ROOSTER NOODLE SOUP  (a true Garrett-family tale) 

When Uncle Andy was about five years old and just beginning to read and write, Grandpa Harold came for a visit.  The screen door slammed as Andy ran in sobbing, “I hate that old rooster!”

Grandpa Harold bent down to wipe away a tear and asked, “Andy, what happened?”
Struggling to catch his breath, Andy pointed to his bicycle lying in the driveway.
“Grandpa, that old rooster attacks me every time I go near the barn!  Look!  He slashed my leg wide open!”

“Yep, that old red rooster tore you up, Boy!” agreed Grandpa.  “Let’s wash you off and get a band-aid.”
They fixed up Andy’s leg and sat down at the dining room table.

“I’m not ever going to ride my bike near the barn again, and that’s final!” Andy declared.
Grandpa Harold nodded.  “I don’t blame you, Andy.  That old rooster’s pretty mean, and he knows that he’s got you scared.”

Andy felt awful.  It was no use.  He’d never again go near the clubhouse Daddy helped him build. There was no way he’d ever help Mommy gather eggs from the chicken coop.  His tools were even out there in the barn, and he couldn’t go get them to fix things around the house.  Suddenly, he remembered that he had left his Power Rangers belt right out beside that old rooster’s stomping grounds, and he threw himself down on the table and started to bawl.

Grandpa Harold wrapped his arms around Andy’s shoulders and hugged him tightly.
“Andy, I think you ought to march right out there and tell that rooster the way the cow ate the cabbage.”

“Huh?”  Andy asked as he blinked through his tears.

“Just go tell that rooster that he’d better leave you alone, or you’re going to make rooster noodle soup out of him,” Grandpa said with a wink and a smile.

“Rooster noodle soup?”  Andy wiped his eyes on his shirt sleeve.  Quickly, he pushed away from the table and ran out of the room.  A few seconds later, Andy slid into the chair next to Grandpa’s and placed a napkin and pen on the table in front of him.

“Grandpa, could you write that down?”  asked Andy.
Grandpa looked confused.

“ROOSTER…NOODLE…SOUP,” Andy said slowly, pointing to the napkin.  “Please write it down!”

Grandpa Harold carefully printed the words and handed the napkin back to his grandson who thanked him and stuck it in his back pocket.  Out the door he went, climbed on his bike, and rode toward the barn.

Grandpa watched from the kitchen window until Andy disappeared.  He shook his head wondering what in the world his grandson was thinking.  And he chuckled as he crossed the room to his favorite recliner.  Grandpa had just dozed off when the door burst open.  Andy stomped through the house holding the napkin high up in the air.

“Andy, are you alright?”  Grandpa quickly asked.

“No, Sir!” shrieked Andy.  He thrust the napkin into Grandpa’s lap and put his hands on his hips.

“Grandpa, I’m mad at you!”  Andy said with his lip quivering.

Grandpa Harold reached for his hand and asked why in the world he’d be angry.

“Grandpa, that old rooster can’t even read!”

Wrapped in Quilted Memories

The doctor’s words echo through my head,

“No weight-bearing on that knee for 6-8 weeks….
and keep it elevated!”

I’m down on the couch…and wallowing in the dumps feeling sorry for myself, when Pa gently wraps me up in the warmth and memories of my favorite family quilt.

I smooth it out over my lap, and my hand runs over a block of material that I know without looking.  This is a piece of Faye Faye’s seersucker pedal pushers she wore each spring.  All of a sudden, I’m lying in her lap as she reads, Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble to Kim and me.   We’re rocking in the swing under the pear tree.  A tear rolls down my cheek as I remember those special moments. 

Faye Faye, my grandmother, taught us to love books, poems, and storytelling, and gave us her lifelong love of learning!

Moving up to get more comfortable, a dark quilt block brushes against my leg.  Pulling it close to get a good look, I find myself smiling as I realize that this is a square from Granddaddy’s wool suit that he wore every Sunday.  It brushed my arm each time I walked hand-in-hand with him into the First Baptist Church where he was a deacon.  Granddaddy helped me to see God!

Now what is this?  I feel something hard and cold on an edge of the quilt.  Snaps!!!  Why, it’s PaPaw’s workshirt!  My fingers held tightly to those snaps on the front of his shirt as we plowed the rows up high on his tractor.  PaPaw taught us to love and respect the earth and the food and bounty she gives us.

My eye catches a pattern.  I hold it close and inhale deeply.  Its’s a piece of MaMaw’s stained apron.  It still smells like it did when she brought it in off the clothesline.  And, for some reason, as I gaze at the vintage cherry print, I can still taste that Jones Cake frosting that I always stuck my finger into when no one was looking.  MaMaw taught me the importance of serving those you love in everything you do.

Let’s see, what other treasures can I find?  There’s a bit of Mommy’s polka dotted dress that matched her blue eyes.  Daddy says he still gets goose bumps when he sees that picture of her wearing it.  My mommy taught me how to love one man with all of my heart…just like she and Daddy did.

Look at this!!!  I’ve not noticed it before.  Why, it’s a piece of Daddy’s old swim suit.  He wore it at the lake where he taught me to ski and swim, at the beach where we body-surfed and walked miles in the sand, and in the creeks where we camped and caught fish and crawdads.  Dad taught me how important family is and that the family who plays together, stays together…..and we did!


Ah, here’s a small edge of Katie Faye’s baby blanket which I often “borrowed” to put around Marybel, my Madame Alexander Doll.  My precious sister has always taught me that the love of a sister is far more precious than gold and that our friendship is one that can never be broken.

Today, memories sewn together with the stitches of time have made me thankful for the family God gave to me.  They’ve reminded me that no one He gives us is insignificant.   Each one becomes part of your story and teaches you the lessons you need to tackle life and make a difference in the lives of others. 

This old broken leg slowed me down a bit, but it helped me stop and take the time to remember how blessed I am.  I’m wrapped in a family quilt of love that is hemmed in God’s grace.