Warm greetings to all. We hope you are enjoying a good week. It’s been very hot, unseasonably so, and maybe uncomfortable for outside chores. But it’s summer and we expect hot days. Certainly hope you stay reasonably comfortable if you decide you must get something done.
It’s time to think about these last few days before school starts.
I’m wondering how many parents, especially mothers, cry or have mixed emotions when their child leaves for college for the first time. Or vice versa? I remember the first time my sister and I left to begin college studies at what was then Mississippi Vocational College, Itta Bena. I cried every day.
My sister didn’t show signs of the matter. She knew we had to continue our education and follow the path our parents presented. She enjoys being away, to this day traveling out of the country and other places as often as she can.
It was a warm day in August. Daddy and Mamma drove the 500 miles from Gallatin, Tennessee, to Mississippi in our shiny black 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline. (I prayed as years passed the route would get shorter if I stayed in Mississippi. And that day came one Sunday afternoon as we heard the 5:30 p.m. news. I prayed aloud. I was so happy the interstate had made it closer and sooner to get back to my native home.) Our parents got us registered and they spent the night with the president and wife at the Manor. They were cherished friends and the reason we came to Mississippi.
Mamma and Daddy stopped several times just to cry. It was dangerous to stop at the roadside parks back then. They were told at the first stop to leave immediately. Black people were not welcome. This made them awfully uncomfortable. All in all, they had faith to do what was necessary for their children.
They finally made it back to Gallatin after a very long day. Our family will forever cherish the times with no regrets for leaving home for the first time, enjoying the accomplishment and serving the community with pride.
I remember the day we helped pack everything to take our first child to New Orleans to attend Dillard University. I honestly don’t remember anyone crying! We prayed. There was no way around calling upon the Lord to be with us. She had been taught well and it was only fair for us to trust our teachings. We did the same with our son some four years later.
They knew their parents were next to the Lord and they were just a telephone call or six hours away. But the day comes when children will leave home for whatever reason. As they were growing up, we taught our children to grow gracefully with strong roots. But it’s OK to have wide wings, too!
Best wishes to all the parents and students for the first time leaving home to experience college/university life.
We had the pleasure of enjoying cucumbers this summer, thanks to friends. I like cucumbers. Some don’t like cucumbers because of their seeds.
Yes, seeds can add much additional moisture when added to a recipe if they are left intact. Of course, the very large cucumber is just plain unpleasant to serve or eat.
Here’s how to remove seeds from cucumbers:
Peel dark green outer skin. Slice off both ends of the cucumber, carefully using a vegetable peeler or paring knife to peel the cucumber. Cut cucumber in half lengthwise, use a spoon face down and start at the end and carefully start seeds channeling to end. Now, with seeds removed, use as you wish.
One other thing I know is the First District of Tallahatchie County Association’s fifth Sunday fellowship services will be held at New Town Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, July 30, beginning with Sunday school at 10 a.m., followed by worship services at 11. The Rev. Preston Coleman is pastor. All are invited with hopes that all churches will be represented.
Enjoy the day. Be blessed.
