5 ~ I Knew What It Wasn't

By Kay Heitsch

I enjoyed my time living in Grand Rapids with Uncle Fred and Aunt Carmeleta. Aunt Carmeleta was one of the few "religious" people who accepted me for who I was. I just didn't fit in with this religious group.

My cousin, Pat, and I had fun. Since we were close in age, we sounded alike on the phone. If some guys called, we would switch back and forth talking. I don't know if any of them ever figured it out.

Pat was a great cook like Aunt Carmeleta. Pat made delicious strawberry cream pies. Aunt Carmel made amazing clover leaf and cinnamon rolls. It's her recipe I make the carrot cake from. Everyone seems to like mine; however, they hadn't had Aunt Carmel's touch. Hers was better.

Pat and I loved calling into the rock radio stations to request songs for certain people. We danced in the living room, even though both of these were frowned upon by this group. I never could understand these rules.

The more these rules and regulations were piled on, the weaker my simple faith became.

I checked out of religion. I wasn't sure what I believed, if anything. I had a deep emptiness inside. I was looking for something, but I didn't know what it was.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18