Back in Those Days

Amelia Michaels

Description

Journey to a time when Singing in the Rain played on the jukebox, when Lash LaRue was the famous movie star who came to town, when the 1948 Desoto and the 1956 Chrysler were not classics. Learn about the Greyhound races, farm life, and spittoons. Travel back into those days long ago when times were in some ways simpler and in other ways not. Learn about a time of laughter, friendship, and heart-wrenching sorrow.

Back in those Days is a humor-filled memoir beginning in 1943 depicting the realities of rural farm life in eastern North Carolina. It allows the reader to relive the narrator's experiences. Lucas Reign "Butch" Ellington explains his family's ties to the famous Ervin Rouse, the fiddler, and songwriter of the Orange Blossom Special. Wonderful stories are shared of days hunting Fox squirrels and dodging charging bulls. The narrator candidly speaks about farm life with tenants and sharecroppers. He recalls his early dating days with his pony and buggy before he received his driver's license. 

This memoir explains the narrator's transition from farm life to his life as a barber, as farm life changed. It reflects on the overshadowing power of suicide. This narration details how Lucas Ellington's mentally ill mother's suicide deeply impacts the whole family. The storyline recollects the narrator's pain of losing his father to cancer, during a time when treatment was much different than today. 

Enter into a time that will change your life forever. One that walks a path into an era too quickly fading away. Yet, a true story that will grab your heart and allow you to connect emotionally. Back in those Days is a memoir for all generations.

Sujets

• Diary
• Memoir
• Self-help

Informations

• Publié par: Lime Press LLC
• Date de parution: 13 juillet 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781954304963
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Back in
Those Days
A humor filled memoir beginning in 1943 depicting the realities of rural farm life in eastern North Carolina. A memory filled narrative overshadowed by the eventual suicide of a mentally ill mother. A family saddened by the loss of a beloved father to cancer.
Amelia Michaels



Back in Those Days by Amelia Michaels
This book is written to provide information and motivation to readers. Its purpose isn’t to render any type of psychological, legal, or professional advice of any kind. The content is the sole opinion and expression of the author, and not necessarily that of the publisher.
Copyright © 2021 by Amelia Michaels
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form by any means, including, but not limited to, recording, photocopying, or taking screenshots of parts of the book, without prior written permission from the author or the publisher. Brief quotations for noncommercial purposes, such as book reviews, permitted by Fair Use of the U.S. Copyright Law, are allowed without written permissions, as long as such quotations do not cause damage to the book’s commercial value. For permissions, write to the publisher, whose address is stated below.
Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN: 978-1-954304-95-6 (Paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-954304-94-9 (Hardback)
ISBN: 978-1-954304-96-3 (E-book)
Published by Lime Press LLC
425 West Washington Street Suite 4
Suffolk, VA 23434 US
https://www.lime-press.com/


Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue Momma’s Letter Written August 1951
Chapter One Where it all began
Chapter Two A Couple of Years
Chapter Three Lash LaRue and Bullwhip Inspirations
Chapter Four Santa Cookies and Gourmet Meals
Chapter Five Farm Life, Spittoons, and Friendship
Chapter Six Insects, Popeye the Sailor Man, and Groucho Marx
Chapter Seven Skull Concussions and Cod Sacks
Chapter Eight Separate, Back Porches, and Tumble-turds
Chapter Nine Gristmills and Hoochie Coochie shows
Chapter Ten The Orange Blossom Special and Spottie
Chapter Eleven The Iceman and the Poorman’s Patch
Chapter Twelve Hunting Squirrels and Charging Bulls
Chapter Thirteen Scrapping and the Wolfman
Chapter Fourteen Amazing Grace and Baptism
Chapter Fifteen Nude Swimming and Fish Traps
Chapter Sixteen Momma
Chapter Seventeen Workaholic
Chapter Eighteen Tenants, Sharecroppers, and Billy Graham
Chapter Nineteen Buggy Dates and Drive-in Movies
Chapter Twenty The Freight Train Smoker and Scooping up Crickets
Chapter Twenty-one Sandy Leigh, High School Sweetheart
Chapter Twenty-two Water Skiing and my Barbing Days
Chapter Twenty-three The Sawmill and the Pool Shark
Chapter Twenty-four Allison McKay and Rocking on the Blocks
Chapter Twenty-five Grapevines and Packhouses
Chapter Twenty-six Cobalt and Radium Treatments


Acknowledgements
Back in Those Days was an intense opportunity to reach into an era too quickly fading. It allowed me to discover a fascinating story that I hope reaches out to many people today, and that it enriches their lives. It has surely gifted me with the knowledge of a time I will always cherish.
In regards to this narrative, I want to dedicate it in several ways. At first, when I was in my early twenties, I lost my closest friend to suicide. This memoir brought me back to those memories, yet, I must say, hearing two brothers emotionally speak about losing their mother was immensely painful. Writing about this event was, without a doubt, one of the most emotionally jarring experiences I have ever penned. Therefore, Back in Those Days is given from my heart to anyone who has ever lost a loved one to suicide.
Secondly, cancer is one of the greatest evils that I can imagine confronting. Having known people to lose family and friends to cancer, my heart bleeds for you. Therefore, I sincerely desire to acknowledge anyone who has ever known, or, is maybe even suffering from this disease.
Third, I want to acknowledge my mother and sister. They have become my dearest friends. Their advice these past years has been invaluable.
Finally, ever since I was a young child, my father has believed in my academic ability. Even when I was tired of studying he would say, “I never raised a quitter.” Hence, I have persevered no matter the obstacles faced. This memoir took my writing outside the style I normally favor, but I am immensely glad to have taken this literary journey. Dad, Back in Those Days , is simply for you.
Always,
Amelia Michaels


Silence penetrates the heart and captures moments in time that replays in our hearts as sad melodies. It is a gentle whisper in the wind that echoes through time seeking grace instead of desperation. Yet, this emptiness in our soul never disappears, we just find ways to live with its hollowness.


Prologue
Momma’s Letter Written August 1951
Near the Trent River in Jones County, North Carolina
With trembling hands, I sit in private and begin to jot down these words, “What I have seen and heard is more than I can bear.” Tears form in my eyes, yet, it is a single tear that escapes and makes a lonely path down my cheek. However, I continue to write. These words, which are lodged so deeply in my soul must be expressed. So, with the greatest of sorrow, I proceed with pen and scribe.
“This will happen the next time I get to feeling down.”
To Whom it may concern:
“I cannot go on living as I now am. I am very sick at mind. Sometimes, I come so near to ending my life, but then I think of my family. I love Thomas, Tom, and Butch so much I do not want to hurt them. Then, again, I think of my sweet momma. I love her so much too. Maybe I do not show it enough sometimes, but when I leave you all, then some of you might think about how insane I have been recently, but you all did not take me seriously. I have tried to overcome doing my intentions, but sometimes, I almost did it anyway. I am sure I won’t be here much longer because I just can’t stand it. I do pray that God will forgive me for doing this; I have been sick at mind for several years.
Now, when my life is gone, this property that is in my name, I want left to my husband, Thomas, for his lifetime. Then, it is to be divided between my sons, Tom and Butch, equally at Thomas’s death.
I hate to leave my family, but they will soon forget because other people have. I hope everybody will be more friendly and take up a lot more time with Thomas, Tom, and Butch. A friend will be what they need most. Today, I cannot name a true friend that I have. I have longed for friends, but I have been ignored all the way. The public just didn’t know how much I wanted to be friendly and couldn’t be. So you see, if I were normal, I would not notice these things. Thomas works so hard, that I know, I just don’t do anything worthwhile. I love Mr. Jacob, too. I love him very much, but he has let me down. I hope by my passing on that it will bring momma and Mr. Jacob closer together. So please, sometimes, Mr. Jacob, just tell momma you love her. That helps a lot, I have never heard you say that you did.
Thomas darling, love the boys above anything else. They want your love. You are their eyeballs with me being gone. I hope this will bring you closer to them. I love you so, please forgive me for this.”
With these humble words, my final thoughts are now permanently reflected onto four small legal sheets of paper and safety clipped together. This laying of words now mirrors the hidden images of my soul.


New life is created in a mother’s womb. Imprints of tiny feet upon the skin, the radiance of an expectant mother; these are only the mere glimpses of the Creator’s hands.




Chapter One Where it all began
“This story begins with my mother and father, Thomas and Leah Ellington. My father was born in 1909 and my mother was born in 1914.” I am now seventy-eight years old, rocking on my front porch, and reflecting back over my life. “My memories, the bad ones, I do not want to focus on because I believe that the Lord has forgiven us of the bad things, so let us leave the bad things behind the best we can.”
I, Lucas Reign “Butch” Ellington, was born in Saint Luke’s Hospital on June 21, 1943. “My dad and Linda Abram delivered me. Linda Abram was a nurse and a good friend of my father who lived down in the small town of Pollocksville, North Carolina, Green Valley to be specific.” Mrs. Abram always called me “her boy” because when I was born, “the doctors were busy with other patients and could not attend to my birth.” Therefore, as you can see, “it was just the two of them that brought me into the world.” Dad said that I was an expensive baby because “I cost a hundred dollars and my brother had only cost him fifty.” Since Mrs. Abram and he had done all the work, he felt like it should have been much less. Yet, the doctor got all the money, it just was not fair. But no matter the cost, one thing was for certain, I was born in the middle of World War II. “I was a war baby, too young to be drafted.”
My parents were living in Pollocksville, at that time, and it was not very far from the Trent River. “The river was a few hundred yards behind where the house was and this house is still standing today.” Back then, and today t