Memories that make you laugh

Memories, memories. We all have them. Some, just by being there, can create a great, big sentimental hole in your heart forever. While others, even years later, can still make you laugh.

There is no doubt about it, funny ones are the best kind.

Strange as it may seem, I do have a few memories left over of all things -- ground-hogs. They are natural enemies of so many farmers because of the big holes they dig in their fields -- endangering not only the farmer, but also his cattle.

Being from the city, well, the outskirts, I was never in close proximity to a ground-hog until I met my husband, who, incidentally, was fond of the sport of hunting. And so he hunted rabbits, pheasants, deer -- and occasionally a ground-hog.

Since our children like to go where he went, they would all pile into the car and go ground-hog hunting. But only he carried a gun way back then.

We would often end up in a place that was known by hunters as ground-hogs' glory. It was the perfect place to find those creatures and the farmers certainly didn't complain as long as you obeyed the rules. After all, that may be one less hole they would break a leg in.

Since I don't hunt and the children have not reached the required age for that, Lewis would let them walk with him to where they might spot one while I, who always came prepared, would relax and read with all four doors open and cool breezes blowing throughout the car.

Until one day, when the love of my life parked the vehicle on a quiet country lane: "Perfect," he said. And strode into the fields with his gun and three children. All of a sudden there was a commotion to top all commotions. Somewhere, not too far away, there must have been a pretty big chicken coup because suddenly some roosters began to crow loudly, feathers began flying everywhere, including into the car and behind them came those horrible, big blue flies.

Helpless and a tad upset, I swung hopelessly at the flies while blowing the car horn without ceasing, knowing it would bring the rest of my family running. Very fast, I hoped.

Now it is years later and I was sitting alone on the back porch on a beautiful spring morning of 2010. I looked up from my book and what did I see looking back at me, but a ground-hog -- a real, live one in my own backyard.

For what was probably seconds, we stared at each other as if we were long-lost friends. Then, without a sound, he surveyed the territory and me one more time then simply disappeared down that hole of his own making.

I haven't seen him since, which makes me wonder if he simply moved to greener pastures or was it all a figment of my imagination.

Minna Jacobs is a Connellsville resident.