Robena's Memory of Picking Flowers

By Carolyn Stephenson

On March 31, 2021, Robena McCoy Tooke’s birthday (age 78), we were celebrating her birthday by meeting at the Red Zone in Lubbock, Texas for supper. This was the first time out for me in a restaurant since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic. I had both my COVID vaccinations and I felt more protected although there could be a slight chance of getting it, but most likely not kill me. Delilah and her daughter, Sydney and Monty, Delilah’s husband, Kim, my friend, and I met at the Red Zone. We enjoyed our visit and the food. As we were leaving Kim gave Robena some cuttings of Lilacs (flowers) from her Lilac plant in her yard to take home. Lilacs only bloom once a year but they have a wonderful fragrance.

Robena called me the next day to tell a story about her being about 3 or 4 years old while living with Ma and Pa Stephenson near McAdoo. She said it was during World War ll. She said Antie whom Robena always called Aunt Roe called it War ll. Robena’s dad, Uncle Monty, was in the Army Air Core which is now called the Air Force was stationed in Florida. The Stephenson’s house always had people coming and going and there were just too many people at the house. Robena said her mom packed a suitcase and just moved in with my Daddy who lived down the road about a mile. She said the Stephenson’s never asked, they just moved in. Of course, Daddy didn’t refuse her or Robena. She said Daddy was not married at the time. When they moved in, Robena asked if she could pick some flowers that were growing near the house, because they smelled so pretty. Her mom said she could pick 2 or 3. Robena loved the flowers and they were Lilacs. Kim’s Lilacs reminded her of a memory when she was a little girl. Robena said she doesn’t remember much more but she remembered the flowers her mom let her pick.

PS – by Jenk – The lilac bush was under the window of our house before it burned down in December of 1951 and my mother often spoke of the smell of the lilac flowers when they were in bloom-her favorite smell.