Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Vision (08/03/06)
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TITLE: POTATO HILL | Previous Challenge Entry
By Patricia Williams
08/07/06 -
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It was a beautiful morning in the Ozarks. The ten of us quickly mounted our horses for our
ride to Potato Hill. Our guide for the day was 91 year old Leo and he was raring to go. We were headed for his old stomping ground. It was difficult to reach by car so the horses were going to have longer trek. Burl, Leo's 90 year old brother enjoyed riding as much as he did.
The trail twisted and winded it's way back into a beautiful forest of trees. I wondered how we would ever find our way out without a path. A flock of wild turkeys flew out into the path
causing the horses to startle. After calming them down we journeyed on. We saw a Doe with her fawn, birds of all kinds, and rabbits scurrying about. The feeling was awesome as I looked at the wild flowers that were peppered all over the fields. It gave me a feeling of oneness with God
and nature.
We came upon a low free flowing creek to cross. The horses watered while we took a brief rest. Leo and Burl told tales of their childhood. They shared how they had to cut pieces of cardboard to plug up the holes in their boots by summer's end.
Leo continued. " Burl and I rode Old Red the two miles to school every day. Our community had rallied together and built the schoolhouse in as central a location as possible for all of us kids. They built it with a basement. They used stone so it would stand the strong winds and heavy snowstorms. A lean to and corral was made for the horses. All of the families took responsibility for stocking the basement with home canned foods, staples, cots, blankets, bedding, pillows, and cooking utensils. The men made sure there was plenty of hay for the horses and stacked wood for the potbelly and cook stove. Frequently we would get snowed in because of a sudden blizzard. The teacher made us feel like it was a big pajama party. The girls shared in cooking and cleaning up the cooking utensils while us boys cared for the horses and kept wood in the stoves. We played games, sang songs and told stories to pass our time. A day or so later our parents would start arriving in their wagons to take us home. We would tie Old Red to the wagon for journey home.
We came upon the old homestead first. We dismounted and rested for awhile, by then it was getting hot. The house was worse for its 100 year wear, teetering and unstable. It was easy to visualize a home here for the memories that permeated the atmosphere.
Mounting again we proceeded the two miles to the schoolhouse where we would eat our lunch. Crossing the two creek beds and riding through the lush forest made it a sight to behold.
Dismounting at the schoolhouse we tied our horses to the hitching post. Walking up the steps and into the schoolroom brought back a flood of memories to be shared. The original twenty-four desks were still there. The teacher lived in the two rooms off of the classroom. In Leo's words, "In those days teaching was a full time job and a commitment held in as high an honor as that of being the Pastor or Doctor."
By now we had hearty appetites and finished off our lunches. The tour of the school basement assured all of us this had been a community that planned ahead for the needs of their loved ones.
For me the day had been very exciting. It was like walking into yesteryear. I couldn't help but think of the unusual wisdom that these people had in foreseeing what could happen and preparing for it. The vision of yesteryear needs to be with us today as we face our problems with not only environmental disasters but also the threat of situations that can be caused by terrorists.
We need to work together as a community, city, state, and nation to prepare for problems we are going to have to combat. The government cannot do for us what we can do for ourselves with the help of God. It is part of our heritage to survive and win no matter what challenge is presented to us. In order to survive and win we must keep the vision to be prepared..
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