Snow's Eclectic Journal

For years this was the only picture I ever had of the man I was named after. My mother's father: Delaine D. Townsend. My grandfather's overly 'yellow' picture was the only idea I had of his appearance. I never knew him as he passed away when I was but an infant. I was able to locate a better version of it, and then do some repairs in Photoshop, and slight "enhancement". Then I found a better one all together on Ancestry!!!

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HISTORY HAS A FUTURE

My Darkness

Being called “Deedee” use to make me crash

A spiraling dark depression wrapped in blackness

A sadness that triggered behaviors of anger

A child shouldn’t be so traumatized

Sore throbbing ear pain from infections

A deafness unhealed into adulthood

A mother lost to blurred numbness of unknown

They argued, they were apart, we were alone

Those days are a thousand years behind me

Old pictures make it rush into my heart

A breaking flood of overwhelming emotions

Don’t call me Deedee, don’t drown me into sorrow

I turn my deaf ear to such emotions these days

I lay to rest those dark demons

Pictures are just that, forgotten memories

Of loss and childhood pain.

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Naja

There was a dog that ate his owner’s shoes one day. The man loved his dog very much and had other shoes as well. But the particular shoes the dog had chewed on were his favorite pair of boots, and were most prized. They were knee-high, crafted from rare hides, and most difficult to come by. To Naja, they were an irreplaceable memento.

Naja had made a friend of a dwarf named Dwal-keth. Dwal-keth had worked on a fishing vessel for eighteen months in order to gain enough coin for a return trip to his homeland. He greatly desired for Naja to join, and stand beside him on his wedding day. Dwal-keth said, “You, my friend must be my guest, and witness the glory of Mount Jebul, and meet my bride to be. Refusal is not an option, as all your expenses are mine alone!” It was a most uncanny thing indeed for a dwarf to be parted from his gold. Thus was the blinding bliss of love, even upon a dwarf.

So, it was an amazing experience for Naja to venture to the far eastern realm of mountain dwellers beyond Kinderval. Even though it was Dwal-keth wedding, he lavished his friend Naja with many thank you gifts; and the antelope-skin boots were one of them. The gifted boots were a reminder of his friendship with Dwal-keth, and Medwa his new wife. To the poor teacher, it had been a once-in-a-life-time excursion, a dream come true for Naja.

Naja’s dog, Thaygon, had been the man’s pet since it was a puppy, and he was very angry over the destruction of his prized gift. Yet, the man only saw playfulness in the dog’s eyes. So, Naja ignored his dog. Out of fear that his anger would crest beyond rage, he gave Thaygon no attention and left him home alone.

Naja was a teacher in the port city of Mithar. He taught the children of the outcast, those who lived beyond the great vine-covered walls. Many people had tried to gain entrance into Mithar, but her cultic priest had devised elaborate rituals in an effort to keep control of their city. Those who could not master the complexities of their ever changing rites and doctrines were not allowed beyond the gates and called outcast. Numerous of the infirmed, too lame to care for themselves or dim-witted were looked down upon and not accepted as righteous ones. These were the very ones Naja felt compelled to teach basic life skills unto. For some had been thusly condemned since birth or abused and unloved or brutally crippled in their minds. They were all beyond healing measures. The children were viewed as street rats and lived at the gates as beggars. Naja struggled to teach them to rise above their station.

The teacher’s dog always accompanied him at the gate, for his poor students were uplifted and encouraged at his playfulness; but not that day. Naja was too upset with Thaygon and punished him with being left alone at home. Upon returning to his house, the man found his dog overjoyed and eager for attention. It was then Naja came to realize than even fur-people were more important that even the most prized of possessions, like fancy boots.

CHANGE IS COMING

I feel it in the air
more than Fall's biting breeze of
Winter's threat of falling temps.

The reality of passing time,
more than just a new president
of shifting politicals winds

Maybe it's me who sees differently;
less before than behind of what is gone
what's left yet to be done?

The irons in the fire are ripe
soon the picking will begin anew
and some may recall when I'm gone.

NAME SAKE

These were the two men that I was 'named after. John "DAVID" Snow was my dad's grandfather, and "DeLaine" D. Townsend was my mother's father. Hence "David" "DeLane" SNOW, (my historic surname).

John David was called "J.D." but most of the time he just went by Dave. Having grown up in a less populated area than by today's standards; he lived among the Native American Indians, gained a lot of respect and experience. He was remembered for his humorous stories and strength of character. He was such an excellent land surveyor that he could walk off a parcel of land, and after and more accurate measurements were taken he would be right on point! During the 1930's his family and extended in-laws lived in tents, and roamed about the Texas, New Mexico area.

DeLaine had only the letter "D" for a middle initial, "D" did not stand for anything, at least known to anyone. He was called by the nickname -- "D". DeLaine was known to be a very kind, intelligent man who could be a fierce and loyal friend. While living in Irving, Texas during the 1950's he was employed as an Inspector for Bell Aircraft Corporation. Highly skilled and a mathematician. His favorite drink was Vodka.

When I was a child I was called "D. D." (Dee Dee), in reference to DeLaine's namesake. But since it was a "childhood thing" and (at the time I could never place the emotional negativeness I felt), I came to abhor being called by it. So much was my dislike of the nickname that I would burst out in aggressive behaviors to anyone who called me it. To this day no one is allowed to call me that as I refuse to respond. There were so many 'Davids' at work that I started having people address me by my other name. Yet, my co-workers (for some reason) can never seem to pronounce my middle name correctly; sounding with an extra "e" at the end. So I dropped the letter "i".

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ANOTHER BOOK?

Serious? Another book? How many "irons-in-the-fire" do you have? LOL too many. I am seriously working on compiling details and document those details for my immediate family.

Introducing my latest endeavor: HISTORY OF A SURNAME. A book on family history that includes: Townsend, Price, (my mother's side), Farmer, Padgett, (my wife's side), and Longoria, Garza, (my daughter's side). In Appendix will include... hum...