Happy Birthday, Uncle Randy - and to Me too! | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming Author Michele Rhem, who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

    April has been a mostly cold month-the early service, on this day is proof of that. The farmhouse is chilly and there are little patches of frost, on the territory, but the songbirds sing anyway. There have been just enough mild days, to declare it is spring . . . and the dogwoods are still blooming. The first rose of the season has bloomed and I saw a fire fly, just the other night, There is the pollen too, which makes us all sneeze , Sometimes, great clouds of it appear when the wind blows through the pines. Certainly, it is spring, but warmth has been scarce.

    The past week, was a busy one and passed with great speed, til now, suddenly, it is Saturday. I am especially busy at work, as we are working on the dances, classes will perform at our annual celebration in May. Each class performs a folk dance from the country they have studied throughout the year. This not a small work. I am also putting the house back on the market, which requires a great deal of preparation. The ladder sits ready at all times, in the den and paintbrushes are at hand, for when "the spirit moves within me". I still need to buy geraniums and meanwhile, the grass grows. I also had a birthday, this week.

    Now, that I am older ( I turned 59) birthdays are reflective events and very holy to me. I do not like a lot of fanfare, but Mama did make a cake, and I was glad of that. Kyle brought me flowers and someone tied balloons on the lamp post. I have been known to forget my birthday altogether, but am soon reminded, by loved ones.

    Mama really wanted to do something special and I was not much help, as to what. I thought about my birthday this year and realised that my birthday really did not only belong to just me-and I felt I was being selfish. I thought of my parents, who were so very young, when I was born. I am their first child, and I remembered how exciting and overwhelming that time is for parents. I imagined the ruckus it must have caused. I thought of my dear, great Aunt Virginia sewing the last stitches of the delicate gown, I would come home in. I imagined "Pop and Grandmama" being in a state, as I was the first grandchild, born at the farm. (my older cousins were born in Texas, and lived there). The April morning, that I was born, I am quite sure, meant folks were stopping by to find out the news. I bet Aunt Agnes brought a cake and I am certain Grandmama was hanging clean linens on the line. Thinking of all this, it is no wonder, I felt selfish. So I was glad to see my parents on my birthday. It was a lovely sight to see Mama appear with a cake quite full of candles, as she sang "Happy Birthday". I tucked that picture in my heart.

    As it turns out, I had another celebration, which just sprang up. Jenny was returning from Wilmington, and would be passing through this " neck of the woods". The next thing I knew Mama was cooking our lunch. Lyla wanted me to have balloons and more flowers- and so I enjoyed a "surprise party" of sorts, just a few days after my birthday.

    Today, there was yet another birthday to celebrate. My Uncle Randy, daddys' oldest brother turned 85 yesterday! Mama, Daddy and I rode with "Miss Edie" to the home of Uncle Randy, an hour away. My cousin Sheila, lives a "door down" from Uncle Randy and tends to all his needs. She is a loyal daughter, and I admire that. She is also apt to laugh-and I like that too. Miss Edie brought a cake and we stopped to buy ice cream. After our arrival, we all chipped in for lunch. First, second and little third cousins came in. I noticed, that Uncle Randys' great grandson, favored him quite a bit. Oh I hoped he would have the same kind of heart, as Uncle Randy, too, for Uncle Randy is a tender and gentle uncle.

    We all came home around mid afternoon. Within minutes of me walking in the back door of the old farmhouse, I was up on the ladder, trying to finish the ceiling, I started a long while back. On breaks, I straightened the pantry and then the closet in my bedroom. Some how, I have a few more things to donate and another collection of trash. I think seeing Uncle Randys' success at downsizing, inspired me.

    It has been a lovely day, mild and bright, though Miss Edie, said it would rain soon-her arthritis is never wrong, she says.