 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2010-04-01 13:31:00
Remember...
Answer: When I was growing up and in grade school, the month of May was always one of my favorite months of the year. Guess why? School was out at the end of the month. That meant Summer days were almost here. I can remember all the kids getting their books packed up and throwing away many of the graded papers they had kept during the year. Finally, the bell rang and school was out! Cheers were heard in the hall and happy faces were seen everywhere (real happy faces, not the little stickers) We all began our walk home as in those days parents usually did not drive you to school. You walked. The red bud and ornamental trees were in full bloom and the world was beautiful. Not just because it was, but the upcoming three months to play helped too.
As the weather warmed, Dad would get the hose to water the lawn. We put on our swimming suits and he would spray us with the hose. We called those times "shower baths." On rare occasions, we would go to Sandy Beach, south of Wichita. This was an abandoned sand pit that the owners had developed into a swimming area and small boat area. There was a dining area where you could get snacks and cold drinks. Good times were had there by all.
Then came the Municipal pool in Riverside Park, with clean treated water, that was patronized by kids, moms and dads across the city. Lawrence Stadium was always a fun place too, with the family, to see the baseball games. There were lots of parades downtown to attend. And the theatres, to see the cowboy shows, starring Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Lance Larue, Zorro and many others. It was always fun to walk around downtown and shop and see the people.
At home, there were bicycles, tricycles, wagons, scooters. Some scooters were homemade by dismantling roller skates and orange crates. We played all kinds of games to amuse ourselves. We ate chips off the ice truck. Of course, the big rain and thunder storms allowed us to wade in water at the curbs. We had lots of activity to make Summer fun.
Yes, May was a month that began it all. I thought you might enjoy a walk down memory lane through some of the Mays we all remember from the past as kids. Someone sent me this poem entitled "Spring and Little Boys" by Garnett Ann Schultz. It pretty well sums up how we felt.
"There’s something very special about Spring and little boys,
They find a kind of magic in Springtime’s many joys.
They love to climb the hills afar and fish in creek and stream,
Perhaps to lie on soft, warm grass to dream a happy dream.
‘Tis then the outdoors beckons them as nature fills their heart,
They search for all the happiness that the May days impart,
The buds that burst in beauty rare neath the skies of brightest blue,
And every creature bids them share each miracle in view.
The golden sun warms the day, the whole world comes alive,
With little violets by the lane and bees within the hive,
A touch of all that’s beautiful, a million wondrous joys,
It seems God smiles from above on Spring and little boys."
