Directions: |
Directions:
I've had many adventures on the farm with my Papaw Bundy, most pleasant but a few less than. In his later years, many adventures involved combing the farm to find him when he was realized to be "missing."
One particular event is forever etched in my memory and helped me to realize that while time may have weakened his body, it couldn't touch his constitution.
We got a call that Papaw was missing and so the search began. Dad searched by 4-wheeler while Beth and I began the process on foot. Dad had to drive very slowly to ensure that he did not run over Papaw should he be lying on the ground. As we crept along, we shouted and called his name until our voices grew hoarse. I'm sure the words "Dad" and "Papaw" were ringing and echoing to the far corners of the acreage.
I think Dad employed us to assist because he felt that Papaw might be more inclined to answer our call than Dad's. After a lengthy search, Papaw answered one of my cries with a timid yell. We found him leaning casually against a barbed-wire fence. Upon closer inspection, we discovered that Papaw's overalls were entwined in the fence and he was too tired, too dehydrated and too weak to untangle himself. Dad released Papaw and attempted to persuade him to ride to the house on the 4-wheeler. Of course, Papaw refused.
Dad took off ahead of us mildly frustrated but not surprised by Papaw's stubbornness. Beth and I walked as slowly as possible while Papaw purposefully lagged behind. As we inched our way up the long gravel road back to the house, Papaw continually muttered under his breath. At one point, I made out the phrase, "thank God." I asked, attempting to hide my humor, "What are you thanking God for, Papaw?" He gruffly and breathlessly replied, "Girls, I've got a lot to thank God for, including getting me off that fence." Beth and I were in stitches but made every attempt not to laugh until we were safely out of earshot.
Later when we relayed the story to Dad, he did not laugh and only commented, "He ought to be thanking Gene Bundy for getting him off that fence!" This, of course, only made the entire event even more humorous for Beth and me. We have laughed about this for years.
I think a watered-down version of his constitution helps me through life's every day trials and challenges. Papaw and Mamaw gave many of us the gifts of determination, resilience, perseverance, grit and true strength.
|
This recipe for Stubborn as Barbed Wire is from