STEPPING BACK IN TIME
I love books that take me to faraway places and new experiences. One of the unexpected delights in writing “Elsie” has been meeting readers from faraway places. This last week I was honored and privileged to meet Mary Campbell and her 92 year old mother Edith Cox. As soon as we met, Mary explained that everyone calls her mother “Granny.” I was drawn to Edith, and to call her “Granny” during our short visit was a sweet privilege. Mary had written a year ago explaining how she had grown up on a 22-acre apple farm near Hendersonville, North Carolina. I was intrigued when Mary described how her life growing up in N.C. was similar to Elsie’s first Arizona year. Mary shared with me a 1969 newspaper article written about her family farm. The article described the farm as having no indoor plumbing, no electricity and must be reached on foot. It said “Looking down on the old two room cabin it seems time has rolled back at least 100 years.” The article spoke of light from kerosene lamps , the wood stove for cooking and water being carried from the spring for drinking, bathing and washing dishes. 
Edith Cox, Barb and Mary Campbell
Mary showed me the beautiful antique butter churn she used as a girl. We viewed the smoke house still in use. Edith still uses the classic wood stove for heat and cooking. Her other daughter had prepared greens and beans that sat atop the stove ready for the day ahead. Edith demonstrated her electronic Bible, a small device that she could both hear and see. Mary had written me a year ago and I knew we would be kindred spirits. Mary wrote telling me that “Three days after I turned 18 I left farm life. No more hoeing and picking beans and apples for me.
The barns are larger buildings to the top of photo. The white roof to the front is where Granny now lives. The small two room cabin where Mary grew up is small building in the center right of photo.
I joined the Air Force in Aug. of 1970. In April of ’71 I married an AF sergeant from Ohio. I am so honored to have grown up in the little cabin and have the wonderful memories of a time long lost to modern technology. My Uncle Daniel (Dad’s brother) built a small house for Mama and Daddy in 1973 that replaced the 2 room log cabin.” When Mary’s husband retired from the Air Force they came home to Mary’s N.C. farm and her Mama.
Mary also wrote this fun story:
“In days past it was normal for farmers in the area to drop by and have lunch with Mama and Daddy unannounced. It never seemed to bother Mama, in fact, she thrived on it. Daddy always bragged on Mama’s cooking. One of my favorite stories is back in the 80′s a car pulled up in the yard and dad hollered, ‘Come in.’ A man appeared at the door and said, ‘Well, I can’t, my wife is in the car and has no legs and we don’t have her wheel chair.’ Daddy took a chair from the table and together Dad and the man placed the lady in the chair and sat her at the table. They all four enjoyed a great meal and fellowship and after an hour or so they left. Daddy said to Mom, ‘Just who was those people?’ to which Mama said, ‘Well, I don’t know. I thought they were your friends.’”
Granny still cooks on this classic wood burning stove.
As I left Granny called me back inside because she wanted to offer me a gift. I will treasure the small thimble and cute little dragon-fly garden ornament that says “God Bless You.” It is clear God has richly blessed Edith with daughters that love and care for her. I felt blessed for having been privileged to visit this family.
I appreciate so much the many that have taken time to write saying they appreciated “Elsie.”
