Flies on the Butter

This morning as I set out to do the dishes from last night's crab boil, I came across a bowl of (what had been) melted butter.  In it sat a small flying insect who had not made it to see the sunrise of a new year.

The average person would think one of two things: 1. Cold, once melted butter looks disgusting! OR 2. I really should have done these dishes last night!  However, I am not an average person, so this is where my mind went...Uncle Nelson sitting on the corner of the porch, guitar in hand... 

Old tin roof, leaves in the gutter
A hole in the screen door big as your fist, and flies on the butter
Mamaw baking sugar cookies, we were watching cartoons
Heard her holler from the kitchen which one of you youngin's wants to lick the spoon?
Yellow jackets on the watermelon, honeysuckle in the air
Daddy turning on the sprinkler, us kids running through it in our underwear
Old dog napping on the front porch, his ear just a-twitching
Fell asleep on Granddaddy's lap to the sound of his pocket watch ticking

Me and my best friend Jenny set up a back yard camp
Stole one of Mama's Mason jars, poked holes in the lid and made a fire fly lamp
Me and Billy Monroe sneaking down by the river
And I'm still haunted by the first kiss I was too scared to give him

There's a black-top road, a faded yellow centerline
It can take you back to the place, but it can't take you back in time

Oh, oh, oh - Oh, oh, oh
It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago
Oh, oh, oh - Oh, oh, oh
You can dream about it every now and then
But you can't go home again

As his melody played in my mind, I couldn't help but reflect on 2011.  I think about the lake house and the wonderful memories we have already made here.  Maybe our version would sound something more like this...

Old tin roof, falling down gutter
A hole in the window as big as your fist, and flies on the butter
Nanny making burritos, we were listening to iTunes
Kids yelling from the kitchen, can we go on the pontoon?
Yellow jackets in the hotsauce, suntan lotion in the air
D-Dod turning on the sprinkler, kids running through it in their underwear
Old dogs napping on the back porch, their eyes just a twitching
Chris looking 'round the lake, dreaming of water witching
Cambrey and Whitney set up a back yard camp
Stole every blanket in the house, brought them back dirty and damp
Me and Chris saying "I Still Do" down by the water
Thankful for our first kiss and two beautiful daughters

There is a winding lake road, with no center line
It can take you back to that place, where the sun loves to shine

Oh, oh, oh - Oh, oh, oh
It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago
Oh, oh, oh - Oh, oh, oh
You can dream about it every now and then
And you CAN go home again

Today as we clean up from last night's gathering, and prepare to celebrate today with a house full of family, I am so thankful that Chris moved all the way out to Oak Creek Lake, where my heart has always been... and for flies on the butter!