5/23/2025
My sister and I went to visit our Aunt Libbie in North Carolina today. She's 93 years young, and at the present time she's in a senior living facility in Rocky Mount. It had been reported that she had a fall, and I thought she'd fractured her hip, but she is mobile with assistance, and she can get into a wheelchair, so either I misunderstood, or she had an amazing come back. Miracles happen, ya know. Actually, she's quite amazing. She taught school, and she is still quick, savvy, and her vocabulary is impeccable. She doesn't laugh as much or isn't as conversational as she once was, but she responds well to questions and remembers "way back when" she was a child, even when I was a child and the family got together each Sunday at my grandparent's home. I miss not having my parent's here to ask questions about my childhood, so maybe my aunt will be able to fill in some blanks. I hope so! She's already mentioned that as a little girl her older sister, Buck, as we called her, although her given name was Rebecca, used to take dolls apart to see how they were worked or were able to say "mama." She lost interest after her research was over, however, so she never put them back together. I have to laugh, because my younger son used to do the same, or to see if he could reinvent the wheel. He's better about "fixing stuff" now that he's older, but there's still a bit of wonder in him. Quite a bit actually, and I'm glad, because I have loads myself.
The drive from my home to Spring Arbor Assisted Living in Rocky Mount was a straight shot, but the return trip, taking detours to find a peanut shop in vicinity, gave my GPS, aka "Big Mouth" a run for its money. I love using that device, because when you decide to go against the grain, that little bugger has to redirect, and it can become quite impertinent in its own way. My sister and I love to go to antique shops and walk around looking at old stuff that reminds us of our childhood or when we were young wives, when Tupperware and corning ware were in vogue. So, we also took a side trip to another area in hunt of treasures.
Aunt Ruby's Peanuts was located off a side road, on a back street, just over the railroad track, then to the left, then a right, down a hill in the little town of Enfield, North Carolina. It was actually A&B Milling Company, located in Halifax County which I'm told is one of the largest peanut producing counties in North Carolina. I spoke with the owner and proprietor who told me that his grandfather had started the company back in 1945. Originally it began as a fed and seed store, but it eventually evolved into a mail-order and present day online peanut business. He has local customers, and probably folks like us who wander around back streets in out of the way small towns in search of good peanuts. He said his online business does quite well, so please look them up online, or take a road trip if you're in the area. You will not be disappointed. I'm always looking for new gift ideas for special friends, so I plan on visiting the online store very soon. And when we return to see our aunt, we'll probably make another side trip to visit our new friends in Enfield. I believe in supporting small businesses, and Virginians are next to kin to North Carolina folks.
The rest of our trip was uneventful, sad to say. We hopped back on the interstate and headed back home, since it was getting late. I enjoy spending time with my sister, remembering things, laughing over silly things, planning adventures, and encouraging each other. God knew what He was doing when He said it's time to go back. And although there are days when I wonder why I'm here, He reminds me, and He opens a door to show me why.
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens"
Ecclesiastes 3:1
No comments:
Post a Comment