A drive down Highway 10 will snake you through beautiful Green Country. Past trees and hills and green galore. A very different view than the flat, yellow, arid, blowing, dusty pasture grasses that I gaze upon each morning from my kitchen window.
A drive down Highway 10 will snake you past Lover’s Leap, Kooter’s Bar & Grill, and several canoe rentals.
Until you finally arrive at Cabin #1 where I spent my childhood summers.
Where I learned to dig deep and find the best skipping stones and try to outskip my dad. I failed. Every time.
Where I itched with Poison Sumac every year and walked around pink skinned, not from the sun, but instead from the Calamine Lotion caked on my body.
Where I tasted my first fear of water when the swift rapids unexpectedly carried me farther than I expected or dared to venture.
This past Memorial Day, I took a nostalgic drive down Highway 10 and found things much the same, yet much different.
The peacocks who enchanted me with their outspread plumage were no longer swaggering about.
The sliding glass door on Cabin #1 was replaced with a regular fiberglass door and the choice of paint colors no longer made the cabin “rustic”.
The place where we swam was the same, and it was almost peaceful, if not for the annoying college-aged drunks loitering about being much too loud and immodest.
But for a moment, I tuned them out. I stood on the rocky bank of the Illinois River and closed my eyes. And I remembered.
I remembered summers long gone, but not forgotten. A family in tact before divorce and then death separated. I remembered a happy childhood. Loving parents. Carefree moments. And catching fireflies in a jar. I said good-bye.
Then I walked to my car and drove home.
Angel Wheeler 
Angel, I hope you don’t tire of me saying the same thing every time I comment … but this is beautiful and bittersweet. I love the ‘then’ and ‘now’ pictures. I liked this so much!
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Lenore, I will never grow tired of you!! I have been out of sync lately, not blogging, so I’m glad you’re still here.
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I’ve missed your blogs! Thank you for today’s!
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Thanks Michelle!
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such good memories for you. It really hasn’t been that long ago has it? Love AB
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It seems like forever ago to me.
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I loved this. We were so little and cute. I wonder what we were talking about in that river…:)
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”
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You were probably threatening to beat me up
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Or maybe we were just peeing.
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Awesome, Missed you! Glad you are back.
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I miss Wednesdays with Marie!
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i know i say the same think everytime….i love reading ur stuff babe….love it….
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Dad always called me babe too :). Love you Donna Mae!
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Angel, darlin’ this was so lovely and so heartfelt and seemed like something you really needed to do. I can read it in your words. Reflecting back on the days when life was simpler and less complicated, can be healing to our hearts and mind. I pray you found peace on your trip. I, like others, have really missed you (probably more than you even imagine!) and worried for days now that you kids were o.k.! I’m thinkin I got a few more grey hairs (lord knows I don’t need that!!) worrying about you and am thankful all is well with you. Until next time … Donna H.
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Oh Donna dear, I am so sorry I added gray hairs to your head. Please don’t worry about us, I just had a few “off” days with nothing to say. So glad you are doing well. Take care.
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Nothing better in the world than nostalgia and wonderful memories! Loved the pictures!!!
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