I so love my early morning reads and times of reflection that warm my soul as I remember simpler times from my childhood.
Coal camp life presented a uniqueness that will never again be reality. The camps were designed in such a way, that children of families became classmates from elementary school to graduation from high school.
There was a time in the coal camps of West Virginia that I remember so well.
Stay at home moms formed their own social groups. Many attended church together and there were women’s societies formed within the church that ministered in many ways to missionaries at home and abroad. And some were involved in charity organizations outside the church.
Living in the coalfields brought the most unique style of living for all of us.
Once the kids were off to school or, in the summertime out early in their mountain playground, and hubby at work, the women gathered to have coffee, exchange recipes or cut and style each other’s hair. Pin curls were the fashion for some back then. I never did understand how Momma managed to reach behind her head, twist a curl and slide a bobby pin thru her hair. On occasion, the women were known to share “just a little bit” of neighborly gossip.
Who knew that today, social media of the high-tech world would replace all that?! I think I like the older approach better.
Let’s set the scene as it might have been as a housewife is being visited and listen in to a sample of what may be heard as one such day occurred in the coal fields of southern West Virginia.
A one-act play:.
Viv hears the footsteps approaching the back door and as her neighbor walks in.
“Hey, Sadie, the coffee's ready. And be sure the screen door latches, don’t want flies getting in here.”
Like everyone we meet, the greeting tends to open with the weather…
“Did you hear the thunder last night?” Sadie asked.
"Yeah, Viv said. Came a good rain, didn't it?"
Sadie walks over to the stove to pour her coffee; “So whatcha been up to, Viv?” she asks as the tinkling sound of the spoon against her cup blends the milk in her coffee.
“Well, not much.” Have some more canning to do and getting in the rest of the garden. Not much left but I can make some end of garden pickles with what’s there.”
“My momma used to make those pickles; Sadie noted. It was a time when nothing was wasted and everything that could possibly be preserved, well, it was preserved. And used through the winter.
“I know what you mean, Sadie. We have to watch the money, because we never know when there might be a lay-off or a strike, nor how long it could last.”
Glancing up at the clock on the wall, “Guess I’d better get going’, Sadie said as she turned up her cup of “good to the last drop” coffee.” Gotta get down to the company store and pick up a couple of things before the young ‘uns get home from school.”
“Let me know when you want that perm so I can make the time for it”
“I will,” Sadie replies
“And I'm glad to hear your family's doing well. Y'all just come on over the first chance you get, and we'll sit in the swing and tell some of those tales I’ve been itching to talk about...like the time Aunt Flossie went out to milk the cows and stepped in a fresh cow pie. Whew! Good thing she kept a spare pair of old garden shoes in the tobacco barn."
“Take care, now, Viv. I may run in to you at the company store sometime and we'll just catch up on politics and raisin’ kids there by the produce shelves.”
" Okay and come back anytime" Viv yells, as the screen door slams shut.
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