Merle Haggard – April Coker, Author

The Little White House on Willow Branch Road

My parents traded houses with my grandparents on my daddy’s side when I was four, which would be in 1963, so we moved from the big house to the little white house. They decided to trade houses because the big house had more room, and then my two aunts and an uncle were still living at home. The little white house was located about half a mile down the same road, Willow Branch Road, as the big house.

My most vivid memory of the little house is Christmas, and Mama and Daddy coming to the bedroom my brother and I shared to coax us out of bed to see what Santa brought us. Can you imagine children having to be coaxed out of bed on Christmas morning? I guess my brother and I were a bit timid. It could have something to do with watching for Santa and his sleigh out the bedroom window. Maybe we were afraid he would still be there and we were shy.

I remember only one of my Christmas gifts and it was a horse pillow for TV watching. My brother and I each got one.

One other memory I have from living in the little white house was watching Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock with my parents. They probably didn’t think I was watching, but those people with pig snouts scared me, and I also remember dolls that came to life. That memory could explain why I freaked out when I discovered my husband years later watching Stephen King’s “It” while our toddler played in the same room!

My dad and baby sister at the little white house

One day Mama and us kids were outside, Mama sitting on the back step with my baby sister Sharon, and Allen and I playing in the backyard. A red wasp landed in Mama’s hair and as she shook her head to get it out, it decided to take off after me! Mama cried, “Run, April!” So I ran. But I didn’t run fast enough or far enough. I stopped running and that red wasp popped me on the forehead over my left eyebrow and then on my hand when I brushed it away. I still have the hole in my forehead from the stinger. I’ve been afraid of wasps ever since. Mama tried. . . Wait, isn’t that a song?

Me helping with Sharon at the little white house

I don’t have many more memories of life in the little white house, but I do remember Mama chasing my brother around the house in a tight shift dress. I don’t recall if they were playing or if he was in trouble! (Probably the latter.)

On to the house by the football field in Van. . .stay tuned!

XOXO

Random Friday: When Country was Country?

Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Reba McEntire.

All big names in today’s country music.

Then there are Dwight Yoakum, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Clint Black, and many others.

But these are not really country music artists to a certain generation. According to my father’s generation, REAL country music includes names like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Bill Anderson, and many others. This is the music I grew up on, what my parents call REAL country music.

Daddy came across this old magazine the other day called Country Song Roundup dated December 1969. Check it out. . .

I love the way the pages have aged, and the difference in the fonts. No glossiness here!

Remember Tommy Cash? He appeared on the Johnny Cash Show back in the early 70’s. I had forgotten about him! (no offense, Tommy!)

Can you imagine subscribing to a magazine for $3.50? Still hard to come by for many in those days.

The teacher in me found this last page interesting. It seems even in 1969 there were alternative ways to earn a high school diploma!

It was entertaining and educational flipping through the pages of this magazine which is now a piece of history. And whether or not you believe that today’s country music is the REAL deal, you have to realize that no matter what it really is, it goes by that name anyway. There is at least one country music star who acknowledges that she owes her success to the country music of her parents and grandparents. Miranda Lambert counts among her idols Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn.

Is it really necessary to have

to choose which is the REAL country?

I think you can love both. Just like I do.

Or prefer the music of your own

generation, like my parents do.

Or the music in between.

It’s all music, and I’m thankful there

are enough genres for everyone’s individual

taste.

By the way, did I mention that I was one

of Miranda’s high school teachers?

Yep, I was! More on that later. . .

XOXO