Page 72 - barefoot-in-the-sand-remembering-the-waning-days-of-the-hopewell-community-(1998)-bruce-c-gragg

Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 68/123

EARLY YEARS LEARNING

So many of the learning experiences I had while growing up cannot
even be imagined by so many of today’s youngsters. To me it was an
education within itself, no amount of book learning can make up for
it. On a remote farm such as ours, you are so close to nature and all
of God's creation, and you can learn much just by observing. In that
time frame just who could imagine the changes that would take place
in the next fifty years. But, without keeping up in education,
someone can get left behind so quickly. While it would be impossible
to go back to the days gone by, now they must only remain as a
pleasant memory, a small part of my life. I cannot adequately and
correctly relate to anyone not there and lived the same type of
experience. In these pages there is no way I can remember everyone or
everything that contributed to the lighter side of a hard life. By
the time Vera and I came along life on the farm was easier than when
Mama was growing up. This is to remember family and friends and how
they all worked together to make it in those final years on the
family homestead. They all worked together to make it an enjoyable
learning experience. Not everyday as filled with drudgery and toil,
we did take some time to just enjoy life.

No one in our neighborhood was rich or even well to do, but they all
believed in God and helping one another, the two ingredients of any
successful community. One thing I remember, of learning about life by
someone outside the immediate family was Mr. Charlie Pafford, he was
a firm believer in if you are going to be a good neighbor you have to
be ready to accommodate them when the need arises. The Pafford's also
had a large family, William, Mary, Clifford, Curtis, Bernard, Joy,
and Barbara Ann. Mr. Pafford operated his farm, (the old Richard
Burnette Place) he was a good farmer with probably the best soil
suited for farming in the whole community. He worked very hard even
though he had his back broken in the mid forties while working the
logging woods when a dead tree fell on him. Most of the community did
what they could to help during his time of trouble.

One way I feel I continue this idea is in my work via the Lions Clubs
for the last approximately thirty years. When I work to provide for
the needy, I feel as I am doing something for others to help them.
Here "we serve" the less fortunate, and those who cannot provide for
themselves the necessities of life. This is one way we can pay rent
for space we use in our stay here on earth for our few short years.
The best way to repay those who sacrificed to provide for you is by
giving of your time and energy to help those less fortunate than
yourself. I've tried to practice

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