Introduction
Howdy,
again, dear reader. I hope that you enjoyed the article
from three days ago about the birthday cake
pie. This is the second article, which was waiting its turn after I
published the short story on 8/5/2023.
I spoke with a fine first cousin, Waymon, on my birthday. He told me that he planned to come by here to visit in a week or so. He did! My cousin is about 15 years ahead of me on the “ago-o-meter.” His middle name is the same as my first name. Being so named, our parents honored our paternal grandfather, Marion Ferrell (4/13/1880-11/21/1970). (Papaw Ferrell didn't have a middle name.) Before publishing this article, I called Cuz Waymon to obtain his permission to use (as y'all can figure out) his full name and the photograph below that includes him. Thanks, cuz!
This article remembers our last face-to-face visit of over ten years ago, honors my cousin's parents (my uncle and aunt), and relives our visit on 7/24/2023. By topic sections, this is the 117th article on Family and the 97th on Heritage. I hope that a Fearghail clan relative isn't too shy to comment on this article. The conclusion should inspire at least a few comments!
Our Last Visit on 9/27/2012
I have been writing daily notes on desktop calendars since 10/1/1994, the day that Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I moved to Moscow, Russia, to begin our five-year Christian missionary work. From desktop calendar notes and my recollection, the last time that Cuz Waymon and I saw each other in person was on Thursday, 9/27/2012. His older brother was with us also.
On that day, we had dinner (or lunch, as Yankees call it) and conversation at the Red Pig Bar-B-Q in Johnson City, Tennessee. The day also marked the end of my eighteen weeks of training, which started on 5/13/2012, as a new employee (hired on 4/16/2012) for the State of Tennessee. That employment ended with my retirement on Friday, 5/13/2022 (as the article from 5/15/2022 mentions).
My two cousins and I, among other topics, talked quite a bit about the heritage of our branch of the Fearghail clan from County Longford, Ireland. (See, among other sources, “The Farrell Clan,” on Longford.ie). We swapped a few stories and tall tales as well. That pleasant memory lingers in my mind.
Unfortunately, time and distance hindered my cousin and me from seeing each other again until 7/24/2023. We live about an hour and forty-five minutes apart. We couldn't meet at family reunions at the same time. “Life, such as it was,” certainly forestalled opportunities to get together.
Uncle George & Aunt Blanche
This section honors cousin Waymon's parents (my Uncle George and Aunt Blanche). They are mentioned in the following previous articles: 7/7/2019, 10/31/2020, 9/7/2022, and 11/30/2022.
On my paternal grandfather's side, I was blessed to have two aunts and five uncles. Uncle George Charles Ferrell (1/14/1920-12/1/1995, age 75) was the third son of my paternal grandparents. For decades, I have said that if someone were to force me to name my favorite uncle, I would have to say Uncle George. That's no slight against my other four uncles!
All my uncles had a sense of humor. Uncle George's sense of humor was more obvious, and his humor matched mine quite well. We could just about laugh without saying a word when we looked at each other, with mischievous grins on our faces.
Uncle George served in the army during World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, serving under General Patton. As I understand the story, Uncle George carried his entrenching tool on his hip, not on his pack, as was the usual placement. A German bullet hit the entrenching tool and ricocheted off of it. Uncle George was not injured.
I recall other memories of Uncle George and Aunt Blanche. They farmed and had a dairy farm. I watched Uncle George milk cows several times when my parents would take us boys to visit them. As I recall, Uncle Carson talked me into milking a cow once. Uncle George probably encouraged me to try my hand at milking, but I declined.
The last time that I saw Uncle George was, as I recall, in April 1995. My wife and I had started our five-year mission work in Russia on 10/1/1994. We, however, were on our first furlough back to this country from 4/1/1995 to 4/24/1995. Uncle George and I happened to meet while we were both shopping at the Food City grocery store in my hometown. Pleasantly surprised to see each other, we talked as uncle and nephew for quite a while. I'm sure that we exchanged a few witty comments on various topics.
My parents made the international call to us in Moscow on 12/1/1995. I remember talking with both. The news that Uncle George was killed by a driver going the wrong way was shocking. Uncle George had been on his way to a routine VA appointment. My wife and I had an upcoming second furlough (12/12/1995-2/1/1996) to visit supporting churches. We were able to see Aunt Blanche and other family members while staying with my parents.
Aunt Blanche Allen Ferrell (6/18/1924-7/3/2012, age 89) and my mother shared similar spirits. They even looked a little like each other. Aunt Blanche's calm, caring, loving, soft, and sweet spirit is her legacy. Her faith was demonstrated by the outpouring of the fruit of the Spirit, which was a blessing to family members, friends, and many others. I don't recall Aunt Blanche ever sharing a negative or cross word. Her conversations were always encouraging.
As a boy and then a young man, I recall mealtime gatherings with Uncle George and Aunt Blanche. Talk about good country food! The conversations and the meals were hearty.
After Uncle George passed and while my father (Earl Ferrell 9/17/1927-1/25/2008) was still living, Dad and I would visit Aunt Blanche after Dad's cardiologist appointments. I often simply listened as Aunt Blanche and my father talked about family heritage. I wish that I had recorded their conversations. The last time that my father and I visited with Aunt Blanche together was on 8/27/2007.
As mentioned previously, I was in training from 5/13/2012 to 9/27/2012, staying each week in a Johnson City hotel. During that time, I was able to visit with Aunt Blanche nine times, on May 24th, June 5th and 18th, July 11th and 24th, and August 8th. The last two visits were on September 20th and 27th. Notes on my 2012 desk calendar indicate that my visit on 6/18/2012 was on Aunt Blanche's 88th birthday. I do believe that she had a good birthday, despite my visit!
During those visits, Aunt Blanche gave me two of her three books of poems. She didn't have copies of her first book. Over the years, I have read each of her poems. They are along spiritual and Christian themes to comfort during grief, encourage during discouragement, bring laughter during sadness, and, primarily, bring salvation to the lost. Aunt Blanche dedicated each book of poems to her husband, their sons, and their sons' families.
The book (on the left in the above image), Reflections From Life, was published in 1987. Eighty-two poems are in the book. The “Introduction” by Aunt Blanche's sister, Rowena Allen Nelson, states that this was Aunt Blanche's second book. The first book of poems, printed in 1981, which I don't have, is titled Reminders of God's Love.
The other book (on the right in the above image), Lasting Impressions, was published in 1991. Seventy-seven poems are in the book. Aunt Blanche wrote that, as the book was going to print, Desert Shield had become Desert Storm. In addition to her family, she dedicated the book to soldiers fighting in Desert Storm.
Aunt Blanche honored her Lord and Savior for blessing her with the gift of writing, and she also dedicated each book to Jesus.
Aunt Blanche had also given my parents copies of her books of poetry. My mother kept Aunt Blanche's books prominently displayed on a bookshelf in the living room. I have searched for the missing book, Reminders of God's Love, but not found it yet.
Uncle George and Aunt Blanche are enjoying everlastingness together with many other Christian family members and friends. Their legacy is that of biblical values, faith, family, devotion, honor, love, and nurture, with a good amount of humor mixed in with it! I look forward to seeing them again once it is my turn to join the everlasting family reunion.
Visit on 7/24/2023
Cuz Waymon and I have talked several times over the years. We keep in touch. On Monday, 7/24/2023, good ol' Cuz Waymon called me at 10:15 AM. He planned to drive down here to first visit a school-aged friend in the nearby town of Luttrell. Afterward, he planned to call and stop by to visit us.
Being a Ferrell, Waymon knows how to time a visit for supper! Hey, Waymon, we were glad that it timed out that way! He called just before 6 PM. I drove to meet him at the Corryton Fire Department (next to the post office). He followed me to the house.
While Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was finishing supper fixins, Waymon and I talked, swapped stories, and told a few jokes. Over a decade had passed since we had seen each other in person, but we picked right up as if we had seen each other the day before.
Waymon and I swapped news about our various physical ailments. I showed him the scars that mark my three “bionic” joints (left shoulder, right knee, and right foot). Waymon, despite his ailments, is holding up fairly well. After all, he had already driven down here and visited with his grade school friend before having to put up with me!
For supper, my “long-suffering” wife prepared chicken, mashed 'taters, and green beans with tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. Thanks, dear, for another fine country supper!
Well, after supper, Cuz Waymon and I loosened our belts a little and kept on talking. My wife chimed in often while she tended to supper dishes. You ask, “Was the TV on?” Are you kidding? Who needs a TV, radio, computer, or semi-intelligent phone for entertainment when you have family conversation going on!
I had not noticed the time, but dusk was coming on. We invited Waymon to spend the night, so that he could drive back home the next morning. Cuz thanked us for the offer, but he decided that he had better head back home. By the way, Molly, our “old puppy,” didn't come around to meet Waymon, but she saw him while standing on the deck and looking through the glass door into the living room.
As the caption above reads, my wife took the photograph of Cuz Waymon and me at 8:29 PM. Waymon will claim that he's the good-looking guy in the photograph. All that I can say by reply is, “Why are you wearing a belt and suspenders, Waymon? Are you a pessimist?” You must admit, dear reader, that I got in the last word!
At about 8:35 PM, I led Cuz Waymon to Blaine. I turned around at the Little Dipper while Waymon continued his drive on Highway 11W back home. He honked and waved as he went by me. I had asked Waymon to call once he was back home. He called at 10:20 PM to say that he was back home safely.
Waymon, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, and I had a good Ferrell family reunion! Since I have found out that my “bionic” body can endure a long drive, as the short story from 8/5/2023 verified, we may have more frequent reunions. It's all according to the Lord's will.
Conclusion
This article challenges the Marion Ferrell (4/13/1880-11/21/1970) and Molly Gertrude Archer Ferrell (11/30/1892-6/11/1971) branch of the Fearghail clan! Many family members have already left this old world. Several, however, are still here. New generations continue to be born.
When and where would y'all like to plan a family reunion? You are challenged either to add comments to this article or to use the “Contact Form” to email me. Of course, if you know my phone number, just call. What do you say?
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