I have walked in eight decades – by accidents of birth – and my memory is, at best, incomplete. I feel certain that there are things that I have experienced and things that I have learned that I am mistaken about. Such is memory.
I often wish I could ask about events in our past and I think for a fleeting moment “I need to ask mother”. But Libba has been gone some decades.
I had long known the old Chinese proverb "When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground”. I have experienced the loss. I then learned that it is an old African proverb – so there you go. It is, nonetheless, an important concept in Senegalese or Chinese; except that it seems sexist don’t you think? Let’s just say that when an old one dies a library burns.
My very first memory (monochrome), took place at the Northwest corner of the Farm compound where the large cast iron bell for “calling all hands” was mounted. Thomas was away on this day and Libba “called all hands” and tore down an old barn that had been falling down for as long as she could endure. They removed it by the time the squire returned. I don’t recall any aftermath. As we know it is conceivable that he didn’t notice. According to Libba this day took place during late winter 1941. I was born a month or so later. So there you go?
I am the oldest one in the immediate family, so if anyone ever wishes to ask, and my library has burned – then I hope this "blog" will have helped.
Revised May 13, 2013
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If you would like to see my collection of Carolina Lowcountry memories—"Magnolia Elegy: Place In the Edisto Fork," you can view the book trailer here, and see the book page here on the publisher's website. The book is also available from Amazon, B&N, and your independent local bookseller.
