While I'm Thinking About It

There is a great gulf separating "being told" and "being shown." In the 1970's a young Texas couple moved to North Alabama trying to accomplish several things, most notably and needed among them: growing up.  Many lessons were awaiting discovery in God's "wisdom cache" for us. The one I reference now is at the convergence of the male ego (of a Texan), an old mare hitched to a single-tree, and a shrivelled up, but wise and patient older man. Renting an old cinder block house from Raymond and Lena came with several perks. Beauty and elegance were not on  that list. The house was bare essentials, having had a bathroom added a few years before. It was adequate, comfortable, and cheap. The $50/month stretched me a little, but Raymond said he would help me put in a garden so I could "lay by" some vegetables to save more than the rent each month in food savings alone. In addition to the anticipation of the fresh, self-canned and/or frozen vegetables, Lena took a special interest in me and taught