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Is Walking, Learning?
By Frederick Corrigan
It was a beautiful, bright, sunny, summer day and I was so lucky. My parents had allowed me to stay with my grandparents for a few days. To the best of my recollection, I would have been about 4 ½ years old. We had lunch and then my grandmother went into the bedroom and put on her Sunday dress and a nice hat. It wasn’t Sunday, but she said that we were going for a walk, so that was fine with me. She made sure that I was clean and put some clean clothes on me. I didn’t have my dress up clothes, but grandma said that these would have to do. We said goodbye to grandpa and started walking down the road. We were a mile from a small country store, so I asked if we were going shopping. “No”, she replied, we’re going to walk past the store to visit with grandpa’s brother’s family. It seemed like a very long walk for a 5’2” grey haired lady and her young towhead grandson. We walked in the hot sun for 2 miles and after I had asked at every other house if we were there yet, grandma finally said, ”there’s the house”. The house was much smaller then my grandparent’s farmhouse and it didn’t have much paint on it. When I said that the house looked sad, my grandma said that these nice folks are poor, but they’re doing the best that they can. We walked up the front steps and a nice man greeted us. We walked toward the front room and I know that my eyes must have got very big. Grandma squeezed my hand and led me into the room. The room was full of adults sitting in chairs that were lined up in rows. There were no other children in sight, except for one child. This little boy, about 2 years old, was lying in a white box that was in front of the rows of chairs. I didn’t understand and my grandma asked me not to ask questions and please sit quietly. Then many of the people took a string of beads out of their pockets and for a very long time they prayed together on their rosaries. I didn’t know what the rosaries were or why the little boy was sleeping in the white box. In those days, when grandma asked you to be quiet, you stayed quiet. When everyone stopped praying, grandma talked to most of the people in the room and told folks who I was.
Just before we left, my grandma and I went up to the sleeping little boy and I asked if I could touch him. My grandma said, “no”, but we should say one last prayer because the little boy wasn’t sleeping, he was with the angles in heaven. I don’t even remember the long walk back home, but as I look back, this was at least a 4 ½ hour trip from the time we left home. In the 1940’s this was a big excursion with grandma and I’m sure that my parents got an earful when I saw them a few days later. As I think back grandpa, who was 20 years older than grandma, must not have felt comfortable babysitting me. Also, babysitting was probably considered woman’s work in those days. Whatever the case, they were poor, but fine people doing the best that they could. Lesson learned and remembered----Love and Prayer are much greater than Money.
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Contributor's Note
There is probably a lesson every place you walk, if you observe.
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Grampa and Grandma
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What an interesting story. It's so easy to forget how things must seem through the eyes of a child.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
It made an impression on me, June. It still comes to mind whenever I drive past the house, even if it's been years since last visiting that area.
Thanks for your comments.
Best wishes.
Frederick
Thx for this Frederick, another great intel.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you for visiting and for your support, Grant.
Best to you.
Frederick
Frederick, nice intel. Going for a walk is an excellent time to do some thinking, as no doubt you must have done in the situation you`ve written about as a child.
 | | odls Jan 28, 2010 19:31 | |
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thinking is one of our greatest assets,Geoff. I'm just fortunate enough to still have the capacity.
Thanks for your comments.
Best to you.
Frederick
After all I guess you know what a fly without wings is called ?
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
I do believe that a fly without wings is called a,"Walk".
Thank you for adding to my intel.
Best to you.
Frederick
Thanks for the memories.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you for your kind comment, Nora. This article writing has given me the opportunity to recall many things, long forgotten.
Best wishes.
Frederick
When I was about 4 years old such 'laying ins' were quite common because of a TB and Polio epidemic. It was a grim way to learn that we were not immortal but it was also a very effective way to bind the community and make it stronger.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you for you comments, Arthur.
I'm told that the reason they built homes with 36 inch wide front doors, is to accomonadate caskets being brought into the front parlor.
Best to you.
Frederick
Thanks, Frederick for a great story.
Regards,
Jim
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thanks for your support,Jim.
Best wishes.
Frederick
Great story. I am trying to picture you staying quiet. Franklyn
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
It isn't a picture that has many reprints.
Thanks for the comments, Franklyn.
Best to you.
Frederick
Thank You for sharing this memory
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thanks for your support,Eliza.
Best to you.
Frederick
Love your writing style! :)
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thanks for visiting and your support.
Best wishes.
Frederick
Part of a young fellow's life education, no doubt? Long way to get there. though!
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments, Peter.
Best wishes.
Frederick
Thank you, a most interesting read.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
I'm glad that you found the intel interesting, Anthony. It was a different way of life back then.
Thanks for your visit.
Best to you.
Frederick
You must have had a hundred questions about what you had seen.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
More questions then answers, Angela.
Thank you for visiting.
Best wishes.
Frederick
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