Old Barn

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Old Barn

Posted by Modern Day Redneck on January 15, 2010 at 6:16 PM

This old barn sits by the road right in the middle of town. I have passed it a hundred times and always wondered about the sights it has seen and the stories it could tell.

Many years ago I was on the way home from work one day and saw a feeble old man parked and standing by the road with a lost look on his face. I stopped and asked if he needed anything or if I could help. He said he was looking for something and described this old barn and was wondering where it was. He could have swore it was right where he was standing. Instead of trying to give the old timer directions, I thought it would be better to have him follow me. As we pulled up to the old barn I got out and asked him if this was the place he was looking for.The old feller just walked right up to it, looked around for a few minutes and simply said "yup, this is it".

I could have just driven by the lost old man or I could have just pointed in the direction of the barn and said "that way" or I guess I could have even just pointed out the window as I drove by it showing him where it is. For a hour that man told me stories of his childhood and that broken down old barn. He pointed up to the loft and talked about a makeshift bed back in the corner and said that was where he was born and spent many years of his life. As he talked he stared off across the surrounding houses trying to remember the open fields and a whole other lifetime, I could only imagine what his tired eyes saw. He told me he wanted to see this old thing one last time before he moved on to the promise land. I just stood there and didn't say a word, I just let him talk and tell the stories of a life he had so many years ago. I never caught his name and I don't guess he ever said it, but I feel privileged to have met him. I am sure his journey home was with the angels.

Categories: Modern day redneck

14 Comments

Reply Sheryl at Providence Acres Farm

06:24 AM on July 09, 2010

That is such a good story and you tell it well! I like that old barn. It would make a great chicken house!

Reply Rooster Shamblin

02:15 PM on January 29, 2010

http://roostershamblin.wordpress.com/ please take a few minutes of your time and read my chicken blog. I have been raising 50 breeds of chickens for 40 years.

Reply blackbear54

10:57 PM on January 27, 2010

I had a similar episode, but in this case he owned the barn just behind our house right in town. Now the unusual thing about this barn was it straddled a creek and no on knew why, my neighbor never plucked up nerve to ask Francis, the old mans name, and I knew I had to . So one day while he was putting his car back into the barn I approached him and introduced myself. He turned out to be a good friend and I had the chance to work on his barn for him and level up the floor and close off one side which let in too much snow in winter. I only had to walk out my back door to work for most of that summer and every day Francis would stroll around to meet me and pull my cart full of tools back home. He would often come in and have a cup of coffee and watch History channel for a while, he told me stories of the town, his growing up and of course the barn and how he came to own it and how it got there. Pure gold and such a great feeling to have him as a friend. Francis passed away over christmas that year, at age of 82, bless you Francis and thank you for sharing your stories and for saving the barn, which was his last wish.

Reply Garry

12:08 AM on January 27, 2010

My uncle lives with me now he is 70 years old. My mom lives 100 feet from where i live. I am going to go over to her house tomorrow and spend time with her and help her "clean the house". Old barn just made me realize I have to not take but make the time to spend with her. I am going to get out of the fast lane for a day and get my priorties straight on what is important to me. Thank You so much for this story, it really sends me home.

Reply Karen1953

11:28 PM on January 26, 2010

This story is so heartfelt and makes me miss my grandparents so much and the stories they use to tell- I use to love sitting on thier porch and just listen. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Reply Milandred

09:47 AM on January 25, 2010

Suzi says...
I am sobbing. Literally sobbing at that beautiful/bittersweet tale. That could have been my grandpa, and like all well told stories, I 'cast' him in that role. I saw him walking you around, pointing things out, relating all the old days. My heart breaks that the last few years of my grandpa's life, especially after a 'close call' hospital visit, his stories weren't so 'happy', they were of the sad sort of not being able to see his 'old homestead' every again. See, we're in California, and he came here (against his wishes), at the age of 16. He'd actually hid out in the woods for a few days till he thought his folks had gone off and left him...I know his 'dad' wasn't happy with him for holding up the trip from Arkansas! The best thing for him was, only 4 years later, meeting and marrying my grandma, his soul mate. We lost him 2.5 years ago at the age of 90. It kills me remembering the times he'd start out retelling an old story, smiling...then, the clouds would come over him, and he'd say, 'guess I'll never make it back there now'. For years, he'd say, 'when I get up and around, I'm gonna make that trip back there'. I honestly think, when he came to terms with the fact that he'd never 'go home', he sort of not, 'gave up', just 'gave in'. Gave in to time. *snuffle*
This story of yours, and this post of mine are firsts, but I doubt they'll be my last.
*let's just pretend his name was Leo, and you were in Springdale, Ark, ok?*
*more tears*

Wow Suzi you made me tear up!

Reply Modern Day Redneck

06:49 PM on January 24, 2010

Suzi, Thank you so much for your heart felt reply. I would have been just as honored to have met your grandpa. I left out so many details in the story of that day and I wished I would have included them. I just hope someone is there to listens to our stories when the time comes. Keep posting.

Reply Suzi

03:31 AM on January 24, 2010

I am sobbing. Literally sobbing at that beautiful/bittersweet tale. That could have been my grandpa, and like all well told stories, I 'cast' him in that role. I saw him walking you around, pointing things out, relating all the old days. My heart breaks that the last few years of my grandpa's life, especially after a 'close call' hospital visit, his stories weren't so 'happy', they were of the sad sort of not being able to see his 'old homestead' every again. See, we're in California, and he came here (against his wishes), at the age of 16. He'd actually hid out in the woods for a few days till he thought his folks had gone off and left him...I know his 'dad' wasn't happy with him for holding up the trip from Arkansas! The best thing for him was, only 4 years later, meeting and marrying my grandma, his soul mate. We lost him 2.5 years ago at the age of 90. It kills me remembering the times he'd start out retelling an old story, smiling...then, the clouds would come over him, and he'd say, 'guess I'll never make it back there now'. For years, he'd say, 'when I get up and around, I'm gonna make that trip back there'. I honestly think, when he came to terms with the fact that he'd never 'go home', he sort of not, 'gave up', just 'gave in'. Gave in to time. *snuffle*
This story of yours, and this post of mine are firsts, but I doubt they'll be my last.
*let's just pretend his name was Leo, and you were in Springdale, Ark, ok?*
*more tears*

Reply dl

10:03 AM on January 21, 2010

A beautiful story - thanks for sharing it.

Reply watcher

09:04 PM on January 20, 2010

Father Time is not always a hard parent, and, though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigour. With such people the grey head is but the impression of the old fellow's hand in giving them his blessing, and every wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life. ~Charles Dickens

Reply n0t

10:36 PM on January 19, 2010

Awesome story. I have some friends in their 70's and it's absolutely wonderful to hear their stories. The old Byrde knows how to fix a drink to.

I totally agree with skip it would take me hours to write something like this and it still wouldn't sound as good.

Reply madmac

09:18 PM on January 19, 2010

What a great story. So much to learn from those born before us. Much can be had for the taking if we just sit a spell with someone that is wiser in years. Stop and smell the roses cause life in the fast lane has little to offer. As a teenager I couldn't understand why my my parents and grandparents did some of the things they did or why simple things meant so much to them The older I got the smarter they got. Now more than ever I realize just how smart they really were. I sure do miss them. Thanks for the story.