On The Front Porch

On The Front Porch

Blue ceilings on front porches are a Southern tradition. My Great-Grandmother Burnside had an old home, and the porch ceiling was painted blue. My Mother spent many an hour on that front porch watching as cars passed and pedestrians, too. In the early 1960's, she said as many people strolled as drove. Back when neighbors were still neighbors. 

My Great-Grandmother was born 100 years to the month, before I, and 70 years before my Mother. I did not know her, but I have heard the stories about her. She was the Mother of ten boys and one girl. She gave each child four names. My Grandfather Burnside was named: Weston Jennings Bass Burnside. And now, there is a Weston Jennings Bass Burnside III.

The front porch of her home was where everyone gathered. It was long and wide, with a front porch swing and rocking chairs, alike. The house had clapboard siding, and everything was white, except for the ceiling on the front porch. It seemed every home was designed the same and had similar painted front porch ceilings, ranging in various shades of blue. But sky blue was the favorite amongst most of the homeowners. The reasons folks choose to paint their porch ceilings blue and the shades of blue they choose were as diverse as the homeowners.

There were many reasons people painted their porch ceilings blue, including it helped to keep you cool from the summer's heat, a feeling that it extends your living space outdoors, it adds a calming ambiance for porch sitters, it deters bugs from building nests there and it wards off evil spirits.

But as for my Mother, she simply thought is was pretty, as she lingered the afternoon away from the front porch swing, till dusk rolled in, along with lightning bugs. 

She and her Grandmother would sing. And one of the songs my Mother taught me, and we sometimes sing it, too. 

'On The Front Porch'

All I want to do
When the day is through
Is linger here on the front porch
With you
From the wicker swing
While the night birds sing
We'll watch the fireflies sparkin'
Do some sparkin' too
How the hours fly
As the moon drifts by --
How sweet the air
As we stare
At the sight
Oh! How I love to linger here like this
Hold your hand, and steal a kiss
Or two
On the front porch with you 

ℰℒℬ

2011