The Porch Swing

I didn't come from a big place. When I was a kid, it wasn't even on some of the maps. But we knew where we were and that was enough most days.

For all the color our crops and trees and river gave us, two colors weren't allowed to blend in those days and lots of folks were proud of it.

I grew up during the days when idiots ruled.

The picture below wasn't of my doctor's office, but easily could have been. I remember sitting in the "white's only" waiting room, wondering why we entered through different doors and sat in separate rooms to see the same doctor for the same illnesses and being shushed by my mother when I asked.



I remember the street that divided our side of town from theirs. We had separate schools, separate grocery stores, separate churches ...as I said, nothing blended. And some folks were right proud of that. Others allowed it because that was the way it had always been.

I grew up during the days when idiots ruled.

When I was in the sixth grade, the idiots stepped down and the colors of our town came together. It was a scary, exciting, volatile time.

Those of us in elementary school were bussed to their side of town to attend their school and those in high school were bussed to our side of town to attend our school.

Those of us who were younger broke bread together in the cafeteria - many of us wondering what the big deal had been about keeping us apart. We enjoyed the larger pool of friends that allowed for bigger games at recess.

There were some of both colors who, influenced by the negative attitudes of their parents, wondered why things had to change and sat by themselves...we thought they were part of the "idiots" and left them alone.

Pretty soon, the street that divided us from them lost its distinction and became just another street to cross.

Words like us and them became we, except for those few idiots who sat alone....they became the new them.

Over the years and one by one, all of my family has moved and relocated in other places. Without family there to visit, it had been years since I'd seen my hometown... until a few years ago when I had occasion to return for my class reunion.

The town's not so small anymore. Not in any of the ways it used to be. When colors are given the opportunity to run together, they create great diversity. I'm so proud that's what my town has become....well, except for the children of the children who preferred to sit alone....like idiots.