GETTING THERE

GETTING THERE

What is it about the power of dogs

to own so much of us? Here, Blondie!

Here, Blondie! She was my best friend

before I even knew what that meant.

That golden bag of barks followed

me everywhere, like to the combo

police and firehouse across the field

behind our home. The only sidewalk

I could get to was there for me to ride

my trike round and round while

she would bounce and flip, and turn

around then nip at my butt.

“Blondie! You pinch too hard!”

There were tons of storied adventures

we shared in that Appalachian coal

town, but the last one haunts me.

Dad was big, tall, stentorian in his

decrees, and swift with judgement.

Fire and brimstone flew from his pulpit;

it was there I learned “The fear of God.”

His eyes bent to mine, finger at my nose,

“Get down off that lumber, boy!” It was

scripture and I knew the next time, I’d

have to be sure he was not at home.

“Blondie! Let’s go, girl,” that stack

was my Eve’s Apple, and I had to know.

So when the side below my little legs

gave way and buried us, I knew fear,

and the wrath of God was coming!

A passing soldier saw what happened

and carried me to the comfort of mom’s

arms. As a Holy Roller preacher’s kid,

I well knew disobedience was a cardinal

sin, and was well acquainted with its

consequences, too.

Dad never said a word, and neither

did I… about Blondie under all that

wood. So, when it was time, I opened

the door, “Blondie! Blondie! In the

darkness of my heart, I knew she would

not come. I think you have to grow old

to understand the problems of a Gospel

so perverted that it teaches sin and fear

before love as a means to God.

Reviews

[ETERNITY]

Knowing you have surgery today, I re-read this
to remind me of your boyhood and your strict upbringing.
Idk why we use fear to accomplish respect. But it works! Mostly.
Blondie didn't listen and paid the consequences.
Maybe that's the answer.
God's speed to you today, Vol! All will be fine!
Love, Eternity

[Vol]

Waiting for the knife... And thank you sweetheart.

[ETERNITY]

HEY! I saw that episode of Twilight Zone!
I think the gist is we only "fear" when we've been disobedient.
Fear also means respect.
It's all pretty simple.
The Traditions of MEN is what perverts.
Great as always Vol!

[Vol]

Eternity,
Truth be told, when a cop pulls in behind me and stays there, I always wonder what I'm guilty of till he leaves, or tells me.
Vol

[ETERNITY]

Vol, maybe your licenses plate's been stole, your bumper hanging, muffler smoking, blinker stopped...he could save you! You'are awesome!

[Vol]

Pretty common stuff in the Appalachia of my youth. most car's licenses plate's been stole, your bumper hanging, muffler smoking, blinker stopped... you could drive for years that way and haveno one notice...

[ETERNITY]

Vol, Thanks for that...I laughed so hard this morning! What a great start to my dreary day..(it's raining here) (:

[ETERNITY]

Vol, it's "stoleN" ...my keys are sticking, teacher :P

[Mila]

You made these characters feel so alive.

[Vol]

Mila,
That is because one of us still is. it was seventy two or three years ago, and every word is true. She was a delightful Cocker Spaniel, and the incident colors my thinking about deep questions to this day.
Vol

[Mila]

I appreciate your reply; I'm happy to see that you responded. Apart from this, do you happen to use other handles like discord, instagram and email?
I’ll explain better once we're together there.

[Vol]

Yes... Though mostly FB or here. I always use my real name. I don't understand the use of "handles. I am who I am...

[Mila]

h, I see — I understand what you mean. By other handles I meant Instagram, Discord, or email. If you have any of those, you can share your username with me so we can discuss there.

[Vol]

Mila,
I don't typically go to other venues. I am retired and still barely have time for FB, email and here. Makes me wonder how I ever had time even to check in when I was still teaching...
The messaging part of this ap is private and works quite well... and I love my friends there. I am Vol Lindsey on facebook with the same thumbnail.
Vol

[LisaCarol]

I've always had dogs despite knowing the tremendous pain experienced when you lose them. Their love and friendship is worth the heartache. I believe there is a heaven for dogs and I bet Blondie is there still chasing boys on tricycles and loving every minute. Funny how dogs don't have to go to church to know how to love and be happy.

[Vol]

LisaCarol,
I have been haunted by this event for about seventy-three years. From all the bits and pieces that make this memory, it is the darkness of my deceitful heart at such a you age. The best light I can shine on it is that I was so afraid I would be punished, I lied to avoid a spanking. But it was deeper than that. I was lying when I picked up her bowl I knew she was gone, when mom put food in it, I knew and knew I knew, and when we opened the do to call her home, I knew she would not come. I was that lie come to life. I knew I had sinned by what I caused, and I knew there was something dark in my heart I could not account for.
Vol

[LisaCarol]

Children are the product of their environment. If your father was such a strict disciplinarian, you learned to survive by covering up, hiding or lying if you did anything wrong. I grew up in a similar environment. My siblings and I did the same exact thing to avoid the wrath of my narcissistic mother.

[Vol]

Nope... he was very just in his treatment... I was never "marked" by anyof those spankings... folks who h=were abused and beaten by their parents do not understand how careful corporeal punishment really works. I never once felt abused, People whose parents never paid attention to their child's behavior tend to need visit their kids in jail some point in their lives. There was neve any question about the happy kind love in my family.

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous writing, my friend. Excellent.

[Vol]

Thomas,
Thank you, sir. "In Carmine veritas."
Vol
thank you