Together Forever

They gather together every morning at Kountry Korner gas station. Steam rising from styrofoam cups as they sit in plastic chairs between the wine and potato chips aisle and the drink cooler.

For over 30 years they have talked about the news around Union Church or solved the world's problems while taking a break from the cows, soybeans and sugarcane. They did most of their shopping next door at the Mobile County Co-op with everything from feed and burlap bags to a meat cutter who sliced up meat the way that wanted it. Once a month they drove to Mobile to get groceries at Delchamps. A long trip was even longer before the road was paved. The Co-op closed years ago and they have to go to town more often.

Age has caught up with then now. Sons have taken over the farms, planting new crops like crepe myrtle trees and blueberries. Husbands have passed away. One died from Parkinson's diseases, "a terrible way to go."

They are proud of their lives and community. Proud of marriages that lasted until "death do us part."  

"We have been married for 57 years. When we got married it was for life. These days it's not for life."

My parents married 51 years ago today. Yesterday my dad laughed and said he never expected it to last this long. I did. He is a farmer and she is a farmer's wife. Both are strong enough to stand by every commitment they made.

People like that fight the forces of nature, labor, and competition to sell what the raise for prices that are way too low. But year after year, they give everything they have to feed their family, and many other people, too. When times got tough, my dad got tougher. He called it "Bowing you head and roothogging through." He "roothogged through" with his catfish farm for 40 years until it was time to sell the farm, retire and plant the garden he always wanted. My mom was glad to have him around so they could travel a little more.

I worked on the farm during the summers but always felt a little guilty that I never went back to work there and do more, like my brother did. I am not as good at "roothogging" and wouldn't have lasted working every day from sunup to sundown seven days a week.

It breaks my heart to see farmland for sale in Baldwin County because it is a sign that we are losing a generation that was tough enough to raise life from dirt and survive draught, floods, and plagues. People strong enough to stay together forever. 

I will never be as strong as they are, but I am thankful I come from people like that.

Happy anniversary Mom and Dad.