The Cumberland Road Kid: Securing Impossible Dreams

By Tommy M. "Tom" Darlene

Did you ever have dreams of what you wanted to accomplish in life?

Did you ever have dreams of having that special person in your life?

A young man struggles through life until he realizes two essential goals necessary for a successful life. From that point, he becomes a different person using strategies to accomplish those goals.
His techniques and strategies may help you!
Read about a real person who worked to turn impossible dreams into reality. He shoots straight and gives his honest accounts and feelings about his struggles to achieve those dreams.
Ultimately you will see a poor young man born on a farm in 1947 cope and learn how to be happy and secure his impossible dreams.

This is an easy read. There are plenty of reinforcing photos!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477232835

Tommy M. "Tom" Darlene

Tommy Monroe “Tom” Farmer is a post-World War II “Baby Boomer”. His generation caused a tremendous shockwave as they moved through life. Some of this was positive and some negative on our social systems. Overall the “Boomers” made things happen. Life and lifestyles have been turned upside down as technology, driven by Boomers and their children, has changed the world. Tom, his wife Mary Jane “Janie”, and their cat Tux reside in Princeton, West Virginia. He graduated from West Virginia University with a B.S. degree in secondary school education (mathematics and physical sciences). Tom also completed an M.A. degree in secondary school administration at WVU. At Marshall University he received an M.S. degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Tom taught at all the senior high schools – Montcalm, Bluefield, Princeton Junior, Princeton Senior and PikeView in Mercer County. He also taught applied physics and math at the Mercer County Technical Education Center. After thirty-three years, Tom retired in 2002. As far as retirement, Tom says, “I highly recommend it!” Tom and Janie have two children, Richmond Edward (Richie) and Jennifer Lynne. “Pap” and “Jammy” enjoy spoiling their three grandchildren Paige Danielle, Richmond Monroe and Braxton Edward Farmer.

Book preview

THE 

CUMBERLAND ROAD 

KID

SECURING IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

TOMMY M. TOM FARMER

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2012 by Tommy M. Tom Farmer. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   07/13/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3284-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3282-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3283-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012911810

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowlegements

Introduction

Why The Cumberland Road Kid

SECTION ONE - IN THE BEGINNING

The Dramatic Entrance

How Mom And Dad Met

Childhood Memories On Leatherwood Farm

Our Home Outside

Our Dogs

Our Home Inside

The Children

My Favorite Room

The Wages Of Sin

The Doll

The Big Corn Field

What’s Down The Hill?

We Sneaked Off

The Dairy Complex And The Mean Bull

Berry Picking And Walnut Gathering

Picnic Time

My Favorite Neighbors

School Begins With Transition

The Turning Point

SECTION TWO - THE KID’S MOST CRUCIAL MOVE

Cumberland Road, Here We Come

First Memories Of My New Home

Where’d Our Water Come From?

We’re Getting A Telewhat?

Our Address And Mailbox

The Kids Go To Church

The End Of The World!

My Three Reoccurring Dreams

Falling Into A Deep Hole

The Scary Thicket

The Heavenly Flight

Our Neighbors

The Other Cumberland Road Kids

The Kid Goes To School

My World At Home—Mealtime First!

My Personal Endeavors

The Building Spree

New Room Number One

New Room Number Two

New Room Number Three

Entertainment In The House

Dixie Grows Up

Our 1955 Chevy Made The Difference

Our First Vacation Trip

Our Last Vacation

Summer Of 1965 Transition

My Final Thoughts Of Cumberland Road

SECTION THREE - MY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

The Quest For My Education And Future

My Impossible Education Dream

My First Impact Person

The Pivotal/Crucial Junior High

My Decisions On My Two Goals

High School Officially Begins

Turning Points In My Life

High School And Crunch Time

The Fire Drill

The Finish Line At Bluefield High School

West Virginia University Bound!!!

My Girl Quest Continues

Morgantown, Here I Come

Summer Of 1966

My New Found Freedom

Summer Of 1967

Christmas Break 1967 To 1968

Summer Of 1968

All My Efforts Now Pay Off!!!

My Last Year At WVU

Our New Life Together Begins

Back To WVU And The Finish Line

Student Teaching

My WVU Guardian Angel

The $500 Scholarship Mystery

Graduation—WVU—May 1969

A Reflection

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

This has been a tremendous undertaking for me. I’m a math/science kind of guy. However, I learned enough from my excellent English teachers to get ‘er done. My life has been full of blessings. My experiences have been oh so wonderful.

This book would have never been a reality without my most wonderful wife. Mary Jane (Janie) typed every word. Any changes needed, she gladly made them. I don’t believe I could thank her enough, but I’ll try.

Two of my sisters, Joyce and Wanda, helped. Wanda had some especially good suggestions.

My son Richie and daughter Jennifer didn’t try to stop me. They gladly listened to any update I had for them. My three grandchildren, Paige, Richmond, and Braxton, although not offering advice, inspired me to leave them the special story of their Pap (me) and Jammy (Janie). I love them all so very much.

I need to thank Steve Jessee and his staff at Associated Photography in Princeton, WV for scanning our amateur photos for transmission to the publishing company.

I also wish to thank AuthorHouse Publishing and their great staff of advisors. They help a total amateur produce a book that looks professional.

Also, THANK YOU to all who encouraged me to write my story. I tried.

INTRODUCTION

Being a total amateur at book writing has made this effort a struggle. At times the hard work that goes into such an endeavor was so overwhelming. But, much stronger was my need to share this story about my goals and desires.

There are many, many more people like me who write because there is a driving force within you that has to be satisfied. You have to write that book.

I dream of being on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. My wife’s routine is to always watch his show before bedtime. Jay is just a great guy who can make you laugh and relax.

My greatest honor would be to try to represent these writers on his show.

All that I have written about happened over forty years ago. To those I’ve written about in this book—I want you to know that I hold no grudges or animosity. My wish has been to present an open, honest story of a real young man pursuing his two greatest dreams in life. I hope you enjoy it.

WHY THE CUMBERLAND ROAD KID

There are at least two reasons why I chose The Cumberland Road Kid as the title to this book.

First, you’ll read about My Quest for my Education and the conversation I overheard by a group of teachers expressing their feelings about Cumberland Road Kids.

The second reason is the main reason. I was the product of Cumberland Road. If it didn’t happen on or near Cumberland Road, then Cumberland Road led me to my dreams and my destiny.

Yes, I am The Cumberland Road Kid and yes—I’m very proud of that!

SECTION ONE 

IN THE BEGINNING

Oh my, I wish this would stop! Virginia Mae Farmer could have referred to one of two urgent situations.

This was the worst snow storm she had ever witnessed. She strained as she looked through the window to see if her husband James was coming back from the dairy barn. She became frightened as she watched some of the shorter fence posts disappear.

She thought, I hope James got through to Dr. Phlegar! Dr. Orrin K. Phlegar was a local doctor out of Bluefield, Virginia in Tazewell County, Virginia. He also delivered babies. She was also having contractions for her third child. Virginia hoped the contractions would also stop. She desperately needed someone to help her with the delivery.

As she watched the region’s worst twenty-four hour snowfall continue, she saw James struggling to get to their house on the Leatherwood Farm.

What did you find out? she asked. James, looking down, said, Dr. Phlegar said he couldn’t make it out here.

Virginia was almost in a panic. Oh what can we do? We can’t get out of here and our doctor can’t get to us! As soon as she had said that, she had another thought. She said, James, could you use a tractor or horse to go get Mae Tibbs to help me?

I’ll try! was his response as he reentered the swirling snow storm.

Dixie! Please help get Phyllis ready for bed. It was February, 1947. Dixie would be seven in October and Phyllis would be two in April. Virginia thought it would be best if the children would be asleep when the delivery began.

THE DRAMATIC ENTRANCE

Later Virginia heard a noise at the back door. It was James and Mae Tibbs! Oh, I’m so glad you could come! I really need your help! Things were looking up now!

James went to stoke the fires in the kitchen stove and warm morning stove in the living room. The women prepared everything they would need.

Mrs. Tibbs asked Virginia what she wanted to have this time. Virginia smiled and said, We really want a boy this time. To which Mrs. Tibbs replied, Well, let’s see what we can do! Mae Tibbs was well known for being an experienced and very good mid-wife.

It was 9:30 PM on February 18, 1947 when James heard the cry of the baby. Can I come in? he asked. Mrs. Tibbs said, Yes, James! Come see your little boy!

The third child, and only boy, was named Tommy Monroe Farmer (The Cumberland Road Kid).

I suppose that was my dramatic entrance. You will see that my life had two vital and seemingly impossible situations that challenged me. I never blinked! I didn’t know the outcome, but continued to keep my goals in front of me.

HOW MOM AND DAD MET

Dad was born on March 15, 1918 in the Princeton, WV area. Mom was born on March 16, 1923 in Bluefield, VA. She called the area West Graham, pronounced West Grim and lived up Neal Hollow.

Both had rough lives. Dad (James Edward Farmer) nearly died from rheumatic fever as a child. He recovered and went to school until the sixth grade. He was twelve and ready to work. He went to live with his oldest sister and her husband, Bessie and Bert Hall who lived up Stowers’ Hill Road. They lived near Bluefield, Virginia. Dad became a herdsman at the Sanders Farm, later called the Leatherwood Farm. The Wal-Mart-Sam’s Club complex now sits on our part of the huge farm.

What was so ironic was that these two hollows were separated by a common hill.

Mom (Virginia Mae Plaster) was the second of five children. The oldest was her only brother, Millard Bill. Mom was the oldest of the four girls followed by Bertha, Francis, and the baby Beulah.

Mom was enjoying life and had big dreams for her future. She was in the sixth grade and was so sharp that the teacher used her to tutor (teach) the younger children. The school went to just the sixth grade. Mom wanted to become a school teacher.

Things began to happen that turned her life upside down. Her Dad was brought home by coworkers from the railroad. He had a good paying job and Mom always expressed to me what a great Father he was. But this was different. He was involved in a work related accident. He was badly hurt and asked to be taken home. The men sat him in a chair on the front porch. He died in that chair from an internal hemorrhage.

Railroad workers were provided with a home/property adjacent to the railroad. Because her Dad died of a work related accident, the family was allowed to stay as long as the Mother was alive. After she passed away, the younger girls stayed with different family members and friends.

The family was devastated and Mom’s life went all to pieces. Her Mother put her in charge of watching the younger girls and also doing most of the home chores. Mom resented being withdrawn from school and made to handle so many responsibilities. She never forgave her Mother.

Mom was now sixteen as she and her Mother were in Bluefield, VA taking care of shopping, bill paying and a doctor’s visit for her Mother. Mom stood on Virginia Avenue across from the Lee Theater. She waited on the sidewalk while her Mother went upstairs to see the doctor.

She looked down the street where South College Avenue made an intersection. New Graham Pharmacy is located there. The New Graham Pharmacy was much more than a pharmacy. They had a lunch counter and sold ice cream cones. Mom bought me my very first ice cream cone there.

She noticed a young man at the corner. He would pace back and forth and look up the street