By James and Ellen Perry
While sitting on my porch this late July afternoon I’ve noticed that the daylight hours have shortened by 23 minutes since late June.
The days getting shorter means we are slowly moving toward fall and then winter. Although the daylight hours are changing, our hottest and driest month is usually August.
Another harbinger of fall is that school will start in about three weeks. I know the school age kids can’t wait. My age group’s school started late August and early September because during the ’40s and ’50s, tobacco had to be cut and hung in the barns to cure and the entire family took part in that process.
The kids then looked forward to school as they would get a couple sets of school clothes and new pencils and a Big Chief notebook. The new shoes would come in October just before frost time.
During mid-September, the new Fords, Chevys and Plymouths were shone to the American public. Although most in the south could not afford a new car, it was exciting to see all three of the new models. There were many other cars made in the USA, but Ford, Chevy and Plymouth ruled.
My mind now wanders to the present times, and in September of last year as I prepared an article for the October 2021 issue of this paper, I titled the article “The Crow’s Nest.” The article centered around a bunch of retired mostly males who congregated each morning at the Mickey D’s restaurant in Halls Crossroads, better known to locals as just plain Halls.
They came to be known as the crows because they would come circling Mickey D’s every morning between 8 and 9 a.m., come inside and circle to see who was there, especially a nice lady that I refer to as the bluebird. The bluebird had an impossible mission—namely to keep the old crows in harness.
Well, sad to say the crows lost their nesting place at Mickey D’s in the spring of this year. Mickey D’s was torn down so a new modern one could replace it.
This did not please the crows. They were lost without a home nest and started looking for a replacement, but none were satisfied. They even took down the trees on the lot after demolishing the Mickey D’s building. This infuriated the leader of the pack because as a boy he played there many years where the Halls Mickey D’s would be built. Everyone knows that young boys don’t go home when playing to pee, so the largest of these trees became to him like a fire hydrant to a dog. Boys will be boys.
So many happy personal memories happened around the site where the Halls Mickey D’s was located.
I’ve noticed Leroy, while sitting with the crows at their temporary nesting site, wanders back to his carefree boyhood days spent with his friends playing in and around where the Mickey D’s was situated. His eyes get that faraway look and every now and then a small tear forms in his eyes.
I can visualize the teenaged Leroy sitting under that very tree with his first love, maybe getting his first kiss from a pretty young girl. Maybe seeing that same tree (much larger by now) as he left home and Halls for his time serving his country in the army, probably dreaming at night in his barracks of that tree and the girl he left behind.
On his return home after serving, while passing through Halls he was looking for that tree that he had his special relationship with. Through the years he has been able to see that tree and reminisce of the relief it gave and those special nights and times from his youth.
As for the other named crows, Paul, Gary, Darrel and Linda, Tall Paul, Don, Greg, Joe, Preacher Elbert and Ron, they have all sought to find another crow’s nest, but none has been able to fill the void left by the destruction of their beloved Mickey D’s of old. We have all been guaranteed by Dalton (the manager) the new Mickey D’s will be amazingly better.
Here are some facts on crows:
Crows are noted in mythology. They are often identified as clever tricksters. This fable is shared by common crows as well as human crows.
American crow genus: corvus brachybhynchos
American human crow genus; corvus bs-er
Habitat: American crow; all 48 contiguous US States
American human crows; Fast food restaurants, early mornings, across continental USA
Human crows number in the millions.
American human crows reach their collective early morning gathering rituals around the age of 60 and increase their tall tale offerings as they age, reaching their full potential of tomfoolery near the age of 80.
We are all watching with guarded optimism but waiting to see in a few days if our concerns will be relieved and our new nest will be as comfortable as was our beloved former nest at Mickey D’s in Halls.
We have been told that the new Mickey D’s in Halls will be opening in a few days. Can’t wait to see the flock together again under the close and matronly eyes of the bluebird.
Don’t forget to drop some coins into the Ronald McDonald receptacle. I know the Ronald McDonald House does a great service for people needing their help across the US.
Well, let me go into my home and turn Kenny Vance and the Planotones on the computer for some great doo-wop. See you next month.