Traskwood, Arkansas.

 Traskwood, Arkansas.

 

Sterling’s youngest son called him today to tell him about an older couple who lived in Benton County, Arkansas. He told them his family had friends and relatives in Traskwood. They could hardly believe that anyone as young as he is could know anything about Traskwood. Hello! Granddad Pollard was born there in 1900. He was one boy in a family of five boys and one girl. Now Lena (Elenor Lucille maybe) died from diphtheria by the time she was ten and really messed up Great-Grandmother Adria Captolia Pollard’s feelings about children, but she kept having more boys anyway. Then, when all other things—including a war—came along to her world, she lost her husband Peter to a “widow-maker”—a big ol’ limb that fell from the top of a tree. Another of the men in the family was a well digger and hit quicksand and died. Anyway, Sterling helped me reminisce about our favorite grandfather. His name was Leland Graham Pollard. His only child was Leland. The army insisted that daddy had to have a middle initial, so he took V after his grandfather Camp—Sterling V Camp. The V did not stand for anything despite what some dipwaddy wrote in a Montague history book. Guess his daughter would have known, and she said it was just not a name but a letter.

 

Remembering things that my granddad did when we were young just makes me smile and wish it were possible to hold his hand one more time. He told me on his death bed to take care of “Thel.” That was what he called Grandmother Pollard. He got a promise. We loved her, too. Sterling thought she was not all that and a bunch of hype, but we just have different outlooks. He looks at things differently because his love centered on a man’s viewpoint. It seemed to me that she did what she knew to do most of the time even if she could have done a better job. But who can say that they have always done their best? Certainly not this old woman. It has been in my thoughts more than once that Lewis could have certainly used a better cook, a better wife, a better partner, but he got what he got. And he did the best he could under the circumstances. He loved me. Pretty certain that was how Granddad Pollard lived his life. He loved Thel and did the best he could to take care of her. Could anyone ask more of a man?

 

Thinking about family and how our children are not ever really the same kind of people we are in so many ways. Have one really shy grandchild who barely opens up to talk. Smart as a whip, but not very loud about anything. Go figure. Definitely did not take that after his grandmother on this side of the family! Then one is a math whiz and has a master’s degree in business and finance. DEFINITELY not related by tendency to this grandmother!! One could talk to a fence post and get its family history! You guessed it—he is kin to me. Then there is the little beauty who loves critters. Yep. She might be kin. Just no chickens.

 

You know, God must look at His children and think about how they have turned out—or how they are still growing into the spirit of love that He wants. It makes me want to not disappoint Him. About all any of us can do is try. Not saying that we will ever do a perfect job even of trying, but we have the greatest example in our brother. You know: the one He gave for our sins.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.