Lonoke Equals Home

 Why does a place where I haven't lived for more than 45 year still feel like home to me?  Is it in my very DNA?  My ancestors walked those streets, attended the school, worshiped at the churches.  My parents and grandparents loved this little town on the prairie in central Arkansas. I lived there occasionally from my birth to age 8.  When Daddy was deployed on a ship, Moma and I would come and stay with my Grandma Boyle.  I attended part of 1st grade there and then came back in the middle of 3rd grade and stayed until I graduated.  There are memories on every corner!

My heart swells as I drive down Highway 70 past Anderson's Minnow farm.  I start smiling as soon as I seen the rice dryer and come around the 2 curves that take me into town.  When I get out of the car and feel the hot sticky air and smell the humidity and earthy scent, I am taken back to my childhood and teenaged years and to the many visits I've made as an adult.

The fish hatchery, the Court House, the office where my mother worked, the doctor's office, Melton Motor company building, the depot, the drug store, the Presbyterian Church, the school, our green house on Depot Street, friends' houses, the buildings in the middle of town...it is all as familiar to me as the streets I walk everyday in Eagle, Idaho.

In fact, sometimes when I can't sleep, I will mentally drive up and down every street in Lonoke.  That relaxes me.

A couple of things I've read recently resonated with my nostalgia for Lonoke. 

If a place is part of your life for long enough, part of your soul, then it holds the good memories and the sad.

Home is a place that lives in one's heart, waiting with open arms to be rediscovered. 

Perhaps those two quotes explain my feelings.  Lonoke is part of my soul, part of my heart.  Going back there, the town waits and I rediscover the people and the place I love. My soul is rejuvenated, my heart rejoices and I am filled. 

Lunch at Lonoke's new restaurant with my DePriest cousins - Kelly Probus, Janie Depriest Raper, Karol Depriest, Debbie Depriest 

My cousin Ross Moore who graduated with me

My cousin Jimmy Depriest

I was lucky to have two cousins in my class - Ross and Jimmy

When they built the new high school, the original arches from the old school were kept on campus.  My mother passed under those arches on her way to school, just like I did.

After a tour of the new school, a few of us got a photo in the place where we had gotten our senior class photo 51years ago.  

As you can see they incorporated the 'arch' design into the new school. A bit of the 'old' along with the new. 

Some of the walkway bricks commemorating graduates of Lonoke High School.

Me and my classmates

My mother - Bessie Jane Boyle

My Aunts Mary and Maudie

My cousin Janie and her husband, Pat,who graciously let me stay at their house when I visit.

A barbecue dinner with cousins Ross & Brenda Moore, Robin & Chuck Lewis, Charlie Cummings,  Kellie Huggs, Pat and Janie, Blayke Huggs and her friend.

It's not just family that makes Lonoke HOME.  It's my lifelong friends.

Pam Cordell Landis and Jeanne Cole Harlan

We had a sleepover at Pam's house for a few nights!

Not quite like high school days but just as fun!

Brunch at the Grumpy Rabbit 

Pam and Jeanne 

Ronnie and Sheree Wallace

Ed Willman

Kirk Fort

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.

Robert Montgomery