I grew up in a little community nestled in a “hollow” among hills and trees. In the olden days, it was dubbed “Dutch Hollow.” The road we lived on was and still is Dutch Hollow Road. A smattering of homes, most without indoor plumbing, is where all my friends lived with their families. Our water came from a pump outside and also some rain water captured in a large barrel.

Washing hair with the water from the rain barrel was supposed to make it healthier, though in retrospect, I suppose the well water was also provided due to rainfall. This water was used for watering flowers and even washing my dad’s car. Life seemed to be simpler then, but I’m sure it was only from my child’s eye view. There are times today when I wish I had an old rain barrel. We take water for granted today. Tomorrow my water supply will be cut off for three hours. I have to prepare for having a supply of water ready during this time. How nice it would be to have that old rain barrel to fall back on!

Life goes on, but memories linger. I enjoy rainy days like today when I open up my memory bank and smile at the young, naive, girl who grew up in a world much different than today. I have a refrigerator with bottled water. Imagine that! Water that comes through the magic of a faucet inside my home. A toilet that actually flushes and isn’t filled with spider webs and splinters. Lifting my cup of tea and thanking God for His goodness and for the memories of the old rain barrel.