Bring A Broom Instead Of A Bible

     Having just returned from Jacksonville, visiting the Fam! My father, Homer, so kindly, gave me this blog title.
         There is a photo of The Blackman family at church, and I am holding a broom. Daddy then proceeded to tell me, I bought a broom to church and not a bible!! My brother said, I may have rode in on it, but I was all of five!!

Brothers!!

        We lived at church, like so many in the south, and I always liked props, accessories, dolls, books! Sundays were long, and  there was not a children's room.You sat in the big church, with your parents or cousins, and later with friends. I remember grandmother putting her hand on my knee to keep me from swinging my legs. I made all kinds of things out of the money offering envelopes. The broom, I feel sure was under the pew, until I was allowed to sweep myself out of there!! I loved church, for about ten minutes, but I had to learn to be still, and sing loud. I still like to carry things to do with me at all times, I was and remain, a girl with a big purse, and maybe not a bible!! ( I collect Bibles, and have read the entire Bible several times) ( but that little girl in the photo, was going to sweep) 

     My trip home, was fun, Baby Wyatt, newest gran, met the great grandparents. 

     Took a tour with Uma, (thats me) around my home town, streets, bridges, old boyfriends houses.

Kenmore Street, 26th Street, 68 Street, High School, Elementary School, Main Street, Pearl Street. Wyatt was asleep in the back of the car, but he heard my vivid description of my youth. Susan lived there on Lucky Drive, Grandmothers big tree, I use to climb in that tree! There is my house, on Kenmore Street,  a house filled with love. Pop Pop use to work at a grocery store next to Doc Browns soda fountain place, when he was a boy!! The river runs through every cell in my body, and leads to the ocean. My history, I pass on, good, bad and now it looks so ugly. But my picture of the past, it all looks so beautiful. The Tutt's camellia  bushes, The Lowen's azalea bushes, its funny how I remember the flowers everywhere. Sounds, smells, the taste of a Polar Bear icecream cone, and a broom at church. 

     It is my story, and even if the city looks worn out, it will stay beautiful in my drive by commentary.

     I loved growing up in Jacksonville, and it will always hold a sweet spot in my heart. ( I just wish that, like in Riverside, someone would restore Northside) Maybe it was meant to remain, like something from the 1950's, but like my son said, " Mom, the homes look sturdy and have good bones!" Well, I think that is true, it just needs tons of money, and some love. Maybe I could just bring my broom, and sweep up the mess.OR I could have learned more in church, and pray for a miracle!!

     All I know for sure, is you cannot go home again, if it is not even there.

     In my mind, it will forever be Northside at its finest.