The sheet is yellowed with age and has tiny rips but it's still precious to me. Dated June 29, 1949 the Hedrick Journal announced the exciting things planned for the 4th of July celebration. I sent the front page of that paper to my mother in La Junta, Colorado because right in the center is a poem called "The Fourth of July." Underneath it is my name.
In 1949 I was a junior in Hedrick High School and we were studying poetry in Literature. I loved it and fancied myself as a great poet. I really liked our teacher, Miss Foster and she encouraged me to write and to send it to the Hedrick Journal. When the poem came out in the paper I was thrilled and proud. It was my first experience at being a published writer.
Exciting plans were made for that 4th of July of so long ago. Radio station KBIZ of Ottumwa was going to be there for two broadcasts of the "Man on the Street program." Bill Lowery had arranged to have performances by a dance team and the Harmony Four Male Quartette.
The American Legion arranged for a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, kids' auto ride, loop-o-plane, candy floss and shooting gallery at the celebration grounds. I can't remember where the grounds were now. The Hedrick All Stars were playing the John Deere softball team from Ottumwa on Saturday evening. The American Legion was operating a food stand during the three-day festival and was asking for contributions of pies. Generous folks who baked those luscious pies were instructed to take them to the R.R. Jamison home or the Earl Doud home.
Benner's food stores had been in operation since 1899 and were celebrating their 50th anniversary with a lot of bargains for the weekend fun. They offered pork and beans for 29 cents, a ten ounce bag of marshmallows for 19 cents, a 32 ounce jar of dill pickles for 29 cents, ten pounds of potatoes for 33 cents and paper plates or napkins for 15 cents a package. To top it off a free watermelon was offered if a person could guess the weight of the watermelon in pounds and ounces.
Shoppers were warned that most of the Hedrick firms would be closed all day Monday in observance of the holiday.
And to make that 4th of July of 1949 even more special for me right in the middle of all the excitement was my poem.
When I am one hundred and bent on my cane,
And once more I'm strolling down memories lane,
I know I'll remember and think with a sigh,
Of the things that I've done on the Fourth of July.
The love of that day will be still marching on,
When my eyesight is dim and my teeth are all gone,
And then I'll remember as if it were fate,
The ache in my stomach from the stuff that I ate.
But then of course it will be just a dream,
Of the hot dogs, the pickles, the pie and ice cream,
The parade in the morning, the program begun,
The races, the contests, the laughter and fun.
And when I am bald I know I'll still feel,
The breathless excitement of an old Ferris wheel,
The enchantment of evening, the music and light,
The old fortune teller, the stars in the night,
Gee I will look funny, but I'll think with a sigh
Of the things I have done on the Fourth of July.
Now over 50 years have gone by and I didn't become a great poet. In fact I seldom write poetry these days, there's not much market for it. I haven't made it to 100 yet, I still have quite a few years to go. I'm afraid I don't get a thrill out of the Ferris wheel, it's too high and scary for me. I'm not bent on my cane and my eyesight is good, except for reading. I haven't lost my hair or all of my teeth, but I do stroll down memory lane once in awhile and I'm glad to report that I still get excited over the 4th of July.
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