Granddad's Rocking Chair...

                                         Grandfather’s Old Rocking Chair.

It sat in the corner up close to the old black coal and wood-burning heating stove in my grandmother’s living room. It was a simple old piece of furniture made from oak and had narrow slats running up the back and down the bottom of its frame. IT had flat arms of a wide plank that was good for resting your elbow on while sitting in it. It was my granddad’s rocking chair.  The family looked upon it as being Granddad’s throne. ***.  Not one child or adult would dare continue to sit in that chair when granddad walked into the room.  It was where he came to rest, hanging his old felt hat on the chair back to take a break from his work and to watch the woes of the day from a "make believe," family who resided in a "make believe" town called, “Hawkins Falls,” his favorite soap opera. A fifteen minute program that aired everyday from 1:00 Pm until 1:15Pm.   The old rocking chair was where he sat on Friday nights tossing out words of advice on how the good guy could whip up on the bad guy during Friday night wrestling. It was where he laughed the loudest at the antics of “Amos & Andy,” and he loved Lucy, too.

 I can still recall the sounds coming from that old rocking chair as he slowly rocked back and forth. Screech, screech, it went... It only added to the character of a wonderful man of character as he spun memories in the heart of a small girl who adored her grandpa… To this day, I still feel it an honor to be a,“Chip off of Hiram Nathan Johnson's block," a God-fearing man respected by all who knew him.

Sometimes on rainy days, granddad would sit in his old rocking chair with all us kids gathered around him and he would tell us about the “Good ole’ days.” He had the full attention of every kid present and his gruffness was tempered down to a gentle touch, as he talked to us in a low, slow voice. Grandpa had asthma and often he would have to take a break to, “get his wind back,” he would say…

My grandfather represented so much more to me than just being my grandfather. He stood for hard work and sacrificed much for his family. He set an example before his sons and daughters teaching them to take pride in their families and be hard-working individuals. He raised us all with love and taught us how to be the kind of people others could easily like and he did it all from his throne, the old oak rocking chair…


Words by Jamie O'Hara

Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world's gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy

(Chorus)

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days

Grandpa, everything is changing fast
We call it progress
But I just don't know
And Grandpa, let's wander back into the past
And paint me the picture
Of long ago

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say and then forget?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old 

Recorded by the Judds.....


The gentleman in the picture at the beginning of this writing is not my granddad, but he is a dear old friend I have known and loved him and his family for many years. 

However, he is the father of Lisa Bottom, the VP at the Perryville Farmers Bank and a well-known person and a hard worker for her community. She also can lay claim of being a chip off the old block from a God-fearing set of parents Mr.W.T. and Wanda Taylor... ...Thank you Lisa, for giving me permission to use your dad's picture. The way I see it you and your precious mother and father are the very best...

God Bless,

Mary Frances King