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Varina Denman | Texas Memories
June 19, 2015
I’ve lived in Texas all my life, mostly in North Texas with its huge oak
trees
and plentiful lakes, but as a child, I often visited my grandparents on
their
ranch in West Texas. You may think one region is the same as the other, but
the
difference between North and West Texas is like the difference between a
grass
snake and a diamondback rattler.
Other than having the same last name, they don’t compare, and I think that’s
why
my childhood memories are so vividly airbrushed in my mind, especially
holidays
when all the cousins would get to know each other again over the commonality
of
Grandmother’s house.
Christmas morning might be spent hiking or riding horseback across the
plains,
sometimes covered in a light smattering of snow. Later, Grandmother would
smash
crocheted hats onto our head, and we would load up in the back of the pickup
truck to go check on the cattle.
Summers were spent fishing for catfish in the pond or swimming in the
cement-
sided holding tank. The cousins and I would chase horned toads across the
hot,
sandy soil, and try to catch cottontail rabbits. The wind always seemed to
be
blowing, and the air was so dry, it would chap my cheeks. We’d help
grandmother
hang her laundry on the line, and it would be dry in less than thirty
minutes.
In the evenings, one of the uncles would cut a watermelon in half and pass
out
spoons, and we’d all sit on the back porch and eat together. Scissortails
would
swoop overhead, Jackrabbits would bound past in the distance, and
occasionally a
tarantula would sneak into the yard.
These memories are nestled in my mind along with all the sounds and smells
that
go along with them. The tingle of summer sunshine on wet skin. The crunch of
boots on dry grass in the pasture. The unmistakable odor of pump jacks,
working
endlessly to draw oil from the ground.
I don’t often visit West Texas now, and when I do, it’s the bustling city of
Lubbock, not the laid-back ranch life of Garza County. However, every time I
work
on one of my books, I feel as though I’m traveling back in time. I conjure
up all
those memories—the sights, sounds, and scents—and pile them into scenes in
my
stories.
In JADED,
Dodd Cunningham notices the foul scent of the feedlot where cattle are
raised for
slaughter. In JUSTIFIED, Fawn Blaylock hears the vibrating rattle of a
snake long before she sees it coiled at the corner of her porch. And in
JILTED, Lynda Turner smells the dusty scent that always blows through
the
house just before a rain shower.
I suppose I’m living a mini vacation every time I sit down to edit. I’m
taking
another short trip to visit my grandparents, my cousins, my aunts and
uncles. And
I’m reliving all the memories I have stored up over the years. I probably I
have
the best job in the world. GIVEAWAY
Readers, what is a favorite childhood memory? Leave a comment below and be entered for a
chance to win autographed copies of JADED and JUSTIFIED!
Varina Denman writes stories about the unique struggles women face. She
teaches
creative writing and literature, volunteers in her local cooperative, and is
a
home educator to her five children. She resides with her family in North
Texas.
JUSTIFIED is the second book in the Mended Hearts series..
Website | Facebook |
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In a small Texas town ruled by gossip, Fawn Blaylock believes others are
justified in condemning her untimely pregnancy. Stifled by guilt, she yearns
for
grace while the local football coach treats her with gentle respect.
Justified perfectly captures the rhythm and romance of life in a small town,
telling the unforgettable story of a woman searching for renewal, a man
looking
beyond what others see, and a community torn between judgment and love. It
is the
unforgettable story of broken dreams, second chances, and relentless hope.
Comments
16 comments posted.
Re: Varina Denman | Texas Memories
A favorite childhood memory is a summer one which took place
on a beautiful lake in Eastern Ontario with the family
vacation, relaxing, fishing and simple life enjoyment.
(Sharon Berger 11:56am June 19, 2015)
My fav childhood memories were all the visits I had with my grandparents... I was always so happy to be around them.
(Colleen Conklin 12:48pm June 19, 2015)
I have so many good childhood memories I can't simply
pick just one. I loved crabbing off the dock in the
evening. I enjoyed Indian relic hunting with my
mother. I was never happier than when I was roaming
with my dog, Jamie. I will never forget riding in my
first horse show and pinning well in all my classes.
There are many more.
(Irene Menge 4:09pm June 19, 2015)
Sounds like your memories are a lot like mine. I remember sitting on my grandmother's porch, or family & friends -smelling the rain in the air, watching dust devils go up the road, sitting under my grandmother's oak tree - it was over a 100 yrs when her parents bought the place in the late 1880's. Its still there and well over 200 yrs. old. I can still imagine my grandmother sitting on her front porch, shaded my the tree and using her toes to make the swing barely move. I wish she was still alive to share the memories.
(Pat Moore 9:25pm June 19, 2015)
My mom, my sister, and me dancing to music in our living
room when we were really little.
(Ria Andrews 11:01pm June 19, 2015)
the pic look like the old building we had in ohio with the old bridges but i remember the time with my grand parent both one would have me plant flower and then veg garden and try to get the people not to eat any thing and then use the veggie and then flower for compition
(Desiree Reilly 11:02pm June 19, 2015)
Family reunion picnics in the park
(Marissa Yip-Young 5:42am June 20, 2015)
Sunday dinners at my or a grandparents house.
(Beth Elder 8:17am June 20, 2015)
My favorite childhood memory is about my two brothers and me . In the summer at night , we would play kick the bucket and if the fireflies were out we would run and catch them . We'd put them in a jar with holes punched in the lid so they could get air . We'd watch them till we tired of them then we would turn them out . I watch my grandkids do that now and it sure brings back memories of my childhood .
(Joan Thrasher 12:56pm June 20, 2015)
Where do I start?
One fun memory is when we (my mother, sister and I) moved to
Monahans in West Texas from California to live with my step-
father and we asked him about the fires in the oil fields
that we saw from the train. Daddy told us that was for the
cowboys to light their cigarettes. I was only 9 years old
and we believed him for years.
I spent lots of time at the Monahans Sandhills which is now
a state park. I was telling my 11 year old granddaughter the
other day about the stickers we used to have when we walked
barefooted in the yard.
I remember the horned toads, rabbits, oil fields,
tumbleweeds and how fast the clothes dried on the lines.
Now, I am really homesick. Once a Texan, always a Texan.
(Leona Olson 4:22pm June 20, 2015)
Going to Grandma's house in the country town where she lived every other Sunday afternoon. My mom's sister lived in the house across the road with her brood of 7 children and we had 8. We'd have our own softball team and played with our cousins on her huge vacant lot next door to her house. She'd cook up corn-on-the cob from her garden for us. Grandma had a vacant lot which was all filled with every type of berry bush there was. We'd pick berries and eat many before bringing them in to her. We always had hours of fun & hated leaving. I remember playing dominoes, cards & the walnut shell game when it got too dark outside. We also did a lot of hiking along the railroad tracks and county roads and came back with handfuls of fresh asparagus that grew wild.
(Linda Luinstra 5:01pm June 20, 2015)
Favorite memories? Playing with my younger brother, going to the creek and trying to catch crawfish, collecting violets and other flowers in the woods for my mother, playing on the swing my dad attached to a large oak tree are among my favorites. Those were the quiet, peaceful, happy days of my childhood.
(Anna Speed 5:13pm June 20, 2015)
A favorite childhood memory I have is of visiting my grandparents for two weeks by myself. It was wonderful to have their undivided attention and not have to be with my brothers and sisters as well as Mom and Dad. We got the chance to appreciate each other as individuals without the filter of other family members.
(Flora Presley 9:10pm June 20, 2015)
I did not have a pleasant childhood!
(Denise Austin 1:38pm June 22, 2015)
I can picture you digging into a half watermelon with
your spoon. It sounds like a group eating contest. What
did you do with the seeds? I remember once trying to
pour what we though was ketchup on a hot dog but it
turned out to be fruit punch in a bottle. And feeding
the ducks stale bread torn into little pieces.
(Alyson Widen 5:26pm June 22, 2015)
My favourite childhood memory is moving back to our home
town because I got to spend time and be spoilt by my
grandparents
(Tiffany Harvey 10:27pm June 22, 2015)
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