I had to shed a few tears as I looked back on some of my cherished childhood memories. Thoughout my childhood I attended the Weldon homecoming every year. I can still remember the obvious love and effection everyone felt for each other. All the ladies would bring covered dishes, we would eat, sing and everyone would catch up on the "family news". Then everyone, even the kids, would clean the burial sites of our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Years and years of cherished memories were relived. I can still feel the many emotions that were experienced in all in one precious day. As everyone left at the end of the day, there was an unspoken agreement that we would gather again next year to love and share unless the death of a loved one brought us together sooner. I so deeply cherish the memories of all those hugs, kisses, pinches and pats. I can still smell the "Old Spice" aftershave, "VO5 hair dressing", chewing tobacco and snuff. I feel truly blessed to have those childhood memories to look back on.

Contributed by Cindy Hyde Stendebach