questions or hesitation on my part!
It was always an adventure with Uncle Wood and me.
He told Momma, "Margaret Lee and I are going to the flea market. We'll be back later."
Momma said, "Woodrow, that's fine. But you take care of my little girl and don't you be too late coming back."
As we left in the light of breaking day, I wondered what a flea market even was.
I knew what fleas were, but what was a market for them? Were we going to buy some?
(Deep country girl here
)
As we were driving there, which seemed to take forever to me, Uncle Wood told me stories of his childhood.
We laughed and I learned lessons.
We arrived in Canton just as the gates were opening.
I had never seen such sights!
My first Big Red soda was that day, bought by Uncle Wood.
I told him that I couldn't drink it because it was "slow poison", and he grinned saying, "Oh, that's just a story your Uncle Ray tells cause he likes them best!"
I felt like I was taking a huge risk by drinking it, but oh how good it was!
I watched a miracle happen that day, too.
A man poured sugar into a large metal container, turned it on and made a confection that was absolute HEAVEN to me!
My first taste of Cotton Candy!
We walked and we looked, I held treasures and heard stories after stories that day - from Uncle Wood and from the people selling their wares.
What a wonderful day it was!
On the way back to the house, we talked about our favorite parts of the day.
We pulled into the driveway just a bit after dark.
Momma was standing outside holding a broom.
Uncle Wood said, "Uh-oh. When we get to the house, you get out and I will be ok. Don't you say nothing, just get out!"
I had no idea what was wrong, it had been such a great day!
Uncle Wood parked, I got out, and Momma came towards the truck.
She said, "Woodrow David! I told you not to be too late out! Now get out of that truck, cause I am going to whip your ass!"
Now Momma was about 4'10" - almost as big around as she was tall, and Uncle Wood was a bit over 6' tall.
But he rolled up the windows, and locked the doors of that old truck, just sitting still while Momma whaled the tar out of that pick up truck - from front to back and all over the sides, especially the driver's door!
When Momma finally calmed down, he rolled the window down, spit his tobacco out, and said, "Now Pauline, if you will just back up & put that broom down, I got something for you!"
Momma put the broom against the nearest tree.
Leaned back on our car.
Uncle Wood got out slowly and carefully … and handed Momma a Dr Pepper.
"See, she's fine. We had a good day. And now you got something to drink. I love you."
She just took the Dr Pepper, glared at him and swirled around storming off into the house.
What a blessed and wonderful memory! Smiling and giggling all over again.
My Uncle Wood in his later years :
My mind has been filled with memories of all the times spent at the Canton Trade-Days (Canton, TX) … or as we called it, The Flea Market. Back then it was simply open acres of junk. Lol. A massive yard sale.
When I was about 10 or so, it was a typical Saturday morning to get up at 3 a.m., get all the chores done, beds made & dishes washed, then load up the car around 5 a.m. and drive to Uncle Wood & Aunt Ola's house for the day. They lived only about an hour away, but my daddy NEVER drove over about 20 mph
So it took a while to get anywhere! LOLThis particular Saturday, Uncle Wood was waiting outside for us, standing by his pickup truck.
As soon as I got out, I ran to him for one of his bear hugs.
He said, "Margaret Lee, get in the truck."
No questions or hesitation on my part!
It was always an adventure with Uncle Wood and me.
He told Momma, "Margaret Lee and I are going to the flea market. We'll be back later."
Momma said, "Woodrow, that's fine. But you take care of my little girl and don't you be too late coming back."
As we left in the light of breaking day, I wondered what a flea market even was.
I knew what fleas were, but what was a market for them? Were we going to buy some?
(Deep country girl here
As we were driving there, which seemed to take forever to me, Uncle Wood told me stories of his childhood.
We laughed and I learned lessons.
We arrived in Canton just as the gates were opening.
I had never seen such sights!
My first Big Red soda was that day, bought by Uncle Wood.
I told him that I couldn't drink it because it was "slow poison", and he grinned saying, "Oh, that's just a story your Uncle Ray tells cause he likes them best!"
I felt like I was taking a huge risk by drinking it, but oh how good it was!
I watched a miracle happen that day, too.
A man poured sugar into a large metal container, turned it on and made a confection that was absolute HEAVEN to me!
My first taste of Cotton Candy!
We walked and we looked, I held treasures and heard stories after stories that day - from Uncle Wood and from the people selling their wares.
What a wonderful day it was!
On the way back to the house, we talked about our favorite parts of the day.
We pulled into the driveway just a bit after dark.
Momma was standing outside holding a broom.
Uncle Wood said, "Uh-oh. When we get to the house, you get out and I will be ok. Don't you say nothing, just get out!"
I had no idea what was wrong, it had been such a great day!
Uncle Wood parked, I got out, and Momma came towards the truck.
She said, "Woodrow David! I told you not to be too late out! Now get out of that truck, cause I am going to whip your ass!"
Now Momma was about 4'10" - almost as big around as she was tall, and Uncle Wood was a bit over 6' tall.
But he rolled up the windows, and locked the doors of that old truck, just sitting still while Momma whaled the tar out of that pick up truck - from front to back and all over the sides, especially the driver's door!
When Momma finally calmed down, he rolled the window down, spit his tobacco out, and said, "Now Pauline, if you will just back up & put that broom down, I got something for you!"
Momma put the broom against the nearest tree.
Leaned back on our car.
Uncle Wood got out slowly and carefully … and handed Momma a Dr Pepper.
"See, she's fine. We had a good day. And now you got something to drink. I love you."
She just took the Dr Pepper, glared at him and swirled around storming off into the house.
What a blessed and wonderful memory! Smiling and giggling all over again.
My Uncle Wood in his later years :
