Pickled Beets and Willie 09/18/2011
Every school day, Willie got up and freshened up to make his 7 mile drive from New Madrid to La Forge to teach at the big white school building. When school let out, he would make that same trip back home to hug his wife and love on those babies. He was a young school teacher with a little family that he loved more everyday and felt the responsibility of making sure they were taken care of and their needs were met. He was so thankful to have a job doing what he loved, but never forgot that he had another job ... provide for Helen, Larry and Sondra. The town of La Forge had a community canning time at the Schoolhouse where they would get together and can all sorts of garden items. On the shelves there were pickled beets, canned potatoes, canned green beans, and canned corn...lots of food that would feed a lot of people throughout the year. On occasion, food was left ... canned food that others did not want and lots of pickled beets. (this could have been that some of those community folks were led to leave food for that young teacher-knowing he would never ask for a hand out) Willie would bring that canned goodness home for his family... what others didn't want, the Tollison family enjoyed and felt blessed to have. There were many evenings that they would have "all vegetable" meals and didn't even miss having meat. I guess a lot of folks didn't want pickled beets, because a good deal of those jars made it to the table...his least favorite thing! Willie never complained about the contents of those jars, because he knew ...if it weren't for those community canners, he would have had trouble feeding his family on the salary he earned. Truth be known he taught most of the children in that little community at La Forge. Good chance that the folks that left those jars on the shelf for Willie to have... either had a child, or knew a child that was being taught by young Mr. Tollison. Willie wished he could grow his own vegetable garden, but there just wasn't enough room for that. Maybe someday....maybe someday! Comments Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Leave a Reply |  Author
Paula Tollison Andrews Maupin I am married to Bobby and live in the Nashville, TN area, working as Executive Assistant to both the Director of Sales and General Manager of FOX17, MyTV30 & CW58 television I have 3 wonderful sons and daughters in
love (Brad & Holly Andrews, Bryan & Stacy Andrews and Brandon
& Ashley Andrews) from Tulsa, St. Louis & Springfield
respectively. They have given me 9 precious grandbabies. (Joseph,
Cooper, Margo, Sloan, Jonas, Nora, Everett, Lawson and Blythe & Gma
loves them so much) I also have 2 great stepsons and daughter in love
(Jonathan & Kathryn Maupin and William Maupin) from Lexington,
Kentucky.
As a lady who's lived through both good & bad circumstances in my life, I've learned and continue to learn a lot of "life lessons". Along the way I have been inspired to be a better me. God is faithful in ALL circumstances and His love covers all. My hope is that you will be inspired to be who you were meant to be. I have been writing this blog about my mom and dad since September of 2011. You can find their story from the beginning by going to the Stories link. Happy Reading!!!   ArchivesMarch 2012 |
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