When I was a little boy, I sat on my swing-set in my Great-grandmother's yard and looked over toward Bull's Gap. My Grandmother Odessa called them Blue Mountains. They seemed far away to me. I thought it would be a great adventure to go there and see what was beyond them. Later as a teen, I would drive my car up to that mountain top and look back into the valley where Sylacauga and the area of all my childhood ramblings lay. I saw this whole area as home. My Grandmother Odessa had told me about our indian heritage. About that same time two of the biggest heroes on television were Daniel Boone and the Lone Ranger. They both had Indian friends who were their sidekicks. So the idea of being Indian was cool. As my understanding of the politics of the settlers coming into Alabama grew, I knew that most of the Indian's were displaced and their land stolen. It made me feel like I belonged here more since some of my ancestors were here before the white men came. So many of my and your ancestors are buried in the land here, they could practically fertilize the trees. This makes this area home to me.
But on a personal level. I think of my home as where your Mother and you kids are. If there ever was a singular moment that defines home, it would be on Christmas eve when you girls were opening up pajamas and getting ready for bed in expectation of presents. Paw Paw and Maw Maw always came because when they asked what I wanted for Christmas I would ask for snow, but then seriously ask for the family to be together. Now I realize that our house becoming the focus of the Holidays is an evolving thing. At one time my grandmother Castleberry's house was the focus. My father didn't celebrate Christmas like that so we really didn't draw folks together but then our house became it. I always wanted to celebrate Christmas the traditional way with food, presents, tree, traditions... the whole thing. Now you girls are in that transitional place where you are almost ready to be on your own. You will have your own traditions and the Holidays will take on a different focus. Once upon a time my home was with my parents. Then it was with you girls and your mom. And now, it is changing again. Where we make home changes and that is just a part of living. Just don't forget where home used to be or the people who made it home.
But on a personal level. I think of my home as where your Mother and you kids are. If there ever was a singular moment that defines home, it would be on Christmas eve when you girls were opening up pajamas and getting ready for bed in expectation of presents. Paw Paw and Maw Maw always came because when they asked what I wanted for Christmas I would ask for snow, but then seriously ask for the family to be together. Now I realize that our house becoming the focus of the Holidays is an evolving thing. At one time my grandmother Castleberry's house was the focus. My father didn't celebrate Christmas like that so we really didn't draw folks together but then our house became it. I always wanted to celebrate Christmas the traditional way with food, presents, tree, traditions... the whole thing. Now you girls are in that transitional place where you are almost ready to be on your own. You will have your own traditions and the Holidays will take on a different focus. Once upon a time my home was with my parents. Then it was with you girls and your mom. And now, it is changing again. Where we make home changes and that is just a part of living. Just don't forget where home used to be or the people who made it home.