Flashback .. Fast Forward

reminiscing now .. decades later

some early childhood memories

rush throughout my mind

many of my family members

would get together on weekends

I was a young boy back then .. dying

try as I might i'll never be able

to forget all the chaotic experiences

life had laid upon my path

i'm most  fortunate to have survived

there was good old mom .. Arlis, my stepdad

four half brothers .. Jimmy .. Ricky .. Ronny .. Tommy

a half sister, Kathy .. my grandmother, Eva .. her coonass boyfriend, 

Vernon .. we'd all pile up in the family stationwagon

leave Monroe for Shreveport .. head due west

a couple of tedious hours .. driving

all the grownups would be screaming .. hollering .. arguing

us six kids fighting all the way .. couldn't  wait to get there

Dear God .. why did it always have to take forever

everyone's nerves were rattled .. on the very edge

stepdad would haul off .. slap the hell out of us

on occasion he'd stop the car .. get out screaming as loud as he could

whip our asses with a thick leather belt on the side of the Interstate

it was always a circus type atmosphere

as soon as we'd arrive .. family would come running

greeting .. hugging .. cursing one another

silently i'd pray to hopefully survive

Uncle Jimmy .. Aunt Edna's house

sat on the corner of Fairfield Avenue

not too far from busy Interstate 20

country/western music would be blaring

over cracked .. screeching .. popping speakers

already i'd a headache .. working on a migraine

cousins Cyndi .. Debbi .. Becky

always smiled .. yet it was evident

they suffered quietly .. sad results

our alcoholic .. drug dependent family

drove all of us kids crazier than we already were

Copyright @ June 2014

StandingBear