The Boy From Splendora Texas

Today is August 25, 1980, my first year at Splendora High School.

The driveway and sidewalk are finally poured, but all of this is marred by the untimely death of my cousin, Ralph Patterson.

Virgil and I move into our new room and the Patterson's come over for a swim.

Virgil, Daddy and I pick up a load of watermelons in Hempstead. Throughout the summer, we sold them to people driving by on FM 2090.

Darla and Rex join us to go swimming, then the family goes to The Jade Palace in Humble for dinner.

Virgil and I are tasked with clipping the Chickens Wings and then we head to the San Jacinto River.

Today is Gayle's Graduation Day from Splendora High School. Daddy gets a call that Aunt Doris is in the hospital.

My 8th Grade Graduation Day has finally arrived. Please join me as I relive that day.

It's Memorial Day 1980. Momma let's us all sleep in. Virgil and I pick the okra and then go for a bike ride. When we return, Gayle is given a huge shock, but is okay in the end.

It's Memorial Day Weekend in 1980. We attend Church Services at Laird Street and then enjoy pizza that night for supper.

The day of the Montgomery County Fair is here. Join me as I relive that week.

Summer ends and my 8th Grade year starts. I am elected Most Friendly 8th Grade Boy.

School is out and I am no longer in the 7th Grade. Gayle begins working at Schill Steel with Daddy and Gena. On the weekends, she and I build a Lego Town. The Rabbits are finally old enough to come to our house. Some are bred to other rabbits and some wind up in the freezer.

Gena, Virgil and I head down to the Philley's to see the newly born rabbits.

Virgil and I mow Mrs. Turners yard. Afterwards, I help Daddy build some rabbit cages while Virgil goes squirrel hunting.

Becky and I play double solitaire as we wait for the results of the competition.

The day has finally arrived. Daddy wakes me up and takes me to school where I meet up with Becky for the trip to Tarkington I.S.D. for the UIL contest.

Join me as Daniel and I search for my Aggie Ring

Miss Poseman and I start working on paring down the story, but only after I apologize to her for something I had said earlier. We work for almost 4 weeks together and it is finally March 30, 1979. The day before the competition.

It's March 01, 1979 and I have just been invited to represent Splendora I.S.D. in the 7th Grade UIL Prose Reading contest at Tarkington I.S.D. on Saturday, March 31, 1979.

It's May 16, 1984 and I am 16 days from graduating from Splendora High School when tragedy strikes.

Timmy and Johnny get into a fight at school that continues at Aunt Martha's house requiring Momma to get involved.

I make it through my first Sunday Morning service in my new position as the Song Leader. Please join with me as we sing several really good hymns. As Mark Garner says, we don't sing them because they're old, we sing them because they're good.

Well, the time had arrived and I started the Sunday School services off with Higher Ground from the Hymnal.

I learn that I am going to be the song leader for our small church, Harmony Baptist in New Caney, Texas.