Tobacco Fields

Cold wet summer mornings, the sun still hiding its warmth. We all pile out of an old truck; dragging out feet, sleep still in our eyes.

The farmer yelling to quit dragging our ass. The day is wasting, got to get them crops in. Yes! Those leaves that are yellow is what he wants. Don't touch the green ones, they aren't ready yet.

Our crew is not big but we get the job done. Four to crop and Four to string it up on sticks; of course there's the tractor driver way in front and the one who hangs them on the back. You might get surprised what you string on that stick! Could be a snake or a harmless fat green worm. Oh yes, I remember those worms! Getting chased threw the fields... if the were just harmless than why did we scream?

Lets not forget the best part. When the sun has been beating down on you and you are ready to strip all your clothes off and pull out your wild very sticky hair, you get to take that all needed break, Yes! A soda and nab... it's amazing what that little refreshment can do, you suddenly feel like you can make it until lunch time.

Oh wow, lunch time! Did I say the best part was the soda and nab? Well, lunch time was better. Not what we think of lunch now a days(a sandwich or burger) oh no...this was a feast! Fried chicken with mashed potatoes, collar greens, corn(fresh) and lets not forget (as if you could) the greatest homemade biscuits in the world! With butter and molasses... yum yum how I miss those days.

I could not end this memory without telling you about the romance in the tobacco field... yes romance, "love" we all had our favorites, sometimes our favorites were the same. Ha! So there was a little competition. Always trying to have the one you liked being the one that was your cropper, sitting there on the same swing... touching hands as he gave you the tobacco to string up. Ah! There was nothing better.

We might have stolen a kiss or two but never more than that, oh no not me! Lets see... I was in "love" with a boy named Ricky D, Ikey D, and Johnny (can't remember?) oh well. Years later I married a Garry D.! Guess I was meant to have a "D" for my last name! We all complained in that hot summer tobacco fields but, it gave us the life experience of working for the things you wanted. Our school clothes got bought with that money we "earned" it felt good...I wish our children today could all know that feeling of accomplishment!