Landmarks and Comfort Zones

From the Heart
by Raenell Wynn Smith

How many times have you come home (in my case Childress and for many of you Childress is still considered your home as well), and find things that once were there are gone. Over the past few months some of my "landmarks" are missing. I feel I am blessed by living in the town where I grew up and being able to drive down streets and remember times past by focusing in on a "landmark".

Childress Veterans War Memorial at Childress County Courthouse
Photo by Billy Hathorn, Licensed under Wikipedia Commons


Recently one of the landmarks in my life has been torn down - The First Baptist Church Parsonage once located adjacant to The First Baptist Church. Memories of that two story house are fond ones. Growing up as a young child and attending FBC sunday school and youth activities, we often played in that yard. When Jim and I decided to get married, Bro. Joe Allen and his sweet wife Lavonna resided in the parsonage as he was the pastor of FBC. We had made plans to marry in their home. The evening arrived and we were disappointed to find that Bro. Joe had taken ill and was unable to perform the ceremony. We then, being anxious and not letting anything like that keep us from our destiny, traveled to Quanah and were married by the Justice of The Peace at the Courthouse. Just recently we celebrated our 45th anniversay. Mike Erhle has a column in the Index at times called "Reflections". He brings back some of those lost "landmarks" that we can draw from our memory bank.

Bobcat Stadium at Childress Fair Park
Photo by Billy Hathorn, Licensed under Creative Commons

People can also be "landmarks". Several come to mind and may come to yours. " Landmarks" - you knew where they were at any given time and that if you chose to go there you would be welcome.

Now, getting to the "Comfort Zones" in my life. Comfort is that favorite pair of blue jeans, possibly worn, tattered, hem unraveled, but fit just right and feel good even if you fall asleep in them, an oversized shirt or T-shirt that doesn't touch you anywhere and you can curl up in if need be, and those old loafers that you can jump into if you just have to go somewhere. When Jo Ann lived here, she was one of my Comfort Zones. We would have what we called a "lost weekend" where we would ride around town talking about who used to live in a particular house and the memories that were made just by knowing those people. And at times just recalling a house or building that stands no more, but we could remember and that was what was important - The Remembering. Then we would spend part of the afternoon, or possibly that early morning drinking coffee and walking down a country road.

Main Street in Childress

A good book can be a comfort zone as well. My favorite is "The Shell Seekers". I've read this one at least 5 times. I guess I like it because the main character returns to a Landmark in her life from when she was a young woman and she lives in what sounds like that Comfort Zone that brings her daily pleasure because she shares it with others.

So, whatever Landmarks you look for to recall old memories and wherever your Comfort Zone is - My wish for you is that you may go there often and each time it is as vivid and as welcoming as the first time.

From My Heart to Yours,