Roll on Buddy

In the midst of all the back-slapping, hand-shaking, hugging and praising the Lord, several folks noticed that Aunt Dicey was more than a bit thinner, despite being soaked. But no one spoke about it. They loved Aunt Dicey Jane and would protect her honor and dignity. Aunt Dicey lived out her days up on the Look Out. She felt closer to the Lord, and she knew she would meet up with Jeb. Roll on Buddy In his rage my father would bang his fist as if it were the nine-pound hammer in the country song. I listen to those old songs sometimes, on CDs, and remember the nights when the battery radio could pick up traditional tunes from WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia. These days, the nine-pound hammer in my heart is a little bit heavy for my size, and I wish I could go wheeling down township roads, in moonshine in a rattletrap truck singing, "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine." —Ruth Latta 64 65 ...