Growing up in the 1950′s and 1960′s, the porch was the hub of life during warm weather seasons back then — the social center where endless hours were shared with neighbors, friends and relatives -- reminiscing, talking, laughing, storytelling, singing and dancing. Equally fulfilling were the times of quiet solitude – reading, writing, studying, imagining and praying. From the porch, we were mesmerized by starry skies at night and entertained by an ever-changing daylight sky which playfully displayed clouds in the shapes of angels and occasionally gave more than one of us a glimpse of God.
The porch was the common thread that connected a neighborhood and sewed it into a community — a rest stop along the way for someone climbing our steep hill — an observation deck for families keeping tabs on neighborhood kids playing in the street – a gathering place for a community to celebrate or mourn — a safe haven and learning center for us kids while we grew in size, age, wisdom and grace -- until we were ready to burst forth, launching our own unique lives, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.
Music also filled my life during that time – from the Latin Gregorian Chants in church -- to popular songs of the day and decades past emanating from radios strategically placed on the ledge of a screened window -- to the singing and instrument playing of amateur neighborhood musicians.
For the most part, Gregorian chants have been replaced by livelier contemporary music in native tongue. And, the music of the 50′s and 60′s are now the oldies, replaced today by a variety of sounds and voices created on, or altered by, high-tech electronic equipment.
At a much older age now, I still like to visit the comfort of my porch in my mind, sneaking peeks and reminiscing and comparing life then to life now. Thus, this blog — snippets of my life over more decades than I care to say -- with an emphasis on memories and music and an occasional catch-all for the miscellaneous thoughts that meander around my wondering mind.
Sit with me for a while and check out the view from my virtual porch...
Sit with me for a while and check out the view from my virtual porch...
Peace,
Kathy Marie
Check out my other blogs:
http://kathysgrace.com (thoughts on prayer & spirituality)
http://beyondfirstlines.com (all about writing)
