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Carol Perkins: Ma and Pa Kettle She learned from great comedy film stars of 50s that children will survive, in spite of their parents Next earlier Carol Perkins story: Shall We Gather at the River. By Carol Perkins Ma and Pa Kettle Lazy, shiftless, and simple-minded, Pa Kettle rocked peacefully on the dilapidated front porch of his Ozark home and smoked a pipe while his robust, boisterous and not much smarter wife, Ma Kettle, tried to shoo the kids from under her feet as she flew out the door with her broom. From the first time I saw Ma and Pa Kettle on TV in the 50's, I was hooked. Ma was the only one who worked, but made a mess of whatever she did. The kids (and I don't think anyone knew how many they had) were wild, dirty, and loud. No grass grew in the yard because the kids and the animals wallowed off every sprig. The house cried for paint, but Pa hadn't gotten around to that job. He had not gotten around to any job. However, all were happy. So many powerful lessons came from this show that I never considered until I was older. First, those who have little are often the ones who have the most. The Kettle home was filled with laughter and aren't we all drawn to laughter? I learned at a young age the difference between visiting people whose homes were filled with laughter and those whose homes were not. I hated going to the ones who acted as if I might break a trinket. Great Uncle Era Strange's house was a favorite place One placed I loved going as to my great uncle Era Strange's house (my Grandmother Reece's brother). His charming wit and humor drew neighbors to his porch in the afternoons. He put on his good clothes, dabbed on some powerful cologne, and held forth with stories and tales. He wasn't a wealthy man (few people were back then), but their home oozed with warmth. Although his wife (Aunt Annie) was more serious than he (someone had to be), they raised five children who had his humor and wit. His daughter Louise and my mother were not only cousins but best friends. Visiting Louise was like a dose of good medicine. She offered me a Coke in a glass bottle when we visited, and I would sit quietly and listen to her and my mother laugh for the next hour. Money can't buy that. Next, I learned from Ma and Pa Kettle that children will survive in spite of their families. I am sure there is science to back this up, but have you noticed that kids who basically raise themselves are sometimes more self-sufficient and independent than those who are coddled? Kids who play in the rain barefooted seldom have colds while those who are wrapped up against the elements cough all night. Kids whose parents let them "loose" at the ball park and never know where they are or what they are doing until time to go home often fair better than kids whose parents keep an eye on them every minute. Ma and Pa had no idea what their kids were doing or where they were. Yet, when she rang the dinner bell, they ran for the table from every direction. Maybe we pander to our kids so much they have no original thoughts and look to us for all of life's answers. Maybe we need to let them be free a little more often. None of us function well outside our comfort zones The last lesson could be that none of us function well out of our comfort zones. If you followed the shows, Pa entered contests and the last season ended up winning a mansion (sounds like the Hillbillies a little, doesn't it) but could never adjust to that life and longed for home where he could kick off his shoes and fling open the screenless screen door. This reminds me of those who leave Metcalfe County and are gone for years and years, yet when they retire move back "home." I ponder why anyone who has established a life elsewhere would come back to a place with little to offer socially or economically, but the answer the always the same. "We have family here. This is home." A good friend of mine who no longer lives here put it best. She said, "Carol, you would not want to move to a new place where no one knows or cares about you. You don't know what it is like to go to the grocery store and not see one person you know. You don't know what it's like to go to church and only a few know your name. There is no place like home." Home is the place where someone knows your name. Ma and Pa understood that and that their mansion was their Ozark home. I am not sure what made me think of Ma and Pa Kettle, but I am glad I did. Brings back some pleasant memories of my childhood. About the author: Carol (Sullivan) Perkins is a lifelong resident of Edmonton, KY, in Metcalfe County where she taught high school English at Metcalfe County High School until her recent retirement. She is a now a freelance writer. is married to Guy Perkins and they have two children: Carla Green (Mark) of Brentwood, TN and Jon Perkins (Beth) of Austin, TX and six grandchildren. Her latest book, Let's Talk About, is a collection of over 70 of her works, and she is presently working on the second book in this series. Carol's ties to Adair County go back to Breeding where her grandfather, Rufus Reece, and her grandmother Bettie Strange, began their married life and later moved to Metcalfe County. You may contact Carol at cperkins@scrtc.com or write at P.O. Box 134 Edmonton. If you would like a copy of her book, you can order through email. Watch for her next story next Sunday. IF YOU'VE ENJOYED READING CAROL PERKINS' STORIES on ColumbiaMagazine.com, you'll love her book, "Let's Talk About It. . . ." The books are $15 plus $4 for shipping. Send check or cash or money order to Carol Perkins, P.O. Box 134, Edmonton, KY 42129 They can be bought at the Herald Office in Edmonton, KY, or Terri's Fine Jewelry in Glasgow, KY. This story was posted on 2009-08-30 09:11:24
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Carol Perkins:
Carol Perkins: Shall we gather at the river Carol Perkins: Back to school is such grand time Carol Perkins: A teacher speaks out on groupings, testing Carol Perkins: Put that phone away! Carol Perkins: The Shoe Carol Perkins: Potlucks Carol Perkins: Grandparents' Camp Carol Perkins: At The Funeral Home Carol Perkins: The Name is Perkins Carol Perkins: The Gift of Music View even more articles in topic Carol Perkins |
 
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