Return to the Land

Uncle Willie was a close member of our family. In turn, his children became close associates to us. In particular was a son, Eugene (Gene) Wellington Wright. Gene, his wife Minnie Ramsey Wright, and their children lived a few hundred yards south of our home and adjacent to Uncle Wil lie’s house. Gene and Minnie had five childr en named Ilene, Willard, Randal, Barbara, and Fairly. In my youth, during the summers, Willard and Randal became my buddies with whom I played ball and fished the creek. They were excellent hunters and fishermen. In spring, they would hook large spotted and white sucker fish with a precision and skill that amazed me. They possessed the dexterity to hook live fish with a bare hook called “grab hooks”. That was really their secret in hooking the fish. I used a single hook which was why they always out fished me. We would also play a game called “burn out”. This entailed throwing and catchin g a baseball with bare hands. I’d throw the ball to them and they would catch it without any concern. Then would pitch it to me faster and faster at each throw. When I caught these fastballs with my bare hands the pain would force me to drop it. Once again I would lose to Willard and Randal and sometimes almost cry. They would laugh and call me a city boy. The last game that finally convinced me that they were definitely tougher than I was when we would hit each other with our fists in the arm just beneath the shoulder joint. When I’d hit them they’d say, “Is that all you can do?” Then it became my turn to receive a punch and after several well- delivered blows I’d wilt to the ground and beg for mercy. It took me several years to figure out what they were doing that I wasn’t. They were hitting my arm with their clinched knuckles and I was hitting them with the flat part of my fist. Not only were they tougher but also they out-foxed me in all our endeavors. They were so tough they would go barefooted all summer and run down the gravel road with no problem at all. I could walk in the pastures barefooted but not on the rough rocky road. As we grew older we worked together farming, cutting brush, making hay, and building fences. We have remained good friends through all our lives. Gene was Dad’s first cousin. He was mechanically talented and kept our tractor and car running. He worked as a heavy machine operator for his livelihood. We’d always call Gene to help us out of a pinch when it came to plumbing, electrical, or mechanical problems. Gene watched over Mother and Dad after I left home. After they died he watched over the farm on weekends and summer vacations. While we were away in Roanoke working he would watch the house and was always willing to help when called upon. He was a true neighbor in every sense of the word. Ilene worked in the dairy barn for years and was a faithful and good helper. Barbara provided much of the Wright family history. This assisted me in recording this history and I am immensely appreciative.

125