Dobyn’s Chronicles

Dobyn's Chronicles, By Shirley McLain

Old age is hell, but it’s something all of us have to go through. Here, I stand looking out across this land, dotted with trees and cattle. This land has nurtured my family and me since 1928. It’s hard for me to believe the world I’ve known will end tomorrow with our move to McAlester. I’m too old now to work. It’s too hard to take care of the things on the farm. Mila has diabetes, and I’ve got high blood pressure. Both of us have painful arthritis. There’s just too many aches and pains.

The good and bad this life’s brought remains etched in my mind and my heart. Invisible bonds will forever tie my heart to this land even after we go. My body won’t physically be on this mountain, but my heart will. As long as my family lives on this land, I’ll be here in spirit. All I ever wanted was the stability of owning my own place and providing a decent home for my family.

You never know what road life will lead you down. Pa told me when I was a little boy: You just have to take a deep seat and hang on for the ride. He sure told the truth.

Now here I stand, knowing tomorrow I’ll be giving up my home and the way of life I’ve known for the past eighty-one years. I think giving up this mountain life is the hardest thing I’ve done. My consolation is my lifetime of memories.

I look back over my life and remember all the stories Pa told me about his own life. Now I’ve got my own life’s story. I’ve told it to my kids and grandkids over the years.

In 1820, the year my pa was born, my Grandpa Dan decided he’d seen enough of Indiana, and moved his family to Grayson County Texas. They got a farm right on the Red River.  Pa lived his whole life on that Red River farmland.

I said he lived there his whole life, that's not entirely true. After Grandpa Dan died in 1845, and his Mama died in 1850, he went back to Indiana for a while to meet relatives there. He even married in 1854. I know I have brothers and sisters there, but I never met them. It seems my Pa, and his wife couldn't get along. She went to a state asylum after a nervous breakdown. Pa stayed until she passed away from something and then he headed back to Texas and the Red River Farm. He even brought a woman back with him who was to be my mother, Eliza. Pa and Ma married in 1872 and then proceeded to produce me, Charles Kenly Dobyns (Charley). In 1878, my brother David was born, and then in 1884 my sister Viola came into the world.

Why they spaced us kids so far apart, I didn't find out until later. My ma had several babies who died soon after they were born. No one actually knew the cause; they said it was God's will.

Dobyns Chronicles on Amazon USir?t=lauobraut 20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KNMM46S or Dobyns Chronicles on Amazon UKir?t=lpcrwr 21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00KNMM46S

We allow you to read the first page of a book, look at its cover and then buy it, but only if you like it. Nothing beats sampling a book. Experience the simple pleasure of finding books that you like, fast, with BooksGoSocial.com.

If you are a writer or a publisher who wants to be featured visit BGSAuthors - our dedicated site for authors and publishers.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This