Memorial weekend memories
Phil Cobb
Continuing under the heading of life going “faster than you think,” this weekend was a trip down memory lane for me.
Saturday afternoon, my mom and I traveled to Stanberry to put flowers on my grandparents’ grave, and to King City to decorate my dad’s.
When we got out of the car at High Ridge Cemetery, I pretty much walked straight to Grandpa and Grandma Cobb’s grave without really paying much attention to the surroundings.
But when I turned to leave, I started noticing the names on the adjacent tombstones — I knew almost everyone who is buried in the proximity of my grandparents.
Memories of each couple came back to me as I looked further and further away from my grandparents’ stone.
Most I knew from spending much of my childhood around Stanberry Golf Course, or from attending church with my grandparents at the First Baptist Church of Stanberry as a child … many to whom I am related.
I’ll stop right here to note that I’m realizing more and more the importance of living in the present — not to dwell in the past or to focus too much on the future.
Seeing the gravestones and reliving the memories of so many, who had so much life, served as confirmation of the importance of each day.
We continued through Stanberry, driving past many familiar spots.
It’s great to see Casey’s Convenience Store doubling down on its commitment to Stanberry by building a nice, big, new store right behind its existing location.
We drove by my grandparents’ old house which has been improved upon and well maintained, then past the football field, the track, the baseball/softball fields and the golf course with its new clubhouse, all of which look fantastic.
It’s great to see the people and families of Stanberry still taking a great deal of pride in that small town.
Then on to King City where we experienced much of the same.
The additions to the Tri-County Historical Society Museum, specifically the addition of the Alternative Energy Education building, and the new football field with an impressive press box and built-in bleachers, show that the people of King City are still very much invested in the future of their small town, as well.
I’m sure many people who travel Highway 169 through these two tiny Gentry County towns thinks there’s not much going on in either place.
They can’t possibly know about the depth and breadth of life being lived in these small, rural, farming communities.
I wouldn’t trade my experiences there for anything, and I am so thankful I grew up the way I did, in the town that I did.
We saw many familiar faces, some at King City Cemetery and some later at Aberdeen Steakhouse in town.
It was great to catch up with old friends, one, who is a former classmate of mine at King City R-1 Schools, informed me she had just completed her 25th year in the teaching profession.
When I expressed my disbelief, she informed me we have been out of high school for 30 years now.
I’m certain the past 30 have gone much faster than the first 18.
The King City High School Class of 1987 plans to get together at a home football game sometime this fall.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.
We’ll soon depart on our family summer vacation.
One of the stops will be the Black Hills of South Dakota, where we took all three girls in 2001.
We pulled out pictures from that trip the other day.
Makenzie was 7, Kelsey was 6, and Trinity was only about 8 weeks.
They have changed so much in 16 years.
Now our “kids” have turned into three beautiful grown women.
Make the most of each day, people.
And don’t blink.
Phil Cobb is the owner and publisher of the Maryville Daily Forum and The Post.
