Patches of My Life
Youth in the South
by
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The days in a cotton field were long and afforded everyone the opportunity to communicate with each other on a full range of subjects. I also allowed us to have a good sun tan, sore knees, hurting, tired backs and the need for a good night’s sleep at the end of the day. Dad was an old time farmer type and was at no time going to allow any grass in the cotton field. His determination was so strong that he walked the fields on Sunday afternoon to decide which area we would start on Monday. The planting was quite different from the processes used today as in the early years was done with a one horse planter and fertilizer distributor. The neighborly thing to do then was for the joining farmers to gather at the field of a farmer and all help with the planting. It was only a short time before the cotton plants were up and so was the hot sun which was the best ingredient needed for rapid growth of the cotton crop. As a rule we kids wore only short pants and a straw hat when chopping time came.
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About the Book
Kenneth Fly went from town living to the life of a farm boy during the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. It was a life of hard work without luxury. Instead of watching television and playing video games, he grew up working in the fields of North Carolina, handling firearms, operating machinery, and participating in other activities and tasks that are foreign to the youngsters, youth, and even men of today. In this series of personal narratives and anecdotes, Fly recalls those days with detail and humor. Life wasn’t always easy, but his mother did whatever was necessary to make a good home and loving environment for her family. His dad was a hardworking master carpenter whose behavior showed anyone watching that life is about morals, hard work, and self-respect. The Fly family is special because they so rarely complained and always managed to stay happy. For them, life wasn’t fancy, but relying on common sense and each other made it sweet.
About the Author
Kenneth D. Fly grew up in North Carolina and was educated in public school. He is currently self-employed, working in the restaurant business. He is married, has two children and five grandchildren, and lives in Lynchburg, Tennessee. This is his first book.