I drove the old neighborhood today. The joy of the memories of my childhood once again was a balm to my soul. Oh, the innocence of childhood when the world loomed large, and our little minds automatically accepted that there are many things bigger than our little corner of the world. Sometimes, it has seemed, we have thought, yes, perhaps even have been taught, that the control of the world is within our grasp. Yes, we have always been a competitive nation, but, I think, it is best that we accept ourselves as tiny specks of humanity -- nothing more, nothing less, don't you?

So, I drove the old neighborhood, and remembered when I was afraid to cross the street without my momma’s hand tucked snugly within mine. I saw the house that my daddy built when momma wanted a new and “modern” home. There it sat on the large lot located on the side of a hill in a new section, at the time, of northwest Meridian. Oh, my daddy really had a tough time with grass cutting, because of the sharp slope. I believe that is when he said, “Think I'll have concrete poured all around the house and paint it green.” Pretty good idea I would say, but he didn't – he just continued his lawn care with diligence and pride, as he wanted everything well maintained. It was the 1950s, and it was their first house.

Next, I drove to the second house that my daddy had built a few years later. It was located near the new, at the time, Northwest Junior High School where I was a student. Even today it is a very nice house – red brick with white trim and a small flower garden cut into the middle of the concrete patio. That was a landscape idea that my daddy thought up, and sort of an innovative idea for the time. You have probably noticed that daddy just loved concrete! One thing for sure, daddy made certain to have a nice flat lot for this house with easy maintenance for lawn care. I suppose daddy could have had someone hired to take care of the yard work, but taking care of the lawn was a special project for him Yes, it was a novelty for him to have concrete and green grass, because he was raised on a large farm with fields and fields of crops maintained by the occupants of the many tenant houses all owned by his grandfather, Mr. Jim Calvert. The place was located in North Lauderdale County.

I circled Northwest Junior High, and remembered that I was a member of the first ninth grade class there. I had attended seventh and eighth grades at Kate Griffin Junior High, but by my ninth year, the new school was built and ready for the students. I'm not sure if it was the first day or the first week of school, but I remember a big ceremony when we sang songs, and quoted poetry all about trees – then, we planted a tree to “forever” stand as a reminder of our first year at the new school. Oh, it was a mighty fine ceremony, but somehow that dear tree was fated not to survive as planned. Actually the tree came down by the next morning. It was a big mystery. Who chopped down that poor tree? I'm not sure if the mystery was ever solved, and we never replanted the tree that I can remember.

Soon we students forgot about the tree, because it was time for the sock-hops. I had never been to a sock-hop – never even heard of one, and neither had any of my friends. To the tunes of “Wakeup Little Suzy, Wakeup” by the Everly Brothers and “Venus” by Frankie Avalon, plus many other great hits from the 60’s, we danced the night away in our socked feet with the big pile of our shoes thrown into a corner of the gym. Afterwards we walked home to my house just around the corner and down the street, and we sang to the top of our voices all of our favorite songs of the night – safe and sound with not a care in the world.

Again this afternoon as I made a trip down Meridian memory lane, I drove pass the home that my Uncle Jim and Aunt Edna Downey built at this time located in fashionable Beauman/Winstead Subdivision, near Highland Park. I remember clearly family members as they discussed that Aunt Edna had a vestibule in her new house. Vestibule? No one knew exactly what that was? Sweet, sweet Aunt Edna gave the tour of the new house to the entire family, and patiently pointed out the “vestibule.” Momma and everyone nodded their heads. Of course, it was an entrance hall – a little unusual for the new houses of the early 1960’s, and very impressive.

For me, I can't imagine not living in my hometown where my husband and I were high school sweethearts, and we, together, knew at least 90% of the local folks from that sweet time of our lives. And, most of the time, one or both of us, could “claim” kin to that 90% -- even until today. My grandmother could scratch up kinfolks within five minutes of an introduction. It takes me ten minutes, but I'm working on it.

Driving the old neighborhood today – I was only able to visit the memories and locations through my junior high school years. Maybe soon I can drive out to Meridian High School and Meridian Community College. There are memories waiting for me there as well to make a visit, and I will -- soon.

Let me encourage you to “drive the old neighborhood” as well. Yes, it will be worth your time even if your old neighborhood is located many hours away – take the time, and go.



Anne McKee is a writer and storyteller. She lives in Meridian. Anne is listed on the Mississippi Artist Roster, sponsored by Mississippi Arts Commission, as a dramatic and literary artist, storyteller, and as a Teaching Artist. She is active with the arts and educational communities throughout Mississippi.