July 4 Picnic and Parade Sponsored by Gordon Volunteer Fire Department

Yesterday afternoon the Texas Twins SUVs loaded up to travel to Gordon, TX the home of my Aunt, Shirley Dickson, where my twin sister and I spent many summers in our youth.

Gordon is situated between Weatherford and Eastland, Texas and has a population of approximately 900.

The volunteer fire and rescue team is exceptional for small town standards and, during a raging fire at Possum Kingdom Lake several years ago, responded to help.

My cousins, Albert and James Dickson and our Uncle Albert Dickson have been on call for wrecks, fires and emergency response as long as I can remember.

There has never been a holiday that these daring men were not called out to respond. Holidays seem to be the time when their help is needed most!

While I have always lived close to a suburban city with all the convenience that one comes to take for granted, I noticed that “the big city” does NOT give away hot dogs, water and ice cream for those who wish to participate in outdoor functions, social events and activities in the way the townspeople of Gordon, TX do.

The decorations, the food, the games and jump houses were all provided by the fire department and volunteers to create a sense of community. Something the big city no longer takes interest in.

My sister and I as children had learned to feed farm animals, bale hay and ride horses at my aunt Shirley’s farm in Gordon. We also learned to have compassion, integrity and respect for hard working Americans that sacrifice for the betterment of society by volunteering or serving in the military to protect the country.

We also met our very first Horny Toad while staying at the farm. My brother told me that it spits blood in your eye and blinds you, I was horrified of this ugly little creature that looked like a dragon! Years later, I would laugh remembering that Horny Toad when I realized that TCU recognized this scary little creature as a mascot.

Country life is remarkably different from the rushed environment of Fort Worth. It is a step back in time so to speak.

We walked to church and road horses to the truck stop which at the time was the only restaurant in town.

The church sponsored bake sales to raise funds for a sick child or to stock the food pantry. We were always at the church for one function or another.

My aunt Shirley operates Meals on Wheels and the Mingus Food Pantry to feed those who would otherwise go hungry due to age and isolation.

Many holidays my twin sister Cindy Daniel and I would take a route to deliver hot meals to those who needed them and were so grateful to have the company of a friend and a meal to break up their otherwise lonely life.

The kitchen at my aunt Shirley’s has always had an emergency CB radio going 24 hours a day that had my uncle and cousins suiting up and running out of the house to a fire or accident and even elderly person who had suffered a heart attack, stroke or fall.

Yesterday my cousin Cynthia’s son James Allen approached me to ask if I could drive the truck of a 97 year old from the firehouse to the picnic in the park as he was unable to walk down the Main Street on his own. I viewed this as an honor, what other community event in any other town would go to such great lengths for a neighbor or a friend?

During the month of October, Gordon sponsors a carnival to raise money for worthy causes with booths and games that are run by volunteers at the local high school. The tiny Texas Twins love the carnival in Gordon and the dance that follows in the auditorium!

I’ve had many good times with my sister in Gordon, TX. My aunt Shirley had three children of her own and, although heavily involved in numerous volunteer activities, took on three more with my brother Jerry and my sister Cindy during the summer months. She also dealt with our chigger and fire ant bites and the squabbles that often happened with three boys and three girls under the same roof!

I don’t know how she handled such a rowdy bunch of chaotic kids with such grace and style. We hung clothes from the wash to dry, we went to football games and the dances held once a month at the Dodson Prairie up on the hill, we had stability living each summer with my aunt who sacrificed so much to raise 6 kids while her husband, my uncle Albert was on call 24 hours a day to respond to fires or an emergency call. The ambulance was always parked in the front yard, the CB constantly reporting on the latest emergency. Yet, she managed to feed 6 kids, start up and thirty years later, continue to organize and ensure that hot meals were delivered to home bound neighbors, and finally open a food pantry for three towns nearby.

Once a month, my aunt Shirley and cousin, Cynthia Rene travel to “town” to pick up supplies and food to stock the pantry. Aunt Shirley is recovering from knee surgery, she still works handing out free samples at area Walmarts and hosts slumber parties for her grandchildren at her home.

If ever there were a Hometown Hero- I believe my Aunt Shirley and Uncle Albert would qualify to win the award!

I didn’t see my other cousins Albert and James yesterday as they were working. James is an EMT who is often in an ambulance and Albert runs to most fire calls.

Cynthia’s son James Allen tells Ann Alexander and her daughter in law Sara as we load up to head back to town that they are headed out to yet another emergency call up on Ranger Hill. There was always an accident on that hill, I was always afraid that my cousins would be burned in a fire. They have never been afraid to enter a burning home and save even the pets inside along with my uncle Albert.

Fire fighters, volunteers and small town America, I’m writing this blog to honor my aunt Shirley and recognize the efforts you give to your community, the lives you’ve saved and finally the sacrifices you’ve made. Big cities don’t have the limited resources of small towns, they don’t furnish their own fans, furniture or food to furnish the fire hall.

As my aunt Shirley walked the Texas Twins Team through the fire house, she proudly showed us the new fans, the new room to train volunteers air conditioned with televisions and maps of the fires fought in years past. She also told us she was glad that we had come.

I am too, sometimes in life you look back and remember that the only stability you had as a child may very we have been in Gordon, TX growing up.

Knowing you went to church every Sunday, shopping at the truck stop for milk and bread, waving at every car or truck that passed you in the other direction, riding in hay through town and buying overalls at the feed and grain or buying snow cones from a family that put a sign and a table out front for their kids raising money for a football uniform or cheerleading dress.

Although I didn’t get to drive the fire truck or the ambulance (again) the sounds of the sirens and the horns was something I had as a child become as accustomed to as the sounds of the city today. My uncle and my cousins were in those trucks leaving hot suppers on the table and families who prayed their safe return home. Today when I hear an ambulance or a fire truck I say the same silent prayer.

“Lord let them return home safely to fight another fire, to save another family, to see their children, kiss their wives, and respond again to the next call.”