You may take the man out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the man. Country life gets under your fingernails and under your skin, and finally it seeps into your heart and it will never let you go.
The memories run deep like the tides of the ocean; sometimes it is subtle, other times it is strong and unforgettable.
Country people live close to the land and the pulse of nature. The sites and sounds are simple and pure. There is a bond between parents, children, and kinfolk that doesn't exist in the hustle and bustle of city life. It is a warmth that personifies the true meaning of devotion and love. It is a flame that will never go out because it remains alive in the heart forever.
There is always a pot of lima beans on the cookstove, and a pone of cornbread in the oven, and a swarm of flies on the back screen door trying to get in.
In the big recliner, dad is taking an after dinner nap with his small dog on his lap and Mama is washing the dinner dishes as she listens intently to Pop Lewis on the radio singing her gospel favorite, “Just One Rose Will Do”.
It is summertime in full bloom; it's a time of plenty. The peach trees are breaking from its heavy load and the red tomatoes are all getting ripe at one time. Long-neck summer squash and snap beans are waiting to be picked.
The heat is rising in the corn and cotton fields, while the chickens are scratching and taking a dust bath in the front yard. The laughter of children drift on the waves of late July heat, while they roam barefoot picking sweet, wild blackberries.
There is a rival going on at the Methodist Church with dinner on the ground. The visiting preacher is full of fire and brimstone preaching as many are lead to Christ.
Everyones door and windows remain unlocked, as does their hearts. There is trust, love, and goodwill among all. Your word is your bond because trust is paramount among country folk.
On Sunday afternoon, what is more relaxing than a warm crackling fire with the sound of soft raindrops falling on a tin roof? It causes you to sink deeper into your soft feather bed and silk-lined pillow.
Days stretch into weeks, into months, and into years. You think your country lifestyle will go on forever because it is the only thing you know. There is nothing comparative to it.
One unexpected day, it all falls apart. Your loving parents pass away and you grow up and move away. The new owners of the farmland plant the entire estate in pine trees for a future generation, and daddy's old plows and farm machinery turns into rust.
The old farmhouses seem forsaken and lonely throughout the neighborhood. Everyone has moved on except one trusting bird dog that sits on the vacant front porch of an empty house waiting for the family's return.
It has all gone with the wind, but no matter where you have been displaced, you'll always be country at heart.
You will remember the unconditional love of your parents. You will remember the purity and simple pleasures of childhood, and freedom to roam the countryside. Your mouth will water for the first mess of butterbeans and fresh sliced tomatoes, along with sweet skillet corn from daddy's garden.
