Descendants of Alvin Samuel Borden 1837 Charleston, Delmar, Tioga County, Pennsylvania

Descendants of Alvin Samuel Borden

Generation No. 1

1.  ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹ BORDEN  (ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 1837 in Charleston, Delmar, Tioga Co. PA, and died Aft. 1907 in Stokesdale or Wellsboro Pa Possibly Corning, Steuben Co. NY.  He married EMMA CALLENDER PRATT.  She was born 03 March 1835 in Addison or West Burlington, VT.

More About ALVIN SAMUEL BORDEN:

Burial: Delmar

       

Children of ALVIN BORDEN and EMMA PRATT are:

                  i.    BETTY²⁰ BORDEN.

                 ii.    NATALIE BORDEN.

2.             iii.    JULIAN G. BORDEN, b. June 1860.

3.             iv.    JULIAN BORDEN, b. 1861, Tioga Co. PA.

                 v.    ANNA ELIZABETH BORDEN, b. 22 May 1863; m. DEVILLE DEXTER.

                vi.    RICHARD C. BORDEN, b. 1866, Delmar, Tioga Co. PA; d. 23 October 1869, Delmar, Tioga Co. PA at age 3 yrs 2 mo 22 days.

4.            vii.    MYRON ROCKWELL BORDEN, b. 09 August 1869, Delmar, Tioga Co.  PA; d. 09 May 1930, Catlin Hollow,  PA.

5.           viii.    WALTER F. BORDEN, b. 1873; d. 1915.

Generation No. 2

2.  JULIAN G.²⁰ BORDEN (ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born June 1860.  He married ADDIE WILSON, daughter of BAXTER WILSON and MARTHA KENNEDY.  She was born 1865 in Delmar, Tioga Co.  PA.

       

Children of JULIAN BORDEN and ADDIE WILSON are:

                  i.    FLORA²¹ BORDEN.

                 ii.    BERNARD BORDEN.

                iii.    NATALIE BORDEN.

3.  JULIAN²⁰ BORDEN (ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 1861 in Tioga Co. PA.  He married ADDIE WILSON, daughter of BAXTER WILSON and MARTHA KENNEDY.  She was born 1865 in Delmar, Tioga Co.  PA.

More About JULIAN BORDEN:

Occupation: 1897, Blacksmith according to Tioga Co Birth Recs

Residence: 1897, Delmar, Tioga Co. PA according to Tioga Co Birth Recs

       

Children of JULIAN BORDEN and ADDIE WILSON are:

6.               i.    RUPERT VANTILE²¹ BORDEN, b. 24 May 1893, Little Marsh, Tioga co. PA; d. 30 December 1982, Wellsboro, PA.

                 ii.    CARL B BORDEN, b. 16 September 1888, Draper, PA?; d. 23 November 1973, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, Wellsboro,Tioga Co, PA.

Notes for CARL B BORDEN:

BORDEN

Carl B. Borden, 85 of Crooked Creek RD 1, Tioga County, died Friday, Nov. 23, 1973, in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, Wellsboro.

He was born in Draper on Sept. 16, 1888, a son of Julian and Addie Wilson Borden.

Mr. Borden was a retired farmer.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Natalie Hilborn of Jersey Shore and a brother Ruppert Borden, of Crooked Creek.

The funeral was held Monday at the Tussey Funeral Home, 139 Main Street, Wellsboro, with the Rev. James Snyder, pastor of the Holiday Baptist Church, Holiday, officiating. Burial was in Holiday Cemetery.

From: http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/clippings/tcobt179.htm

More About CARL B BORDEN:

Burial: Holiday Cemetery

Residence: 1973, Crooked Creek, PA

                iii.    NATALIE BORDEN, m. MR. HILBORN.

                iv.    UNKNOWN BORDEN, b. 13 September 1897.

4.  MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰ BORDEN (ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 09 August 1869 in Delmar, Tioga Co.  PA, and died 09 May 1930 in Catlin Hollow,  PA.  He married ORILLA DAVIS 24 March 1901 in Little Marsh,  PA, daughter of ALFRED DAVIS and CARRIE BREWER.  She was born 04 July 1884 in Little Marsh, Tioga Co. PA, and died 11 January 1947 in Olean, NY.

More About MYRON ROCKWELL BORDEN:

Burial: Keeneyville

Census: 1920, 47 Jackson Creek Road listed as mortgaged owner of house aged 49 , nephew Homer D. Borden lives with them Orilla D. is age 35, Carrie C. is age 15, Alvin J. is 7, Homer is 21

Occupation: 1920, listed as Blacksmith with own shop

More About ORILLA DAVIS:

Burial: Keeneyville Cem

Inheritance: Aft. 1942, Fur coat (black seal) Won money at the movie theater show, they had a drawing, she had always wanted one, so she had it and wore it until she passed on, and it was passed on to Genevieve, Suzan, Carol then passed it to Peggy Staples Bailey.

       

Children of MYRON BORDEN and ORILLA DAVIS are:

                  i.    ANOTHER CHILD²¹ BORDEN.

                 ii.    RICHARD G BORDEN, b. 1906, Morris, PA; d. 16 August, Corning, NY.

More About RICHARD G BORDEN:

Burial: Keeneyville Cemetary, PA Dysentery

7.             iii.    CARRIE CALLENDAR BORDEN, b. 17 April 1904, Corning NY; d. 24 March 1945, Ithaca, Tompkins Co. NY.

8.             iv.    ALVIN JAMES BORDEN, b. 18 July 1912, Corning NY; d. 19 May 1967, Arnot-Ogden Hospital in Elmira NY.

9.              v.    GENEVIEVE EVELYN BORDEN, b. 09 February 1920, Erin, NY Breeseport, NY, Horseheads Twp.

5.  WALTER F.²⁰ BORDEN (ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 1873, and died 1915.  He married (1) GERALDINE.    He married (2) MARGARET M.. 

More About WALTER F. BORDEN:

Burial: Kennedy Cemetary, Delmar, Tioga Co. PA

       

Child of WALTER BORDEN and GERALDINE is:

                  i.    EMMA²¹ BORDEN.

Generation No. 3

6.  RUPERT VANTILE²¹ BORDEN (JULIAN²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 24 May 1893 in Little Marsh, Tioga co. PA, and died 30 December 1982 in Wellsboro, PA.  He married (1) ADDIE.    He married (2) EVA MAE LEWIS 23 December 1919, daughter of ERVIN LEWIS and NETTIE HOLLIDAY.  She was born 19 April 1901 in Crooked Creek PA, and died September 1986.

More About RUPERT VANTILE BORDEN:

Burial: Holiday Cemetary

Residence: November 1973, Crooked Creek, PA

       

Children of RUPERT BORDEN and ADDIE are:

                  i.    WAYNE²² BORDEN.

                 ii.    WADE BORDEN.

                iii.    VELVA BORDEN.

                iv.    GERTRUDE BORDEN.

       

Children of RUPERT BORDEN and EVA LEWIS are:

10.            v.    EVA MAE²² BORDEN, b. August 1927, Crooked Creek PA; d. September 1974, Brockport, NY.

11.           vi.    VELVA MAE BORDEN, b. 02 January 1924, Crooked Creek PA.

7.  CARRIE CALLENDAR²¹ BORDEN (MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 17 April 1904 in Corning NY, and died 24 March 1945 in Ithaca, Tompkins Co. NY.  She married ALVA ARNOT STAPLES 1923 in Elmira, NY, son of HERBERT STAPLES and IDA MAY.  He was born July 1899 in Erin, Chemung Co, NY, and died 18 August 1949 in Erin, Chemung Co, NY.

More About CARRIE CALLENDAR BORDEN:

Burial: Scotchtown Cemetery

More About ALVA ARNOT STAPLES:

Burial: Scotchtown Cemetery

       

Children of CARRIE BORDEN and ALVA STAPLES are:

                  i.    MARJORIE DORIS²² STAPLES, b. 1925, Elmira NY; d. 11 March 1926.

More About MARJORIE DORIS STAPLES:

Burial: Scotchtown Cemetary

12.            ii.    MYRON DONALD STAPLES, b. 21 January 1927, Elmira Hts, Chemung Co. NY.

                iii.    SHIRLEY ELLEN STAPLES, b. 1928, Etna, Freeville, NY; d. 21 October 1935, Polio.

More About SHIRLEY ELLEN STAPLES:

Burial: Scotchtown Cemetary

13.           iv.    CARL HERBERT STAPLES, b. 29 November 1936, Etna, Freeville,  Tompkins Co, NY.

14.            v.    XXXX XXXX STAPLES, b. August 1939, Freeville Farmhouse NY.

15.           vi.    ELLEN DORIS STAPLES, b. 1935; d. 1986, Elmira, NY.

8.  ALVIN JAMES²¹ BORDEN (MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 18 July 1912 in Corning NY, and died 19 May 1967 in Arnot-Ogden Hospital in Elmira NY.  He married VELVA MAE BORDEN February 1947, daughter of RUPERT BORDEN and EVA LEWIS.  She was born 02 January 1924 in Crooked Creek PA.

More About ALVIN JAMES BORDEN:

Burial: Union Cemetary, Middlebury, PA

Occupation: Employed for 20 years at the main plant at Corning Glass Works

Residence: 1967, Painted Post, RD 2

       

9.  GENEVIEVE EVELYN²¹ BORDEN (MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 09 February 1920 in Erin, NY Breeseport, NY, Horseheads Twp.  She married JAMES DEFOREST DEANE 16 May 1937 in Port Allegany, PA, son of FRANK DEAN and JESSIE EVANS.  He was born 16 May 1915 in Redhouse, NY.

More About JAMES DEFOREST DEANE:

Occupation: 04 April 1924, Editor of Kinzua Weekly World, Kinzua PA. (Helped by Mama, Jessie Mary Evans Dean)  personals: states that Mrs. M.F. Evans of Salamanca, NY is in Kinzua caring for her daughter, Mrs. F. C. Deane, and a newly arrived son.

       

Generation No. 4

10.  EVA MAE²² BORDEN (RUPERT VANTILE²¹, JULIAN²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born August 1927 in Crooked Creek PA, and died September 1974 in Brockport, NY.  She married MYRON DONALD STAPLES 1947 in Pt. Allegany PA, son of ALVA STAPLES and CARRIE BORDEN.  He was born 21 January 1927 in Elmira Hts, Chemung Co. NY.

More About EVA MAE BORDEN:

Burial: May 1975

       

11.  VELVA MAE²² BORDEN (RUPERT VANTILE²¹, JULIAN²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 02 January 1924 in Crooked Creek PA.  She married ALVIN JAMES BORDEN February 1947, son of MYRON BORDEN and ORILLA DAVIS.  He was born 18 July 1912 in Corning NY, and died 19 May 1967 in Arnot-Ogden Hospital in Elmira NY.

More About ALVIN JAMES BORDEN:

Burial: Union Cemetary, Middlebury, PA

Occupation: Employed for 20 years at the main plant at Corning Glass Works

Residence: 1967, Painted Post, RD 2

12.  MYRON DONALD²² STAPLES (CARRIE CALLENDAR²¹ BORDEN, MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 21 January 1927 in Elmira Hts, Chemung Co. NY.  He married EVA MAE BORDEN 1947 in Pt. Allegany PA, daughter of RUPERT BORDEN and EVA LEWIS.  She was born August 1927 in Crooked Creek PA, and died September 1974 in Brockport, NY.

More About EVA MAE BORDEN:

Burial: May 1975

13.  CARL HERBERT²² STAPLES (CARRIE CALLENDAR²¹ BORDEN, MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 29 November 1936 in Etna, Freeville,  Tompkins Co, NY.

       

Children of CARL HERBERT STAPLES are:

                  i.    XXXX²³ STAPLES.

                 ii.    XXXX STAPLES.

                iii.   XXXX STAPLES.

14.  XXXX XXXX²² STAPLES (CARRIE CALLENDAR²¹ BORDEN, MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born August 1939 in Freeville Farmhouse NY.  He married LOIS. 

15.  ELLEN DORIS²² STAPLES (CARRIE CALLENDAR²¹ BORDEN, MYRON ROCKWELL²⁰, ALVIN SAMUEL¹⁹, ANSIL¹⁸, SELDON¹⁷, SAMUEL¹⁶, SAMUEL¹⁵, JOHN¹⁴, JOHN¹³, MATTHEW¹², THOMAS¹¹, WILLIAM¹⁰, EDMUND⁹, WILLIAM⁸, JOHN⁷, THOMAS⁶, HENRY⁵, THOMAS⁴ DE BOURDON, RICHARD³, FRANCIS² DE BORDON, SIMON¹ DE BOURDON) was born 1935, and died 1986 in Elmira, NY.  She married HENRY BAILEY. 

More About ELLEN DORIS STAPLES:

       

Children of ELLEN (called Peggy) STAPLES and HENRY BAILEY are:

                  i.    XXXX²³ BAILEY.

                 ii.    XXXX BAILEY.

Note:  had six kids total

Memory of Memorial Day

In my childhood I had never lost any close relatives to death. Except for my grandparents who had died long before I ever had a chance to know or love them. Yet, a palpable emptiness existed in my life in reserve for them.

My first real  understanding of death came when I was about three years old. My nine year old brother, Davy, told me most reverently, that he was not my only brother. Not quite believing him, I questioned my mother, and in a matter of fact manner, she verified it.  The year before Davy was born, 1938,  she had a stillborn baby boy, and she named him Lee Borden Deane.  No one ever behaved uncomfortable about it,  the only attitude was one of respect for the dead and a long ago sense of loss. And so, another palpable space occupied my life, labeled “Baby Lee.” He seemed so wise to me as he watched over us in heaven since he was older than Davy.

By the time I was seven, I had younger brother and sister who easily made up for any sense of missing family members. Our lives were quite busy and full.

We made yearly pilgrimages on Memorial Day to Baby Lee’s unmarked gravesite. About 1957, during my early adolescence, I  remember one particularly miserable trip from Niagara Falls to Tioga County, Pennsylvania. I did not understand what was bothering my mother, but I  was very aware that she was especially grouchy. My brothers, sister and I thought she was being mean towards us kids during that trip.  We wondered is she was mad at one of us, but dared not ask. We felt trapped in the car; and sullenly sat in silence, not daring to move.  We couldn’t wait to arrive, and  run off into the woods to explore and play, working up an appetite for the picnic that was planned for later.

Mom and Dad stayed near the grave, pulling weeds and arranging flowers.  Later, I wandered back to see if it was safe to get near them without suffering my mother’s wrath.  As I came out of the thicket, I saw their backs were turned to me, surprised to see my father’s arm around my mother’s shoulder, I couldn’t remember ever seeing any show of affection between them. I stopped in my tracks, curious. Then, I noticed my mother’s shaking shoulders.  She was sobbing bitterly. I wondered if she was feeling bad about the way she had treated us kids earlier. I sorely needed an apology or at least a kind word.  I wanted to feel forgiving toward  her.  My Dad glanced back and saw me.  Alarmed, I whispered, “What’s wrong?”

Mom, ignoring me, broke away from Dad and walked away, studiously pretending to look at some other dead person’s gravestone.   Dad came toward me, blocking my view of her, and answered, “Your mother is crying for Baby Lee, because he died and she doesn’t have him here with us.”

I felt as though I had been slapped across the face. A burning resentment of the dead baby filled me, and suddenly, I decided I hated my mother. For the first time in my life I felt true rage. Like a child size volcano, I exploded. “Why is she crying about a baby who died ......How many years ago?..... Why does she care so much about that one and not about us?  She has all four of us, alive and living with her everyday and she treats us so mean!! What about ME?” I sobbed. “What about Dave, Roger and Wendy?

As my father looked around to see if any strangers visiting the cemetery had heard me shouting, I turned and ran with my anger, back into the woods. After a while I calmed down and wandered aimlessly, looking at all the wild green things growing. I felt alone and unloved. Many times throughout the rest of the day, I heard my brothers and sister occasionally calling me. Whenever they came near, I ducked behind the nearest big tree trunk and they would miss me.  I even, purposely ignored them when they yelled for me to come and eat. Their searching for me was sporadic and I knew my parents were not too worried about me, or they would have participated in the search. I was too hurt and resentful to allow myself to enjoy the picnic, or to let go of my self pity.

By the time the sun began to set, Dave climbed a nearby mountain, and was able to spy my hiding place. Not alerting me to his search, by calling for me, he silently came through the woods right to my location, and resigned, I walked out of the woods with my brother. I was no longer in a rage, but feeling whiney, I asked the same questions of Dave as I had screamed at my father. He let me know he was just as unhappy about it as I was. But, he was not angry. He  tried to explain to me that I should try to be more understanding. I didn’t know how to do that. Yet, I became somehow strangely comforted to know that he shared my feelings.  The burden of it was no longer so painful to me, and I forgave Baby Lee for abandoning us so long ago.  It was many years before I ever got to a place where I understood my mother’s behavior and no longer  held it against her.

Your Mother Is Always With You

Your Mother Is Always With You

My Grandson and Me

Your mother is always with you...
She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in
your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your
brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside
your laughter. She's crystallized
in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from,
your first home.. She's the map you
follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart
break....and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...
Not even death....
will ever separate you
from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

- Sherry Martin

The One Who Knows

I first saw him
while driving
up the highway near the old railroad tracks,
walking fast
alongside the ditch
with purpose,
obviously
a goal in mind,
wearing a cardboard box on his head
covered with aluminum foil.

I made a U-turn
and pulled into the parking lot
of a roadside stand
selling organic vegetables
and homemade jellies.
I grabbed my camera
and surreptitiously snapped away
at his quickly retreating figure,
then headed in to buy peaches.

Putting them into the car,
I could feel him
standing behind me
before he tapped me on the shoulder.

"You owe me some money" he said,
"for taking my picture".

Surprised, shaken, tight chested,
I turned, mouth open
ready to say I didn't know
what he was talking about.

"I know what you did... they told me.
They told me, your camera clicking away...
you owe me money," he said.

My mouth dry,
bravado covering my discomfort,
"And how much do you think I owe you?"

"Twenty dollars!"

I gave him peaches, instead.

Years later,
he no longer fervently walked
with aluminum foil on his head.
He lived upstairs
in the apartment above me.

Different priorities controlled him.
Demons needed destroying.
He fought the battles
to save the world.

Every day.
Every night.
He swung his machete through the air.
He climbed
onto his kitchen counter
and leaped to the floor,
CRASH!
Thump... thump... thump.
my chandelier swinging from the ceiling

Then preached the words from
the Good Book,
memorized in measured rhythm
with his machete.

When I saw him yesterday
and asked if he got the note
from management,
he didn't seem to
know what I was talking about
at first.

When I told him
that the patio balconies
were going to be repaired,
he nodded with assurance,
"They are trying to steal our souls!"