On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
I always wanted to be able to read.
Do you remember Saturday morning television cartoons? Each one began with opening credits and the cartoon title.
I remember lying on the floor watching them with my older brothers. And I would get so mad! I knew that when the music began, the title of the cartoon would appear on the screen and I couldn’t read it. And just to be plain mean my brothers would refuse to read it to me. I would whine loudly to our mother, poor mom.
Looking back on this memory, I realize I may have had some issues, like wanting to know everything.
I could definitely read by the time this picture was taken. Just threw it in for a visual.
And I really, really wanted to be able to read. Which is odd since neither of my parents were into reading.
I have two distinct memories of second grade. It was the year I gave my heart to Jesus and I learned to read. Both changed my life forever.
Second grade began badly for me. In my time, on the first day of school we went to the auditorium and we were seated by grade level. Then the teachers of each grade would call the names of their new students. The teacher would gather her new ones together and off they would go to their room. To my horror, my name was called by a teacher I was terrified of. She was really tall, thin and had red hair. She wore very high heels that looked dangerous but worst of all, she had a very loud voice. During first grade when she was the lunch monitor she yelled and looked menacing. Nothing like my sweet first grade teacher.
I would come to love that woman. She taught me to read. And unlike numbers, I had no trouble at all. Once I learned the letter sounds I began reading and never stopped. (Ha! So there big brothers.)
At the school library I checked out as many books as I was allowed, but the selection was limited. Then I discovered the Bookmobile.
“Photo courtesy Orange County Archives.”
This is very like the one in Florida. I think it made its round to our area every two weeks. It was the highlight of my weeks. The “library ladies” were so kind. They knew what we regulars liked to read and made sure they had a selection. As I remember, the bookmobile came after school and I remember walking home, juggling my treasures.
I do most of my reading now on a tablet. I was a die hard hold out for paper books, but aging eyes nudged me into digital. A few weeks ago, I opened my tablet to bring up one of my devotional books. I was overcome with my bounty of books, good books, that I have yet to read. And I don’t even have to walk to the bookmobile. God truly does delight in giving us the smallest desires of our hearts.
Second grade was a very good year.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2022 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
Old Things R New 
May you continue to read for many years to come, Onisha, and I’ll add my thanks to your grade teacher for giving you the passion to not only read, but to share your adventures with us all.
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