New Beginnings & Cherished Memories
New Beginnings & Cherished Memories
The fourth series in the Dusty Town sequence.
The Turn of the Century. Episode 23
December 31, 1899
Jacob took out his journal and began to write.
Well, in a few hours it will be the new century. They will ring it in with fireworks above the dusty town square outside the restaurant. Betty Lou will serve refreshments and snacks and then everyone will return to their homes and carry on with their lives such as they be. I’m just going to stay here and sneak a peek from my front porch. I’ve got a lot to think about, a lot to be thankful for.
Aunt Daisy and Caleb got married this morning and have gone to the city for a spell. Caleb wants to see Aunt Daisy’s old stomping ground and the Darwintons he has heard so much about. She has some loose ends to tie up there too now that she will be living permanently here in Kansas. I’m glad she will stay here. She is a sweet lady and she has been so good to me and our family. I keep her will in a safe corner of my writing desk and as promised I will not open it until she is gone. She has been too kind to me and I am so grateful for her and her kindness.
We put the newspaper to bed a little while ago. We are ready to distribute it tomorrow morning on schedule. Our first issue! Maddie had thought of doing a town newspaper and now it will be her dream come true and it’s bittersweet that she is not here to see it. How I still miss her so! Betty Lou and I talked about her today, and the paper and all, and I closed my eyes and tried to imagine how happy she would be. But I couldn’t. I have forgotten so much of her, yet I still love her so. I don’t understand, but there’s so much I don’t understand about so many things.
Betty Lou says she still looks down the road every day to see if Jason is coming home yet, like she always did those days before the War took him away from her forever. She likes to think he didn’t really die at Gettysburg like the telegram had told her, but that he would be coming down that road again one day. She will never leave this dusty town in the hopes he will return some day. Who am I to tell her otherwise.
Miss Morgan finally told us her name today. It’s Lula Belle. It seems her father had won a riverboat shipping business one night in a poker game somewhere in Louisiana. It was called Lula Belle’s freight. It just so happened that very night Miss Morgan’s mother gave birth to her and her mother asked her father for a “distinctive” name I believe is what she said. All he could think of was Lula Belle! And so it was. Miss Morgan did tell us the business made a fortune up until the early days of the War and Miss Morgan’s father sold it fortuitously just before the ports were closed. They were set for life and they were fancied as shipping magnates long after they left the state, Lula Belle proudly declared.
Miss Morgan’s story seemed to fascinate Willie long enough for him to stop eating the pecan pie Betty Lou had made for him and he just stared at Miss Morgan for the longest time. “Miss Morgan?” he said.
“Yes, Willie?”
“Do you like that name, you know, Lula Belle? Just wonderin’. You seem more like a Beatrice to me.”
Miss Morgan looked at Willie for a bit, deep in thought. “I have always despised the name, truth be told.” And then just like that, she burst out laughing, with such a contagious laugh we all laughed along with her!
So much going through my mind tonight! The days gone by and those still ahead! Betty Lou says that it’s not about the things we’ve done or the places we’ve lived or the dreams we’ve held, what really matters most are those we love and those who love us. And those still left to me seem more precious each new day. Betty Lou is right, as she always is. I’m a lucky man.
THE END
Willie and Lukas Nelson capture the feeling here, Just Breathe.
Read Prior Episodes of New Beginnings & Cherished Memories
Starting Over Again in Kansas. Episode 1
Nothing’s Changes. Everything’s Changes. Episode 2
Knowing What to Do When the Time Comes. Episode 3
Still Plenty of Sweet Living Left for Them. Episode 4
Morning Light. Episode 5
”You can’t count how much we all love you.” Episode 6
A Spare Room in the Back of the Store. Episode 7
The Stars at Night. Episode 8
Aunt Daisy! Episode 9
Sometimes Dreams Do Come True. Episode 10
A Sweet Sunset. Episode 11
Aunt Daisy is Coming! Episode 12
A Most Special Day. Episode 13
Just Two Days to Wait. Episode 14
Every Now and Then. Episode 15
Aunt Daisy Has Arrived. Episode 16
And the Morgan Lady. Episode 17
That Betty Lou. Episode 18
The Morgan Lady CAN Cook. Episode 19
Aunt Daisy Smiled Back. Episode 20
They Had Not Changed A Bit. Episode 21
A Dream Comes True. Episode 22
The Turn of the Century. Episode 23 (This one)
