At first glance, my home town may not look like much. An hour from the nearest mall and surrounded by rice fields, Keiser is a small speck on the map of Arkansas, a blur to those driving somewhere else. Yet filtered among the watchful cottonwood trees, memories live—memories of cheerleader practice, Halloween carnivals, best friends, the Yellow Jacket Cafe with mouth-watering burgers and onion rings.
I drive the streets to recharge and refill, to remember the place rooted deeply in my mind. To remember myself.
Although the gin is boarded-up, I imagine the highway once lined with over-filled cotton trailers, the wind blowing and spilling a trail of white along the side of the road like snow. The stadium lights went dark years ago, yet the buzz of junior high football lingers in my heart.
I feel your smile, even though you’re gone.
I remember.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
K-E-I-S-E-R-J-A-C-K-E-T-S, hey-hey, clap, stomp, clap clap, repeat. Keiser Jackets sting ’em!
“There are some important things to remember always, no matter how hard life presses at you. One of these things is that wherever you are, and no matter for how long, there must be a home to hold you.” – Sheila Moon, Knee Deep in Thunder
Musical Pairing:
Turning Home, David Nail
Great memories!
Greatness!
What a cute photo of you as a kid and love all the recollections of your home town. Very nostalgic.
Cattitude and Gratitude
Thank you!
Wonderful!!! Brings back so many of my own memories. Thank you for reminding me!
Thanks Robin! I received the sweetest message from a lady today who grew up in Marie. I’ll message you and tell you about it. I’m sure you know her. Made my day…
i love this. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
Awesome, Talya! I have to say that even though Keiser is a very small town, it has some of the nicest and most hospitable people I’ve ever met in my life. Growing up in the suburbs of Etowah, AR and staying after school in Keiser to participate in sports led to me staying at my friends home after practice until one of my parents got off work and came to pick me up. As a matter of fact, I can remember your awesome Mom picking me up from school, one day, and driving me to my Mom’s work, I believe. Actually, I can’t remember where she drove me, but I do remember riding in her awesome car and how beautiful she was.=) I was so shy and my face turned beet red so easily, I’m sure any drivers we met on the road were wondering what that red glow was beaming from the passenger side of your beautiful Mom’s car.=) So, needless to say, my friends, as well as their parents, made me feel like part of their families, and I’ll never forget their amazing hospitality for the rest of my life.
Awww that’s sweet. Well, as you know, I didn’t actually live in Keiser either but growing up on the outskirts, in the middle of nowhere, we all claimed it since we went to school there and roamed the streets as often as we were allowed.
Thank you, I do have my moments of being sweet, but it’s hard not to be when talking about Keiser folks. And yeah, you’re right, it didn’t matter where we lived exactly, Keiser always felt like home or at least, home away from home, and we all pretty well staked our claim in K-town.=) Makes me want to write a song about it…wanna hear it?…haha…aw shucks, never mind!…haha
Nice nostalgic piece.
Visiting from GBE 2: Blog On page.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
I would like one of those burgers right now! Good one!
There will always be something extra special about our home towns.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Clearly you were always KEWT.
http://STFU4ABetterRelationship.WordPress.com
What wonderful vivid memories. I can almost taste those hamburgers!! Awesome imagery.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing your memories. Very sweet pic.
Do I even have Keiser on my list of PLACES? If not, I do now. Great piece.
Sweet!
Just like you, I was raised in the country, finally moved to K town in the 10th grade. What a great place to grow up!
Talya your memory is exactly the same as mine. On Sat. Night we headed to the movies Racheal Bolic would be in ticket booth with her little white dog! 25cents it cost for the movie.
Dianna, there was no movie theatre in Keiser when I was a teenager – I went to the Murr in Osceola. Great memories. Thanks for sharing!
I too grew up in the middle of nowhere and moved into town when I was in the 10 th. grade. Have lots of great memories and still think of Keiser as my home.
Thank you Jo Anne. Those of us who consider Keiser home are a lucky bunch.
I was raised in Etowah, went to Misco school, but married a Keiser boy, he worked at Janie Bowls grocery store to help pay his way through hi school,graduated one of the top in his class, I married him lived on the outskirts for 40 yrs, now live in Keiser, a great place live.Talya, I remember when you were this age, a freckle faced cutie…
Haha thanks Linda. Love your comment and family!