For the first five years of my life, my dad would bring home something to surprise my sisters and me each evening when he got home from work. It might have been candy or apples, oranges, or bananas, or it might have been something he brought home from the areas where he worked, such as a lizard, a turtle, or berries. The latter were my favorites.
In the early spring, dad brought home delicious little red pepper-looking treats that he gathered from some variety of cactus. I myself, in spite of all my wandering, never ran across that variety of cactus. I just remember the cactus fruits were a real delicacy.
Occasionally, my dad would win a whole box of Valomilk or Cherry Mash candy that he won on a punch card at the gas station he used. Other times, he brought gallon-size cans of peanuts or molasses or honey that he purchased on his way home.
Of course, that always kept us watching for him to get home, and we would run out to meet him and jump onto the running board. We could do that because we lived almost a mile back in the woods away from the state highway.
We did that until I stepped in mud and slid off the running board of the car and slid under the moving car. Thank goodness, my only injury was a broken collar bone. Anyway, we had to discontinue our way of greeting my father, which he had seemed to enjoy as much as we did.
I think perhaps my first five years were the happiest of my childhood.
-- Louis Houston is a resident of Siloam Springs. His book "The Grape-Toned Studebaker" is available locally and from Amazon.com. Send any questions or comments to [email protected] or call 524-6926. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 09/21/2016