Book excerpt: "America, home of the brave and the free" This is a well-deserved description of America, but it hardly describes the complexity of our great nation. Describing America would be like describing a large, moving picture that is constantly changing. Each of its many components is different than all the others. To understand America one would have to understand every individual, in every culture, in every community. To leave out any piece of the big picture would distort America's image and deny the opportunity to know America itself. This book gives the reader a piece of the big picture that represents a bygone era. As a nation, we have made a lot of progress over the years and we can be proud of our accomplishments, but we should remember, our roots are the foundation of our success. Go back in time with the author to relive the old stories just as they happened in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s in rural Arkansas. Experience the humor, nostalgia, and the tragedy of a bygone era. Each reader will experience something different, but will come away enlightened having enjoyed these glimpses of a simpler time.