with Dot Patterson
My niece Donna of Pekin, Ill., called and said that she and Ed will miss Decoration Day at Cave Springs for the first time in over 10 years because of Covid-19. She said they will miss the Geary, Smith, Krause and Patterson families. Also, she will miss her Aunt Elvie Lee Sanders. All the nieces and nephews loved visiting their Aunt Elvie Lee. When Donna and Gary married, she asked Elvie Lee what she should cook for her husband’s very first meal. Elvie Lee told her to cook fish, hush puppies and slaw. Gary enjoyed Donna’s cooking for the next 30 years.
Large crowds have gathered year after year for Decoration Day at Cave Springs Church. This year will be different because of the pandemic. There will be no church services and no dinner on the grounds. Folks will still place flowers on the graves of their loved ones. Caves Springs began having Homecoming services in 1908. Since that year, the second Sunday in May has been set aside for the celebration. Brother Geary said that plans are to hopefully open church services back up at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 17, with some restrictions.
I visited Ellna Patterson Roland recently, and she was busy in her garage making flower arrangements. Hearts to Ellna, who makes flower arrangements every year to decorate 20 or more graves at Caves Springs Cemetery. Some no longer have families to put flowers on their graves. She also decorates graves at the Woodville Cemetery.
Belated anniversary wishes go out to Phillip and Judy Cranford (5/1) Also, belated birthday wishes go out to Ann Morrison, 5/2, and Vickie Beshires, 5/4.
Readers, take care of yourselves. These are stressful times when we can not get out, visit, shop and eat out. You need to exercise, if your health permits. Breathe in and breathe out slowly. Move those arms, stretch those fingers, kick up those legs and wiggle your toes. Also, walking is great for the entire body. You can walk slow or, as I do sometimes, speed it up a little. On sunny days you get your vitamin D free. So put on those walking shoes and get started. Do it for your heart. Do not forget to use sunscreen.
Bonice has not been getting out as she did not have a mask. She recently found lemon muffins and a mask left on her porch. Hopefully, she can get out a little now and enjoy sitting on the porch in the sunshine and wave as cars go by.
Remember in prayer: Arlan Porter, Walt and Ann Bennett, Richy Butler, Ronnie and Ladelle Clark, Mildred Smith, Mary Alice and Martha Autry, Ann Morrison, Bonice Martin, Peggy Whitman, Jim Ruth, W.T Roland, Peggy Lard, William Maness and Buck Burkhead.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, here is a poem written by Helen Steiner Rice called “A Mother’s Love”:
A Mother’s love is something/that no one can explain/It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain/It is endless and unselfish/and enduring come what may/For nothing can destroy it/or take that love away/It is patient and forgiving/when all others are forsaking/And it never fails or falters/even though the heart is breaking/It believes beyond believing/when the world around condemns/And it glows with all the beauty/of the rarest, brightest gems/It is far beyond defining/it defies all explanation/And it still remains a secret/like the mysteries of creation/A many splendored miracle/man cannot understand/And another wondrous evidence/of God’s tender guiding hand.
Remember in prayer: Arlan Porter, Walt and Ann Bennett, Richy Butler, Ronnie and Ladelle Clark, Mildred Smith, Mary Alice and Martha Autry, Ann Morrison, Bonice Martin, Peggy Whitman, Jim Ruth, W.T Roland, Peggy Lard, William Maness, Buck Burkhead and all the caregivers.
Call me at 989-3315 with any tidbits you would like to share. I need your help in writing this column.
Make it a great week!
