Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Wistful Wednesday: Neighbors

Last week was a hard week for long time neighbors.  People that I have known nearly all my life…well since my parents moved to their farm in Carsonville township  in 1952.

Ruby.  What  a gal, she celebrated her Christmas Eve birthday of 100 years and lived 16 days longer than that.   She and her husband Bob owned the Texaco Station in Ponsford.  Bob and I shared a dog one summer.  A German Shepherd showed up at the farm, she would stay a few days and then be gone, a few days later she would show up again.  I named her Princess.  I snuck her food, but we had other dogs on the farm and didn’t need another.   One day we stopped at the Texaco station and there she was…the mystery was solved…Bob couldn’t figure out where she (Patsy) went or why?  We lived just over 4 miles away.  Ruby always loved that old memory of the shared dog.  Bob has been gone a long time (he died in 1999) and now sweet Ruby has joined him.  Their lake place on the west side of Shell Lake was a great place to swim in the summer and we were always welcomed. Hot summer nights before air conditioning spent on their dock is a fond memory for me as a kid. Last summer Ruby invited me to her birthday party and so when it rolled around I went…she was so happy to see the good turn out for her birthday. She made it to 100!  She said she would and she did.

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The old Texaco sign still marks the spot of the old station in Ponsford.

Jim.  Jim died the day after Ruby.  Since they were good friends that used to play cards together all the time it is fitting that he died the day after Ruby.  They lived just a mile apart all their lives.  Jim was 94.  We used to have coffee with Jim and his wife Irene and talk about area history. Jim’s Grandpa Nunns family and Far Guy’s Great Grandfather Abbott family were neighbors up in Eramosa Township, Wellington County  Ontario Canada. They all made the trip together to Eunice Township Becker County first in 1889 and shortly therafter settled in Carsonville Township.  Jim used to say that his Grandpa was sickly and would have died in Canada, but the healing air of the pine boughs saved him here in Minnesota. ( Then he would wipe away a tear or two.)  Jim used to say that there were many Indian mounded graves in the area…one was right along the road.  He had lots of stories to tell.  One story I will share; Jim had a pretty good looking Stallion.  Our daughter Trica worked out a deal with him to have her horse “visit” the stallion for awhile….when asked what we owed for feed…he replied “The good Lord provided the rain and sunshine for a good pasture and there is no way I am charging you for that!”

Jim and his wife Irene were married for 72 years before she died in 2016. Up until that time they were constant companions.  Their children took turns caring for them on the farm until 2015 when Irene needed extra help so they moved into assisted living and away from their farm.

In years past we would enjoy seeing a team hitched up to a sleigh or a wagon taking kids and grandkids for a ride the old fashioned way.  “There goes Jim.”

St Theodores Ponsford

Saying goodbye to really old friends is hard.  Not many old timers around anymore.  Soon we will be the old timers….maybe we are already.

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27 comments:

Sallysmom said...

Oh, my. Someone cutting onions around here. Thank you so much for sharing these precious memories. Seems younger people don't care about them but I do.

linda m said...

Those are precious memories. Saying good bye to old friends is never easy.

thecrazysheeplady said...

:-/

Pauline Persing said...

I've been sorting photos and remembering old friends and relatives. The memories pile up more and more as I age.

Mac n' Janet said...

A very special post today, thanks for sharing it.

Phyllis Pritchard said...

A very nice post about 2 very special Ponsford people. It is hard to say "Good-bye" to people who have been in our lives since we can remember.

Tired Teacher said...

Good memories of two special people.

J.T. said...

Sorry for your loss. It is so hard to let good friends go, but thankful for the years we have had as friends.

The team of horses hitched to a sleigh or wagon reminds me of my childhood in Minnesota. My grandpa would hitch up the horses and away we would go with my brothers and cousins. At the time I thought everyone had grandparents on a farm who did that. Now I realize how truly special it was.

Kansas Kay said...

Beautiful memories and a nice post. I am glad your friend Ruby made it to 100! Lets all start saying that!

Anonymous said...

It's hard to lose old friends. My 99 year old friend died in October. I still have a 93 year old friend. They are a joy and have so much to offer.
Take care.

Rita said...

What great memories to cherish. Hard to say goodbye.
Yup--we are gradually turning into the old timers. True. True.

The Great Ethan Allen said...

Wow! Longevity in Minnesota! I would not mind living to 100... or 94 for that matter. I at least need to make it to 88.(my birthday is 8,8,1970) And if I get that far, I might as well push for 100. It's a good number. I love hearing about people who enjoy a long life. And all those memories they acquire.

Bonnie said...

Thanks for sharing these lovely memories. Yes, I guess we are becoming the old timers now. Life sure does go around fast doesn't it.

Victoria Zigler said...

Sorry for your loss, and thank you for letting us share in such precious memories.

Cynthia said...

What long lives they lived. I think there IS something about that brisk, pine-filled Up North air that sustains.

lisa said...

I just hope that the old timers will be able to pass on their wonderful wisdom for those of us in the future!

marlu said...

Wonderful memories for you and your blog friends to share.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Oh such touching stories

L. D. said...

I liked having old friends as their stories were so good. My old friends lived the good old days and were like people from the Walton’s family.

Granny Marigold said...

Sorry to hear about your old friends. Old people have so many stories to tell and I'm sorry I didn't ask my parents more questions. Now the answers will never be known.

Red said...

Some people lived incredibly remarkable lives. they worked hard and made a difference.

Linda Reeder said...

Such a poignant post today. I enjoyed reading it. I realized I have two friends that I see almost every Friday morning that are both 90. I guess they are my "old timers". It would be hard to lose them.

DJan said...

I love these memories, and these people I will never know have come alive to me through your post. So grateful for the ability to learn about them today. :-)

The Wykeham Observer said...

Quite a gift to have friends with those memories.

Debi said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your dear friends.

Jacqi Stevens said...

What poignant remembrances of long time friends--with photos aptly adding what words could not...

Sam I Am...... said...

What great stories, friends and history! It is sad to lose friends you've had for years. I have none left really. No one really knows my history anymore for what it's worth. Your stories are wonderful and you are a great writer! I'm sorry for your losses...rough week!