Friday, May 20, 2011

Mountains, the Ocean, and Body Piercings—Firsts for a Texas Girl by Celia Yeary

My guest today is fellow writer Celia Yeary. With a tag line of:  Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas one can tell that Celia loves everything Texas! Here she'll share with you her childhood tale of a road trip she took with her family to California. Imagine a simpler time in society before the computer . . . and treasure the closeness of family. Celia would love to hear from you.




Mountains, the Ocean, and Body Piercings—Firsts for a Texas Girl
By Celia Yeary

Decades ago when I was eight years old, my parents decided to drive from the West Texas Plains to Long Beach, California to visit Mother’s sister and her family. Imagine the days of no commercial television and no air conditioners in cars. We owned a 1940 Ford, and knowing that we would drive many miles across desert, Daddy bought a canvas water bag to hang over the radiator cap. “This might save our lives,” he said, “or we might need it if the radiator boils over.” Wow, I could hardly wait.

So, off we go across New Mexico, Arizona, and California to the coast. I am the middle of three sisters, so I usually had to sit between them in the back seat, with the “hump” in the floor under my feet. While it wasn’t as bad as circumstances were for the Joad family in The Grapes of Wrath, I only remember having a good time. I suppose this is God’s way of taking care of innocent children.

When the first mountains came into view in the far distance, the blurry sight entranced me so much, Mother made one sister trade places with me. She probably did this because I was near-sighted but did not own a pair of glasses at that time. Since the temperature soared to around 110 degrees, we drove with all the windows down. To have the best view the mountains, I stuck my head partially out the window. Even though the wind almost blew my head off, if I squinted I could make out the shape of the peaks and the snow on tops of a few.

After three days of grueling travel, we arrived at our aunt’s house in Long Beach. Her name was Irene, but we called her Aunt Sister, because Mother called her Sister. The beach wasn’t visible from her house, but late in the day, we walked down to the edge of the water. The roar of the ocean, the gentle splashing of the waves, and the blue-gray water scared me. I’d never seen anything so immense, so vast.

The day before our visit ended, Aunt Sister took me by the hand and led me to a back bedroom. She closed the door and told me to sit on the dresser stool. “Sweetie,” she said, “I have some beautiful gold earrings I bought the day you were born, and I’ve saved them just for you. Would you like to see them?”

“Uh-huh,” I said, loving earrings, because Mother always wore a pair in her pierced ears.

The earrings lay in a small white leather case lined with felt. She opened it so I could see. “They’re so beautiful,” I told her, and asked, “Can I touch one?”

Aunt Sister explained that the small 18-karat gold hoop earrings were mine, as soon as I allowed her to pierce my ears. I jumped up from the stool and said, “Do it now.” She questioned me a little until she was sure. Then, as I sat on the dresser stool and watched in the mirror, she pierced my ears. (Those with a weak stomach may hit the mute button.) First, she put clothespins on my earlobes to deaden them. Then she dipped a needle with white thread in alcohol, removed one clothespin, held a cork to the back of my earlobe, and shoved the needle through the lobe, and tied the ends in a knot. She repeated the process on the other side, and dabbed each one with Campho-Phenique. She opened my hand, placed the case in my palm, and kissed and hugged me. All this time, no one knew Aunt Sister had pierced my ears—not even Mother.

On the drive back to Texas, I carried my special gifts in my hands—the small case that held the earrings in one, and a bottle of medication to dab on my ears every few hours in the other. And in my heart? Precious memories of love, generosity, nature’s wondrous creations, and a road trip I’ve never forgotten.



Guest Bio
  Celia Yeary is a seventh-generation Texan, and her life revolves around family, friends, and writing. San Marcos has been her home for thirty-five years. She has eight published romance novels, two “coming soon” novels, short stories in anthologies, articles, and essays with a local magazine. The author is a former science teacher, graduate of Texas Tech University and Texas State University, mother of two, grandmother of three, and wife of a wonderful, supportive Texan. Celia and her husband enjoy traveling, and both are involved in their church, the community, and the university.



http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com


  

32 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, Celia, this post brought tears to my eyes. From one middle girl to another, those family road trips are a precious memory stories are just made of. Thank you so much for sharing. And I got you followed, Elaine. Very nice blog.

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  2. Nice story, Celia. I enjoyed the read. It's odd the things which make something memorable to us. I don't think ear piercing would do it for me but obviously it is the spark that makes that trip precious to you.

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  3. Hi, Elaine--I love your new blog. First,it looks great, and second...I think you have a fascinating title for it--"Everyone's Story."
    We all love to hear about others, and this is a good venue. Thanks for having me today--Celia

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  4. Celia...Aw... what a heartwarming story. Thanks so much for sharing. I can't imagine the travel during that time. It must have been quite a challenge.

    We didn't do a lot of traveling when I was younger, but going to visit my grandmother's house in Hinsdale was always an adventure.

    I lived in Manchester, NH, the biggest city in NH, about 100,000 people. My grandmother in a small town on the NH/VT/MA border called Hinsdale and it was a 2 hour drive from the big city. We would travel west out of Manchester and through some small NE towns. We traveled up Temple Mountain and our ears would pop. Coming down the mountain was fun. In Keene, we might stop for shopping or McDonalds. From Keene, Bopie's house was 30 mins away. We called our grandmother Bopie, short for the Polish word, Bopchie for grandmother.

    In Winchester we went over 2 covered bridges. I always thought that was cool. We traveled next to rivers and in the summers it was very green and in the winters it was very white.

    My grandmother's house was old and there was always something to do. Go exploring the woods or better yet - the attic or the shed. I found my Uncle Bill's stash of comics from the 50's in the shed. For me, that was the BEST day ever.

    It was quite an adventure for my little sister and me.
    Smiles
    Steph

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  5. Hi Ladies - nice blog and enjoyed the post.

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  6. Enjoyed the post Celia. And good to see you here at Elaine's.

    I remember when my daughter got her first pair of glasses she was impressed with how much detail she could see on the mountain where we'd lived in the foothills all of her life, by that time when she was 8.

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  7. Hi Celia and Elaine, touching story and brave!

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  8. Ouch Celia- You remind me of the day we took my granddaughter then a four-month-old baby and had her ears pierced in the mall. I had her bottle in my hand while the technician got ready. I kept feeding the baby but I turned my head. I just couldn't look. By the time her scream pierced my ears and my heart, the technician was already done with one ear, and bravely attacked the other. A lady shopper stopped and glared at us, saying: I can't believe you do that to baby.

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  9. Celia, what a sweet story. I love finding out new things about you. My family are split between CA and TX too and we made that same trip many times.

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  10. What a very, very special story! Thank you for sharing!

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  11. Hi Celia and Elaine--Sure I cringed when I read about your earpiercing Celia. I had my granddaughter's ears pierced when she was four-month-old. She took her bottle like an angel, but I couldn't look, though I jumped at her delayed screams. By then, her ears already had the little golden balls.

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  12. Celia, this is the first time I've heard anyone outside my family mention having an "Aunt Sister" but it is logical, isn't it? As a friend who can remember cars without A/C and other such "deprivation" let me say I enjoyed this post very much. Lovely blog, Elaine. I'll be back. Linda

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  13. What a great story, Celia. What did your parents say when they discovered your pierced ears?

    I pierced my own ear (just the left one is pierced--but it has two holes) when I was in college. Did it for a halloween party. It didn't hurt, but sounded awful.

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  14. What an innocent and beautiful moment in time. My ears certainly weren't pierced with such care. Thanks for sharing, Celia.

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  15. Celia,
    Great story - love the details and description you are always so good at! I'm near-sighted, too, so can relate to your vision loss without glasses. We didn't have air-conditioning in the car or house during my childhood. I can remember one summer being over 100 degrees and my mom filled her metal tub with water that she used on laundry day so I could cool off in it in the backyard. I pretended it was a huge swimming pool and I only wore my panties. Life was definitely simple but beautiful because we had each other.

    And Elaine, bless your heart - what a great title for your new blog!

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  16. A.J.--middle girl..we're a different breed, aren't we? I'm so glad you liked the story! That means a lot to me. Celia

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  17. J. R.--Guess you have to a girl! Thanks for reading and commenting...Celia

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  18. STEPH--you have very good memories. Isn't it interesting how little ordinary things can make a little story! Thanks! Ceali

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  19. Thank you, P.L.! Glad you came by--Celia

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  20. Jeanmarie--yes, just like me. We often went to the drive-in movie, and the screen just looked black and blurry. I'd stand behind Mother, and ask, what's happening now? During the credit or the beginning with the actors, I'd ask--what does that say? Read all of it. That's when they finally realized I could not see! No body in the family wore glasses, so they never once thought I had a problem. Neither did I, until I got glasses. Celia

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  21. Thanks to my new followers--and everyone else just dropping by for a visit with Celia and me. And AJ--thanks for the enthusiasm :)

    Elaine

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  22. Caroline--isn't if a funny small world after all?

    Elaine

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  23. Linda--I'm glad you're be back to visit!!

    Elaine

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  24. Oh good, Diane. Do come back for more visits. It's exciting to have people from all over stopping by for a chat.

    Elaine

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  25. MONA--If I had a little one now, I'd get her ears pierced. My husband would have a fit, though. He's never made any comment about my pierced ears...never..but he looks away when I put them in my ears while dressing. Celia

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  26. CAROLINE--REALLY? And we didn't even know we were miserable, did we? Celia

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  27. LINDA--ahh, so we understand each other very well! Celia

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  28. KEENA--they didn't say anything. Mother had her pierced and so did my older sister. She just thought it was sweet of her sister to do that.Celia

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  29. Celia, I had to LOL. I totally empathize. Husbands are interesting creatures. Probably copying my mother who never had her ears pierced, I confess, I still do not have pierced ears, nor plan to, though I love the looks of them. However, my poor husband nearly breaks down when he thinks about me getting my hair cut.

    Elaine

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  30. Elaine--yes, they are a funny lot. It's a good thing they didn't have to give birth! Celia

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  31. Celia, thank you so much for being my guest this past week. It was a pleasure to have you--you've been a great hit! I've even had a few people who haven't posted a comment say to me that they've read your story and enjoyed it! I hope you will consider coming back.

    And thank you, new readers and returning ones, for dropping by for a visit.

    Blessings,

    Elaine

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  32. I had a wonderful time on your blog. Thanks for inviting me. Good luck. Celia

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