The ramblings of a Hillbilly....

[Dan-MO]

As a young boy I watched the end of an era of a way of life in the Ozarks. I knew old men who had a few years earlier used rifles and shotguns as a tool to gather the family dinner-women who wove cloth for their coarse clothes. They built their own homes from hand hewn logs and hacked out beds, tables and chairs from the timber that covered the rugged hillsides.

Going to town was a rare experience for they were dependent on no one but themselves for their daily needs. They grew their own corn, vegetables and fruit. The corn that they grew was ground and used in their daily fare of corn pone. Their own cane gave them sorghum molasses. The streams provided fish and the land game, beef and pork.

Meals were plain but food was wholesome and usually plentiful and there was always an extra plate handy for visitors.

Religion may have been primitive, but was sincere and heartfelt and the people showed their love and reverence to God by the way they felt and lived their lives and not just by a once a week ceremonial cantation.It was an integral part of their lives. In fact most of their social lives centered around the little church house. The flock was usually led by a local self appointed preacher, whose lack of verbal skills was more than made up for by his zeal and fervor.A man

 

[david(tx)]

we see a couple of generations before us and we can deal with it because our parents and grandparents re-live their lives before us,on the other hand the generations behind us we won't know how they live until we see it.

some of the things i see from younger people today i have a problem with,but i forget that maybe the people of my parents generation had a problem with some of the things i did.

you don't see alot of things when your young,your having to much fun,then you grow up and the things that didn't matter to you before suddenly do.


i don't think many things change,i do think things are more out in the open.television probably changed people more than even the war,but the war made alot of country boys grow up,and they moved to the city to work after the war.

 

[Sunny]

I think we both were brought up much in the same way. I think that's why we like writing out stories. It is up to us to pass on the many generations of stories told by our parents, grandparent's, etc. It has always been important to our family, as it is apparently with most everyone on this forum.

From the time I was a little girl, I have always loved a good story. I did not get to know my grandparents too well, as they left this earth before I could absorb very much. I have more memories of my daddy's parents, than my mother's.

I have a couple of stories, and if I can just find the time to sit down and write them, I will. Our children missed a treat not growing up in the 60's and 70's. I laugh at my 17 year old daughter all the time, because the clothes she is wearing could have come from my closet of long ago.

I am so grateful for the memories that were instilled in us, and by writing them down for my children and grandchildren I hope to leave them with such memories. Our parents and grandparents didn't write much, and wish I had paid more attention sometimes.

Thanks for taking us back in time, Dan, and rant all ya want! We're listening!<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm799YYCA' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_9_11.gif' alt='Waiting In Line' border=0></a>

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

I can remember when most of the Hill Country of Texas had no electric power, it was not until the late 1950's that most homes there had electric lights. It is still common to see a windmill drawing water for the cattle on ranches down here in South Texas, not electric water pumps. When I was a young boy, we did not have indoor plumbing...it was my job to pump the water every morning at 6:00 AM.

Times have changed, but I do not know if it was for the better or worst. There is no doubt that the everyday comforts have changed for the better, but we have paid the price in regards to moral beliefs...the honor system has gone by the wayside. People have become lazy and soft, and have forgotten what it means to really enjoy life...not enough folks with a simple smile on their face. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)

 

[Sunny]

n/t

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

I never knew for sure just what a hillbilly was because there are none in Texas! Please have a great day!

 

[Micheal_R]

I remember going out to the outhouse.... Water was no a problem in my youth since we had a river nearby. As kids, we made our own entertainment... Hide and seek, tag, kick the can,,, the list goes on. We did not have to be pandered to by having something [skateboard park, youth centre, etc] built for us.

Like you, we found that crime was very minimal.. Just a slower, better type of life, in my opinion.

Many thanks

Sunny skies

m

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

n/t

 

[Kieth-Tx]

n/t

 

[ojm bc]

NT

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

We built tree houses and forts, sling shots with tire inter tube for the rubber part, hunted and fished, rode horses, built stilts, flew home made kites, played baseball and football, swam in the creek, played cork ball, and etc. We were in hog heaven if we got our hands on an old apple crate that we could make things with...we entertained our selves. There were no shopping malls or computers. Those were some good times to live in...you enjoyed life. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)

 

[Arkie John]

I want to thank you for taking the time to walk me through some of where you came from.

This past week I was down on the lower reach of the Arkansas River conducting Real Property inventories. Near Gillette, Arkansas, as I approached from the south on Hwy 65, I saw an old "dog trot" Cyperus log house. I smiled and thought of all that my forefathers had gone through that I might casually drive through, in the nice new Government 2500 Dodge, sucking up the AC as I went.

My hat is off to them--and to you for taking me for this ride. <><

aj

 

[Dan-MO]

n/t

 

[Wayne in BC]

the world was for many of us. Just change the names we were called and the areas, all was the same fine simple way of life.
I read by the light of a kerosene lamp. Drank only well water and ate what we hunted or raised. We were oft called "hicks" or worse but the joke was on them!
Wayne

 

[Wayne in BC]

and found some cute ones. Did you know that you can search the site for what you need?
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm799YYCA' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_123.gif' alt='Girly Girl' border=0></a>
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm799YYCA' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_11_1.gif' alt='Wolf' border=0></a>

Wayne

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

I hope that Sunny will give me another chance...I will never do it again, or at least will try to never do it again. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)

 

[VT Dave]

sad when we see time changing and eras coming to an end. Sometimes I think the "simpler" way of life was far better than our fast paced society of today. Thanks for the look back Dan!

Dave

 

[Sunny]

I had the smiley on my forum page too! Duh!

 

[Sunny]

Just to let you know, I prefer the term "Ozark American" instead of Hillbilly. When we are not barefoot and pregnant, we go ridge runnin' to keep in shape so we can beat the crap out of those long, windy Texans!!! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm799YYCA' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_9_140.gif' alt='Club Me' border=0></a>

 

[Sunny]

n/t