The Boy From Splendora Texas: Recent Episodes
Wallace Gibbs
This is a series of stories about my life growing up in a small town in the 1960's and 1970's and follows me through my current day life.
Some stories are humorous, some are sad and some are just good stories to tell.
I hope that you enjoy them.
As with any good non-fictional piece, some names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Wow! Who could imagine your throat could hurt so badly? Join me as I relive the operation and what happens afterwards.
The day of the operation arrives and we all head to Memorial Hospital in downtown Houston.
Boy! That bees wax shot really hurt! At dinner, I find out that Momma is going to put us in the hospital to have our tonsils removed!
Today is the trip to Dr. Viehweg’s in Houston where Charlotte and I are told that not only are we getting the same vaccination the other 3 kids are getting, we are getting a beeswax shot.
Join me as the entire American Airlines Safety department picks up the pieces from the devastating news of Ashley's death.
Always adjust the seat in your car before setting off on an adventure. Join me as I revisit one of the more famous stories from my childhood.
Join me for the conclusion of my Freshman year, the Summer of 1981 and my Sophomore year.
It's Saturday August 30th. Our first week of school is over. Daddy and Momma go grocery shopping in Houston and the kids eat lunch at Casa Ole in Humble. The next day is the fifth Sunday of the month and the day we observe The Lord's Supper.
The driveway and sidewalk are finally poured, but all of this is marred by the untimely death of my cousin, Ralph Patterson.
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.
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.
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.
Virgil and I mow Mrs. Turners yard. Afterwards, I help Daddy build some rabbit cages while Virgil goes squirrel hunting.
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.
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.
It's 1977 and the last day of my 5th Grade Year. We all awaken to our house being wrapped which starts a whole new set of adventures for the summer.
Virgil and I get a chance to swim again and then are surprised with a nice dinner at Frank's Lakeview Inn in Belton, Texas.
Virgil and I go with Daddy to visit clients. We spend all day together and return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
As soon as we get to the hotel room, Virgil and I change into our swimsuits and head to the pool. Daddy joins us for a little while and then we all head to supper where I meet a waitress named Georgia.
Virgil and I are going to Temple, Texas with Daddy. It will be a "boy's only" trip. We leave on June 07 and check into the Holiday Inn in Temple.
Daddy's out of town on a business trip. Charlotte's making her famous Peanut Butter Cookies, Gena goes on a horse ride with Toni Lockhart and Gayle tells us a funny thing that happened to her at school today.
Virgil and I help with cutting down a tree in our backyard. Afterwards, the 5 of us kids head to the Texan Theatre in Cleveland where I watch my first horror movie.
Becky breaks my heart by telling me she just wants to be friends. Jerry comes to the rescue during Gym Class by making me laugh at the demise of Bobby's blue creation.
The morning drags on at Splendora Junior High School. I see Becky many times that morning, but am unable to talk with her. I also discover what Mike and Joseph have been talking about all morning when I run into Bobby Lemoine.
We arrive at school and I deliver the candy to Miss Russell who will give it to Becky during First Period.
It's Valentine Day 1979. Virgil and I ride to school with Gayle and Charlotte so that we can stop by Hayden's Store to buy candy.
There's a Gibbs Family Reunion at our house! Uncle B and Aunt Betty arrive early bringing me and Virgil a spectacular gift. The rest of the aunt's and uncles arrive and we all learn about Daddy rescuing Aunt Esther.
It's the Summer of 1978. Virgil and I are getting full use of the swimming pool that was finished in the Fall of last year.
After our haircuts, Virgil and I are sent to the Chicken Yard to clean out the egg hutches. We return to the house and bathe. Afterwards, we eat dinner and the enjoy a well-deserved dessert.
We leave Jerry's House and go to our Blackberry Field. It takes us over 2 hours to fill our buckets. We return home where Momma and the girls start the jelly making process. Daddy takes me and Virgil to get our haircut.at Travis Barber Shop in Porter, Texas.
Jerry and I watch The Incredible Hulk and talk until deep in the night. The next morning, Mrs. Scarborough cooks pancakes for breakfast before I have to leave to go berry picking with the family.
It's my sixth grade year! My best friend Jerry Scarborough asks me to spend the night at his house. Before school is out, I embarrass myself in front of the class during Science. I ride the bus home with Jerry and get to meet both of his parents.
The spot for the pool is planned! Virgil and I come home from school to watch the first step which was to dig the pit.
Virgil and I are called home early from Aunt Martha's house because Momma and Daddy have a visitor coming over to discuss some business with them.
I explore the area around the campsite and the go with the group of men to assign hunting spots for tomorrow.
The antlers from the deer that Virgil shot last year finally arrive and we hang them up in the Living Room. It is now my turn to do deer hunting with Daddy. The time arrives. Daddy and I head towards Madisonville, Texas and on the way, Daddy teaches me how to drive a car (I was 11 years old).
It was not a good day for Mrs. Hutton to talk and talk and talk to Mr. McShan. The results of that decision could be seen for the rest of the school year.
Virgil and I ride through Maywood Acres collecting bottles to turn in so that we can get a soda and some candy. Afterwards, we run into Raleigh Samuel, the local bully.
Virgil and I start a bicycle ride around Maywood Acres. We stop by the Philley's house to deliver some canning jars and I run into Betty.
The Gibbs Family goes over to The Sharp's for food, fellowship and Mrs. Sharp's fantastic peanut brittle.
Gena and I go to Hayden's Store to pick up feed for her horse Jo Jo and get some chicken feed. We each get a Dr Pepper and I try putting peanuts in mine for the first time. On the way home we stop at the Simon's Fireworks Stand.
Virgil and I go for a bike ride to the San Jacinto River. After we got back, I forgot to collect the eggs and lock up the chickens which results in a near disaster.
Join me as Momma and Daddy leave for the San Jacinto Inn. The Gibbs kids watch and episode of Emergency 51. Charlotte bakes Peanut Butter Cookies and soon a scuffle occurs.
Momma and Daddy are going out to eat tonight at the San Jacinto Inn in Baytown with some of Daddy's clients from School Steel. Virgil and I weed the tomatoes, stack the firewood and I take eggs down to the Mayes house.
I give my life to The Lord during the second night of the Revival. Afterwards, the entire church comes to Momma and Daddy's house...our home...for fellowship accompanied by sardines, saltines, onions and sharp cheddar cheese.
Join me as I ask Daddy about Salvation. We then head to Day 2 of the Revival at Harmony Baptist Church.
Momma's cooking dinner as the Gibbs family gets ready for the first night of the Revival services at Harmony Baptist Church in New Caney, Texas led by Brother Henry Clark.
Mrs. Fritsche's class heads to the lunch room where I get to order lunch which was a rare treat. All is well until I am served a mysterious orb which prevented me from getting an ice cream.
Join me as the 3rd Grade class has their weekly spelling test and we anticipate the upcoming weekend.
Join me as Mrs. Hammock's 2nd Grade Class makes it's way to the playground for an unforgettable game of Red Rover.
Join me as the Gibbs kids get ready for school on a fine Spring Day in 1974. I join my classmates in Mrs. Hammock's 2nd Grade class for the morning activities and lunch.
Join me as I celebrate Tabitha Hutchison's Birthday and Mike Futrell's Birthday and I put the final touches on the PowerPoint for Momma's funeral. Maria arrives on July 24th and we head to Pritchett.
Join me for the first 5 days after Momma died. I take Aurora back to Houston, visit with the Womack's and then stop at Gayle and Bobby's house to look at pictures.
July 03, 2020. I work on clearing a fence line at Charlotte's house. This was the last day I saw Momma alive.
June 30, 2020 - July 02, 2020. I find out that I would keep my job at American Airlines. Laura and I celebrate our 32nd Wedding Anniversary. I return to Pritchett on July 02.
June 28, 2020 - June 29, 2020. Virgil takes Rocky, Momma's little black dog, home with him. Gayle and I mow Momma's lawn.
Join me as we look at the events of June 24, 2020 - June 27, 2020 when LaNita comes to visit and a thunderstorm moves through Pritchett.
June 23, 2020. After Momma has a really rough night, the five of us gather in Pritchett to be with her expecting the worst.
Join me as I visit with Momma, Gena, Gayle, Charlotte and Scotty during my visit to Pritchett on April 24 & 25.
Join me as I recall the events of February 16 through Momma's Birthday on March 27 and then Virgil's Birthday on April 04.