A Walk Down Memory Lane.

nos·tal·gia

   [no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh-]  Show IPA

noun

1.

a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a formertime in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one'sfamily and friends; a sentimental yearning for thehappiness of a former place or time.

This word is one of my favorites.  One does not have to been senile to travel back in time.  It is intriguing the things that will spark a memory.  And when it happens I usually find myself lost in thought for several minutes.  

I read someone scoffing the term 'the good ole days' not too long ago. Yapping about how much better these modern times are and blah blah blah.  People who long for 'the good ole days' are not necessarily thinking of a less technical time.  But rather a time when innocence and freedom abounded.  Back to childhood when life was not full of responsibility. A time when many of those we loved were still living.  And its going to be that way with each generation.

Almost always when I have a longing for those 'good ole days' it is for a place in the hills and hollers of Pennsylvania, lovingly known as Greene County.  Most people reading my blog probably never heard of it much less been there.  

If you are a big city type of person Greene county will be the most boring place on planet earth and you will wonder why anyone would be so nostalgic toward  it.  Maybe it just runs in my Hallam blood. 

 You see my love for Greene county didn't start with me.  It started long before I was born.  It was said at my Pap Hallam's funeral that he loved Greene county so much he used to pile all 8 of his kids into their family station wagon on Sundays and they would drive to that blessed place.  Finally after months of doing that he bought a farm and moved his family there.  It was said, Pap knew Greene county like he knew the back of his hand.  Today some of his children and grandchildren still call it home.

Some of us who moved away still wish we did.  Mom asked me not too long ago if I wished we would have never left those hills.  At one point she had asked my 2 older brothers as well.  Although, my brothers and I are worlds apart in the way we live our lives, the answer from all 3 of us had been a resounding yes.  Since one cannot turn back time we just have to keep on going and try not to think of how much better things might have been.

You might ask, well, why don't you just move your family back there?  No clue, except that doesn't seem to be where God led us.  I do love where we are. I love our church family and our school family.  Those things have a way of making a person put down roots in places built on practicality rather then sentiment.

And so I shall be content where God has placed me.  And in my mind visit that place where our childhood was wonderful.  That place where all 4 of us were still together and life was sweet.  A place where people live at a slower pace.  A place where everyone knows each other cause you've lived there all your lives.  

  

Because I have no reason to return, so-long!!