Deanna Beaver
You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take all of the country out of the girl. Have you ever visited a place where memories fluttered like wildflowers to the extent of teasing the emotional tear to drip without you realizing it?
Certain things will cause a nostalgic effect. When I visit my hometown and reminisce about events, family, and friends, or when I ride on a boat in the vast ocean, where land is a distant view, these nostalgic moments are a treasure—just saying.
Eating fresh-caught shrimp and crabs with a side of watermelon helps me taste the childhood that is so familiar but not visited often enough.
I enjoy telling younger generations about life on a farm, remembering summer jobs selling produce at the farmer’s market shed- no fancy setups- the produce sold itself. Growing produce was life, not the ‘cool thing to do’ on Saturday mornings. Northerners traveling to Florida or back north would often stop to take a little bit of the South with them. I often wondered about the families who were part of that tourist caravan traveling north and south on HWY 301?
Today, we are blessed to have fresh produce year-round, thanks to dedicated farmers all over the world. Modern facilities help preserve these delicacies longer. It’s still a treat to stop at a roadside stand and be confident that the produce you are purchasing was very likely grown right down the road in a field or garden.
Jeremiah_farmer (that’s Jeremiah underscore farmer, no spaces) is bringing the southern farmer to Instagram. A graduate of Clemson University, his wit and creative storytelling are educational as well as entertaining. I would definitely encourage you to hop over and check out his retelling and demonstrations of cane grinding, topping tobacco, and my favorite, visiting. Jeremiah’s content has brought some sweet and sour memories to the surface.
I’ve always thought of nostalgia as a happy feeling. I realize that is not the case for everyone. Sometimes old hurts can rise to the top of the pot and cause sadness. I choose to sprinkle some sugar to remember the sweet times. Everyone’s memories are their own, and rarely do people remember the past exactly the same way. Shared memories can sometimes form connections with others. Positive reminiscing has caused my heart and soul to be happy and full.
How has the effect of nostalgia brought happiness to you? Please leave a comment below.
Oh my goodness- I have LOVED following Jeremiah! I found him about 2 months ago and he is so entertaining!
This trip down memory lane has been fun Deanna!
Nancy, I’m glad you enjoyed the ride. The coolest thing about Jeremiah to me is that he is spot-on with his content. He’s definitely had some old-timers giving him accurate recollections of past times.
Enjoyed this well written piece taking me down memory lane.
Thank you, Judy. I enjoyed traveling down memory lane. We’ll have to get together to compare notes. You need to share @jeremiah_farmer on Instagram with Ben and Pat.
This is probably my very favorite post penned by you! Spot on, every word! I also LOVE Jeremiah! I originally came across him due to the fact that both of my boys are at Clemson and my feed fills itself with all things orange and purple:). Jeremiah is highly regarded and educated, but leaves the arrogance and smugness to the side. He is so genuine and his “talks” remind of of times with Grandaddy Elton, Grandaddy Bill, and PaPa. My sons are fortunate to have had many years with a grandfather. One day, WAY down the road, I hope to stroll through my garden and flower beds, telling my grand littles all the things. ❤️
Meredith, thank you for the kind words. You are correct that our grandparents told us stories about their lives, and we need to continue passing the baton to the next generation. That Jeremiah is a smart dude.
I recently discovered that listening to nostalgic music can be beneficial!
“When a familiar song plays, it unlocks a flood of memories and releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, which is why listening to old tracks is such a powerful, comforting experience,“ Dr. Tracey Marks.
Erica, I agree that music is the key to unlocking a whole bunch of memories. Old hymns remind me of my childhood and going to church with my grandparents and listening to my daddy sing in his bass voice. Some familiar rock’n roll songs remind me of my brother chauffeuring me to high school. I still enjoy listening to classical music and can visualize one of my grandmother’s neighbors’ sons stopping by her house to tear up the keys on the piano. Music is medicine, just saying.
Amazing article ~ a nice trip down memory lane with quiet childhood memories. The simpler times which filled our hearts and soul. South Georgia reminds me Georgia Southern, Vidalia onions, watermelon on Wednesdays, trips to the beach & endless precious memories with college friends. Thankful to call you my friend!