My Original Home Place

Lebanon, TN

As a child Lebanon seemed to be a small town but it's amazing how much it's grown during my lifetime.

I grew up on North Hatton Avenue with some of the best friends a child could ask for. Rachal, Rob, Donnie, Mindy, Jody, Danielle and I owned that street, literally, we were on it constantly. We didn't have to worry about being abducted (our parents never allowed us in the house if the sun was up) so we rode our bicycles all over town. My bicycle was red and I wore it out.

I can remember going to Sonic on West Main Street and looking for peppermints that were dropped on the ground, it was a treat and we thought we hit gold. We played in the creek and on the playground behind the First United Methodist Church. When we walked through our neighbors yards to get to the Church, they didn't get angry, they came out to socialize. Mr. & Mrs. Mason were our neighbors to the right, two of the oldest sweetest people I ever met and they had spent their life on N. Hatton Ave. Our neighbors to the left was my best childhood friend

Rachal and I

There was nothing that we didn't do together. Playing, dancing, softball, eating....you get the picture. We were ALWAYS together and all my childhood memories include her. My Dad likes to tell the story of coming home one afternoon and Rachal, Mindy, Danielle, and I were huddled up like football players getting ready for a big play. When he asked what we were doing, I said "Watching kittens being born". He almost died. There in the middle of the living room floor we had my pregnant cat laying on towels giving birth to her kittens. We were very inquisitive children.

Me, Mom, & Rachal

My Mom made all my clothes when I was younger and she was good at it. I wish I had the patience, talent, and time to do that for my children.

I will cherish my childhood memories for as long as God will allow me to have them and I will never forget the place I call home.