Page 38 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Give Them Roots,

Give Them Wings by Mabry Payne

A known as Papaw. My Papaw
quote I once read by
was a WWII veteran who had
an unknown author
said this: “History is
as a typist and an airplane
who we are and why we are been stationed in England
the way we are. History is not inspector. He began telling us
just the past. History is the stories of his time in England,
present.” I wholeheartedly and my family and I sat there
believe this quote to be true, for hours, listening intently.
and although I am only My dad even pulled out a
19 years old, I have spent video camera and filmed
countless hours studying, as my Papaw spoke, so we
reading, and listening to could capture his memories
others speak about history and keep them forever.
and its importance in our This is the moment when I
lives. When I think back to realized just how important of us, packed with tales of
my childhood school days in history is, not only to our love, struggle, loss, joy, and
Inspiration
history class, my memories past but also to our present. so much more. Listening
are flooded with a myriad of History helps us develop to my grandfather’s stories
names and dates attached to a better understanding of that day opened my eyes to
events long over, featuring the world, for without the the importance of learning
people long dead. What was stories and lessons of the past, about history, and his past
the point of learning it all? how would we ever learn to encouraged me to dive
Why did it matter so much approach the future? History deeper than the surface
that I knew when Christopher paints a detailed picture of when studying it myself.
Columbus crossed the how society came to be, how Building our knowledge
Atlantic to “discover” it has grown, and how we, and understanding of
America? Why did it matter as humans, have blossomed historical events and figures
that I understood why the into who we are today. enables us to develop a
Patriots of the American History helps us understand greater appreciation for
colonies fought so hard to ourselves, and it is a valuable those who went before us.
gain their freedom from Great tool for understanding those So, I encourage you to ask
Britain’s tyrannical rule? who are different from us. We your older family members
It all seemed so pointless, know that every person has a questions about their pasts,
until one day my questions unique heritage, ancestry, and talk to friends about their
were answered in a single upbringing. The only way life experiences, and read
afternoon. to live fully is to learn from plenty of books because, as
those who came before us and Marcus Garvey so famously
I was sitting in the backyard to remember who they were. said, “A people without the
of my Great-Aunt Jo’s house, knowledge of their past
having lunch with my family History is more than just a history, origin and culture is
and talking with my Great- living record of people and like a tree without roots.”
Grandfather, affectionately dates. It is the woven story

According to John W. Gardner “History never looks like history when you are living
through it.” But once it has occurred, it becomes valuable information that can contribute
to wisdom and maturity. Senior Link values people’s stories, and we are always looking
for good ones. Recently, we have begun to collect the stories of communities, like the ones
in this issue about the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, the 6666 Ranch, and the city of Plainview.
We would love to hear more about the early days of Amarillo and other places in the Pan-
handle. Please contact us if you know someone willing to share. Mabry Payne is young,
but we hope her thoughts on history inspire you to respect your own past. ~ Editor

38 Amarillo Senior Link