THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

Maybe you can help me find what word describes many physical and emotional feelings at once.

I couldn't think of one, so I'll make one up. 
How's about multiplephysicalmotionalfeelingsatdasametom.

Multiplephysicalmotionalfeelingsatdasametom is the word that describes the experience that I had every summer as a kid...

Standing on a big rock and then jumping in to the icy cold water of Big Creek in Sam A. Baker State Park in Missouri.

 I looked for photos of Sam A. Baker Park, and I think this is the actual rock I used to jump off!!!

From 90 degrees and 90% humidity to HOLY POLAR BEAR PLUNGE, ITS FREAKIN" COLD!!

I think the shock would stop my old heart if I tried it today!

However, it was not just the opposite physical feelings I experienced. At that brief moment in time, as I plunged into the paralysingly frigid water, my mind went from St. Louis, school, and all things city...to the pure joy of summer vacation, freedom, fun, and fittin'!

My grandpa lived near Sam A. Baker Park and he would take us to the St. Francis river to go fittin'. 
That's how he pronounced fishin'!

He would make fittin' rod holders from forked branches, and set up about 10 rods and reels on them.

He would give me one of his old cane poles to use.

I didn't mind because my dad hated fishin', and this was the only time I got to go,

My dad always said, "When ya go fishin', all ya come home with is a wet butt and a hungry gut!"
He was right, but I loved it anyway!

Everything was so totally alien and wonderful to a city kid like me.

The dragonflies were so cool and beautiful...like  rainbows in flight, and even though they were pretty huge for insects, they were harmless.

I loved the tumble bugs on the river bank, rolling up balls of manure. 

Like circus performers!

The calls of the whippoorwills and bobwhites.

whip·poor·will 

n.

An insect-eating nocturnal North American bird (Caprimulgus vociferus) of the goatsucker family, having spotted brown feathers that blend with its woodland habitat. (Goatsucker?)

Bobwhites are relatively small ground dwelling gallinaceous (chicken-like) birds. Adults stand six to seven inches (24-27 cm) in height and typically weigh about six to seven ounces. Their name derives from their distinctive whistle ("bobwhite").

 You know how some dudes are a chick magnet?

Well, I was a tick magnet!

There are billions of ticks in the Ozark mountains of Missouri, and they loved me!

Mom always checked everyone for ticks and I would usually have two or three on me.

Now, you have to be careful not to leave the head of a tick under your skin or you'll turn into a zombie or something.

So mom would  take one of her Pall Mall cigarettes, and hold the lit end near the tick.

The tick couldn't stand the heat, and would back out, where mom could squish it with her 3 inch long fingernails.

However, I liked my grandpa's way better.

He would put a drop of horse liniment on the tick, and that tick would "skeedattle" like crazy until grandpa squished it with the flat part of his pocket knife blade.

I almost forgot to tell you about the really gross tick thing!

Grandpa's dogs would get ticks on them that swelled up as big as big marbles, REALLY big marbles!

I didn't want to go anywhere near those grotesque creatures, but grandpa pulled them off the dogs very nonchalantly.

He loved his dogs more than he loved people.

Please, don't be mad at me, but I'm including a song I've featured on this blog before, because it goes so well with the story!

It has such a down home country feel to it, and I think you'll like it....again: