Phyllis Calloway was my best buddy through elementary school. Also during school days in the '60s, a squad of four of us -- Cheryl Sain, Patti Chastain, Phyllis Calloway and I -- created our own special "club," and we hung out together for hours, and had many, many sleepovers and other adventures (including night-time games of kick-the-can and miles and miles of bicycle-riding).
Jerri Lynne Richardson and I grew up right across the street from each other (actually, living on a dead-end street, our houses faced each other and our front yards adjoined -- still do today!) and we have been lifelong special friends. For years we cut a path across those grassy yards to see each other and come up with play plans. Years later, I'll never forget the image of my own children, on a return trip to HG to visit their grandparents, running across that same grass to say hello to the Richardsons. Generation after generation ... that still happens today -- and I still feel an amazing sense of continuity and gratefulness for these special connections and people.
My best friend in Elementary school was Elizabeth Williamson, granddaughter of Hinton Williamson. Her dad Bob was Elem Principal. We were best friends until 5th grade when she and her family moved to Gravette, AR for a better job opportunity.
MY BEST FRIEND WAS BUDDY HARDING. HE LIVED OUT IN THE COUNTRY AT SHILOH.
WHENEVER WE HAD A CHRISTMAS VACATION I WOULD GO OUT & STAY WITH BUDDY, HIS MOM (MISS LUCY BELLE), HIS DAD, MR. RUSH, AND HIS SISTER , DORIS. WE HAD LOTS OF FUN HUNTING RABBITS & SQUIRRELS IN OLE BOGGY BOTTOMS. VERNON CAGE TAUGHT US HOW TO SET TRAPS FOR RACOONS & POSSUMS. THEN WE WOULD SKIN THEM AND STRETCH THE SKINS. WHEN THEY CURED OUT WE SOLD THE SKINS TO W.J. ERNEST AT THE BACK OF HIS GROCERY STORE.
WHEN WE WERE PRACTISING FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL LATE & BUDDY WOULD MISS HIS BUS RIDE HOME, HE WOULD STAY AT MY HOUSE IN HOLLY GROVE.
