The Journals of Susan Lindsay
Just Plain Mama
by
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I remember one day, just before Easter, when Mama had just finished doing her weekly washing. I was handing her clothespins, while she hung each piece on the clothesline. They were flopping in the wind, and she was getting irritated because they were hitting her with sudden “wet swipes“, when all at once, a huge dark cloud started to form. At first, she excitedly told me, “we better hurry and get these clothes hung up before the wind gets any stronger.” Then with the next breath, she was screaming, “Hurry Susan, help me get these clothes off of the line, a storm is coming, and it’s coming fast.” I started pulling off anything I could reach, and shoving into the clothesbasket. Mama was working as fast as she could to get those clothes off the line, when suddenly she said, “Leave the rest honey, and head for the cellar.” She grabbed that basket with all the wet clothes and started running for the cellar. I was right behind her, running as fast as I could. When we got to the cellar, she quickly set that basket down, grabbed me by one hand and with the other, flung open that cellar door. We ran down in that place of safety so fast, I hardly had time to catch my breath. Mama bolted and latched the door, and we waited.
The clean smell of rain was now permeating the air just as the wind began to blow. We were finishing helping Mama clean up our little country kitchen, when suddenly we saw lightening streak across the sky, and only seconds later we heard the deafening sounds of rolling thunder. The kind that makes the ground under your feet to shake! By this time, Mama was getting worried, and she cried out for us all to grab our coats and ‘head for the cellar.’
We did not hesitate. We had done this many times. As we hurried down that little path to our safe storm shelter, we became suddenly aware of the closeness of the lightening as it repeatedly began its frightening decent upon the ground with long fingers of fire. We could hear Mama crying out us, “hurry!”
When we finally reached the cellar, we could not get the door open. We struggled with it, and all four of us pulled and jerked on it until, with a loud crackling sound, it opened. We ran down the steps as fast as we could with Mama right behind us. She tried with all of her might to lock and bolt the door. My brother Jerry, trying as hard as he could to pull that bolt through the lock, could not do it.
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About the Book
“Mama” was forced to raise her four children alone because Papa could not find work and had to leave his family to work in the dark, damp coalmines far from home. When things appeared to be at their worst, they became even more difficult. Tragedy struck at the coalmine which prompted Papa to travel many miles further away from home.
Susan shares her memories, both good and bad in her many journals. Her Mama’s strong determination, will, and her faith in God, brought them through the many uncertain and troublesome times without Papa. A turn in the road, a surprise, and a secret finally brings them happiness.
About the Author
Bonnie Johns Gabbard was born in Maud, Oklahoma. She is a grandmother of four, a Bible study leader and a published poet and freelance writer/story teller. Her poems, essays and reminiscences have been an inspiration to many.
Her mother’s difficulties during the Depression years in Maud have been the force behind her inspiration to write this fictionalized account of her young life.
She and her husband Russell now live in beautiful Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.