The Long Pond

Category: Childhood Memories | Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:26 am

I grew up on the Mississippi River in a very small rural town named Darrow, Louisiana. We lived on two and a half acres and Dad had a real mini farm going on. We had chickens, rabbits, hogs, and he raised beagle dogs to train and sell. Our favorite thing to do was to go on picnics at the Long Pond. The pond was located about 5 miles from our house and was behind the levee. Sometimes Dad would cook a jambalaya over an open fire and sometimes Mom would get up at four in the morning and fry chicken and all the fixings to go with it. We always had friends along and always fished. We would run to the top of the levee and roll down to the bottom, making sure there were no cowpies or other dangers in the path. Down a small road that led to the river was a sandbar. When we were older we were allowed to go there and swim. I can remember the river shrimp pinching our toes, more of a tickle than a pinch. I can still smell the smells and feel the river breeze on my face. I can remember the scary thrill of going down the levee at an angle in the car, always afraid we would tip over. But what I can't do is ever go back to the Long Pond, nor could I take my kids there when they were growing up so they could experience the things that I did. The Long Pond no longer exist as I knew it. Someone, in the name of progress, saw fit to dredge it out to the river and make a dry dock for tug boat repair. We were the last generation of children to enjoy all of lifes simple wonders at the Long Pond.

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englishrose wrote on Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:43 am:

The best you can do now cbelle is to keep the memories alive and keep telling the stories. You do it very well and I enjoy reading them ER

eileen wrote on Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:10 am:

It sounds as though the Long Pond was an idealic place Sharon. It's a pity that, nowadays, children don't seem to enjoy the simple things in life that we did. It's lovely to have such happy memories to revisit isn't it?

pondlady wrote on Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:07 pm:

Sadly, that is happening all over the country. We are destroying what we people need so desperately. At least we are trying to restore it in our own gardens.
And it looks like you have two writers in the same family.

reggaefan wrote on Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:43 pm:

The Long Pond was still there when I met Sharon It was wonderful full of fish and the scenery and wildlife were amazing. Pretty soon we be the endangered species by our own hand

glendann wrote on Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:53 am:

Loved it Cajunbelle you sure need to be writting a book.I have a memory somewhat the same and its still there just posted no traspasing signs all over the place.