Craig Beddingfield

It was nearly routine, nearly every Sunday, that we’d take that 20-mile trip to Enterprise, that place in the country where my Mam-ma and Paw-paw lived. I remember always taking Highway 11 there, until they opened the fancy new Interstate 59. That didn’t make the trip any shorter, but it was fun riding on the new interstate. Looking back, I liked the old highway route better. We’d all jump in the Chevrolet Bel-Aire station wagon with the after-market air conditioning, or later the fancy new Chevy Impala, and head south. I always ended up in the back center seat, being careful along the way to never let my arms or legs cross those imaginary lines on either side of me, as that was territory occupied by my two older brothers Keith and Dale. It was a no-win situation for a 10-year old, until I started asking to ride up front.

I loved going to Enterprise, wondering who’d also be there. Would Phil and Norman be there, or maybe Elvin? Would we have one of those competitive baseball games, where home plate was just beyond the steps off the screened-in porch that extended across the entire front of the house, and the three trees perfectly placed for first, second and third base? I remember Elvin never wore any shoes during those games- I think it made him run faster than any of us. Or maybe we’d have one of those touch football game- two hands below the waist? Phil was a lot bigger than me, and faster, and could rush right by me while saying “one Mississippi, two Mississippi.” I don’t remember him ever getting to “three Mississippi” like he was supposed to.

It really didn’t matter on any Sunday. I looked forward to whatever we ended up doing there.

During the summer, it was extra special when some of my far away cousins like Allison, Caroline, Roddy, Davy, or what seemed like every 3 years the chess king of the world himself, David Sofge, and Helen would visit. I never could beat David in chess, but I sure learned a lot of new moves just by watching he and Keith play. He told me to always watch the board, never taking my eyes off it. I think it worked, because I beat Keith for the first time a few weeks later! But, chess wasn’t the game typically played down in Enterprise. That game was none other than checkers. Paw-Paw was the world champion, I’m sure. I don’t remember anyone ever beating him, not even my Daddy.

I think I remember Danny visiting Enterprise as a baby, but not my youngest cousins Peter and Rebecca; maybe Mam-ma and Paw-Paw had moved to Meridian by then. I’m sure they would have loved it there too, especially as they got older. My memory is faint on this. But one thing I do remember is the big yellow lazy-susan table, where all the women would sit around and talk for about 3 hours. Dawn and Jolene were nearly always there, along with some of my aunts and my mother. Sitting around the table, some drinking coffee, and talking about everything and anything, most of what I wasn’t interested in. I only came in there when Mam-Ma would bring out one of her delicious chocolate icing cakes or a freshly-baked pecan pie. Every time we visited Enterprise, and I mean every time, Mam-ma would have at least one, usually two desserts for us to eat. I loved it.

Christmas time was also exciting. Paw-paw would cut the tallest Christmas tree, being sure that it touched the ceiling and bent over at the top a little. I think that was a requirement with him, that it touched the ceiling. And Christmas time, being kinda cold in Enterprise, seemed like the prime time for Paw-paw to go around thumping everybody’s ear from behind. That used to sting for about 5 minutes it seemed. I tried to thump his ear many times, but could never sneak up on him. He told me once he had eyes in the back of his head.

Enterprise is still a very vivid place in my mind. If I close my eyes, I can still see us driving up, seeing the white wooden fence, the big front yard with all the pecan trees, the dirt driveway leading up to the old house and the barn in the distance. And always a loving family there. I can remember Enterprise, as if it was yesterday.