...Swing Me High, Swing Me High, Swing Me High As The Applesauce Tree...

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

 

This story was written in honor of Hunter Reed Lane by his Memommie, Linda Johnson Lane as a remembrance gift for his High School Graduation.  The Dulcimer was made especially for Hunter Reed Lane many years ago by his Big Daddy, Curtis Andrew Lane, who, though no longer with us, has left his spirit within all who knew him. Big Daddy was a man who was given many creative abilities and heavenly gifts.  With every ounce of his being he relished using his gifts of music, through singing, playing instruments, making instruments, writing songs, drawing, designing, carving to name a few. Many people were on the receiving end of his talented abilities in wood and they are a lasting tribute and reminder of his talent he so gladly shared with others.

 

 

 

Curt and I have been blessed with four grandchildren. Two grandsons, Hunter and Oliver, as well as two granddaughters, Sophia Rose, and Lydia Mae. 

We have a swing in our back yard that Curt made for our children Chris and Amy, when they were young.  It was made with tall timbers with climbing bars on one side of it, with a basketball court on one side, and on the other side and down a ways he planted an a few apple tree's.  As will happen, our children grew up and moved away. The play area in the backyard stood silent for many years, while the Apple tree's grew taller and provided us with a plentiful bounty, for eating, cooking and making applesauce.

When the LORD shared with us our first grandson we were overwhelmed with joy and made plans for the times when he would be with us.  I found a baby swing, Curt refurbished the timbers and chains, he trimmed back the limbs of the apple tree, in preparation for Hunter’s visit to our home.  Every time he would come we would spend time out back, playing, getting candy out of the garden, ‘Big Daddy’s sugar snap peas,  cherry tomato's and his seedless blackberries off of the trellis in the back of the yard. 

When Hunter was small he was somewhat timid and shy about swinging, it was a little intimidating to a little fella, but soon he began to love swinging and he would ask to be pushed higher and higher. 

He loved my homemade applesauce and he knew that the apples came from the apple tree next to the swing, so we started calling it the ‘Applesauce Tree’.  He would say “Memommie swing me high, swing me high, as high as the ‘Applesauce Tree’," and I did. When Hunter would come for a visit, depending on his size, we would change to bigger swings to accommodate his growth. All of our grandchildren have enjoyed  this treasured handmade swing.

 We had a large tornado that come through Broadacres and a strong gust of wind up rooted the ‘Applesauce Tree’.  It was a sad day. While Curt was preparing to take care of the remains of the tree he looked at it and decided that he could probably save the trunk and get enough wood to make Hunter a small dulcimer with horses and his name on it, as a remembrance of his childhood time spent at his Big Daddy and Memommie’s home. Hoping that it would help him to recall the joyful hours of swinging on a family treasure made by his Big Daddy for his beloved children and grandchildren. As well as remembering the apple tree that provided tasty fruit, shade and great joy for a little red-headed boy who loved to shout ‘Swing me high, swing me high, as high as the applesauce tree!'

Hunter has had his especially made dulcimer for many years now.  He is a grown man who has now graduated from high school. He will soon be heading off to college to pursue his dreams of playing college football on a scholarship, earned in high school. It will be used as a stepping stone to his future plans, as a recourse to help him get a college degree. As of this writing his long term goals are to become a farmer, he hopes to pursue a degree in agriculture.

Perhaps one day he will make a swing set for his child and plant an apple tree close by. Perhaps he will marry a woman who will make applesauce from the fruit. Perhaps he will develop a love for wood, crafting beautiful gifts, and instruments. Perhaps he will want to use the tools quietly waiting in Big Daddy's shed out back, waiting to be put to good use once again. Perhaps he will, when he finishes his life journey, and this story as well as the memories that go with it, will continue and become a legend for the generations to come.


Hunter and his Applewood Dulcimer made by Big Daddy Lane

"Swing me high, swing me high, swing me high as the 'Applesauce Tree', Memommie"...



Hunter loved horses so Big Daddy put Horses on his Dulcimer along with his name





'Big Daddy Lane Creations', his ' Little Shop out Back'
'A Music Maker and Piddler of Sorts'

Big Daddy, Hunter and Memommie happy times at Shatley Springs, North Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all have memories and treasures that we hold dear to our hearts. They are in our safe place, they belong to us, we carry them with us, they ground us, secure us, they entwine around us and make us who we are and what we are about.  What I have found is that there is a story that follows a memory, a journey that begins and continues to travel on after we have left this earthly plain.  My hope in presenting these stories and memories is that all of you will write, share, and honor your memories and pass them on, they are important to future generations.