I remember when Aunt Sammy and Uncle Robert bought a Big Farm House. It was a thrill going to the farm. There were big rooms and a big porch. There was a smoke house and an ice box. I know the grown-ups worked long and hard - but me, my brother, and my cousins had all the fun in the world. There was a closet upstairs that was so big we could climb around inside it. There were rooms and rooms and rooms everywhere. Outside were many more places and buildings to explore. There was a barn where Uncle Robert kept the old car. We couldn't play around there - but I liked to look at the old car. A huge silo was next to the big barn and we climbed in and out through doors and hatches. It is in these places that my imagination was free to run wild. There was hay loft to hide in and enough hay that I could climb up a ladder and jump into the hay. Under the barn was where the country smells came from. The place where the cows were milked and fed. There were so many places to see, tools to touch, machinery to pretend on. There is nothing like exploring a farm. I never lived on a farm but every story that I had ever heard of played in my head when I was on the farm. There was a huge field and one of the few places that I could bring my bb-gun and not worry about hitting something I wasn't supposed to hit. We could play cowboys big time in that field. We ran and ran and ran - chasing and pretending to be chased until we collapsed in exhastion - only to catch our breath and do it again. Down below the field was a pond. The pond was big enough to swim in but something was missing. After visiting the farm I was at home reminising about the pond and began imagining a raft that could float on the pond. It would be a sturdy raft that I could dive off-of and it would be small enought to move around the pond - to the best swimming spot. I cobbled together some 2x4s and plywood and began building the raft. With limited funds and tools - but a blosoming imagination - I believed that a sufficient number of milk jugs fastened under the raft platform would contain enough air - to create enough bouyancy to float my raft on the pond. In order to stabilize the raft a milk jug was filled with sand to make an anchor. I'm not sure how my dad and Uncle Robert did it but we got the raft to the pond and I spent the day getting it in the water, jumping on and off of it and swimming. I remember Uncle Robert at the Poe-Mouse Reunion at Stewart Park in West Virginia. I remember Uncle Robert showing me all the phone company collection - millions of things from the old phone company. I'll never forget the insulator lamps. I remember Uncle Robert at my mom and dads house talking about life and life's concerns. I remember Uncle Robert working at the Maryland State Fair at the Timonium Fair Grounds. I remember Uncle Robert at the Middle River Baptist Church Reunion. Uncle Robert has always been there. A firm fixture in our family. Faithful to my Aunt Sammy and always kind to me. I will miss you Uncle Robert and I look forward to seeing you when we all shall gather by the river some happy golden day. Shall We Gather at the River? by Robert Lowry, 1864 1. Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God? Refrain: Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. 2. On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. (Refrain) 3. Ere we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down; grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and crown. (Refrain) 4. Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease; soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace. (Refrain) Love, Brian and Diana Hart