Everybody loved Aunt Ruby’s stories; they were filled with surprises, adventure, and more than a little imagination. She and Durwood lived in a broken-down, wood-framed, four room house just north of Harrison, Arkansas.
We would only visit every two years or so, but Ruby and Durwood always made the country visit an unforgettable experience for a city-kid.
This time the front door was missing, but the screen door was there swinging on a single hinge near the bottom. Chickens and turkeys and goats rambled in and out of the house like it was their own.
The clouds had been gathering all afternoon and they finally let loose. We all gathered on the porch, watching the lightning and waiting for the rain to stop. Ruby said, “Did I ever tell you city-kids about the time the tornado attacked us?”
NOOOOOO!
“It was about five years ago on a night like this. That mean ol’ twister come right across that hillside and lifted our house right off the ground. The kids were screamin’ and hollerin’, but the roar of the storm was so loud you could barely hear ‘em. We were all inside, rolling around the floor, trying to find something to hold on to. Finally, Durwood got curious, he wanted to see what was happening, so he crawled over to the door, and when he opened it… that old house just blew apart. Our kids were scattered all over the countryside and it took years to rebuild this old shack. I guess you noticed, we never found the door. So, if you’re out walking through the woods and you see that old door, let me know.”
I didn’t care for the outhouses, or the ticks and chiggers, but I loved the stories. It didn’t matter how true they were. There was something magical about the story times.
I still love the stories, but now I’m in them. You are too. Being adult means you are the story. So, is your’s an adventure, mystery, comedy, tragedy, or one of those reality shows?
Regardless of our intentions, our stories reveal our values, our character, and our passions in life. They out live us, like a permanent record that proves we really lived. Even the legendary stories filled with more fiction than fact are packed with hints of wonder and wisdom.
Why is it that when you’re driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio? Ever stopped to think about it? You can close your eyes, but you can’t close your ears.
