Reflections: Sunday Afternoons

I grew up approximately fifty miles in between Washington, DC and Richmond, Virginia in rural Spotsylvania County. America, during the 60’s and early 70’s was experiencing civil unrest and heated racial tensions. Remarkably, in spite of America’s strife during those turbulent years, our Grandparents were able to let us see the sunshine, regardless of the darkness around us. Here’s my childhood reflections on our Sunday afternoons:


There were chickens picking at the red bologna strings in the yard and a whole lot of love on the porch every Sunday afternoon at Ruff n’ Ma’Rie’s. There was an old, rust-spotted Ford sitting in the yard that I’ve never seen moved, not even once, but on Sundays, if you believed the wild stories from Uncle Carl’s and Scootie’s mouths, they had you thinking that that ol’ Ford had them running 208 and the back roads from Spotsy to Fredericksburg just last night! Man, on Sundays you could hear some wild stories.


Yep, on Sunday afternoons, all of my uncles, aunts, and cousins would gather up at Ruff n’ Ma’Rie’s. We all came from them. I never got a chance to thank my beloved Grandparents for what they’ve given us.


Thank you Ruff n’ Ma’Rie for giving us Maitland, who’d left us too soon but gave us the legacy of music and gold with Brenda, Francis, Snookum, Kenny, Jimmy James and Lonnie. Thank you Ma’Rie n’ Ruff for giving us sweet Josephine, better known to us as “Phine”, and let’s not forget your precious gifts of Uncle Roosevelt, Uncle Carl, Uncle Scootie, Aunt Edith Mae, Aunt Ruth Edna, and Aunt ‘Margret’rie’. And I, of course, wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my Mother, Lorene, who was another piece of gold from your Brook’s tree.


Yes indeed, we all came from you two. So, thank you again Ma’Rie n’ Ruff for those precious Sunday afternoons and for everything you’ve done for us ‘cause we are who we are now, in 2017, because of you and our golden roots. And we’re forever grateful that we all came from you two. Yep, thank you Ruff n’ Ma’Rie for the big juicy strawberries down the hill and all of ‘em wonderful stories and love on the porch.


No matter what you and your family are going through at this time, I hope that you’re able to let some sunshine in, regardless of the dark clouds that maybe lingering above. – Randolph Randy Camp


(photo: Randolph Camp, actual school ID card from 1970’s)
Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Always Putting Something Back

I’ve cleaned toilets, worked in factories, worked for years within the service industry while simultaneously chipping away at my dream of inspiring and reaching people with my stories. My greatest dream is that my kids, my grandkids, and the future generations go further in life than they ever imagined. I sincerely owe, at least partially, my drive and determination to the public school teachers of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, for all of them helped shaped me into the person I am today. I am so blessed to receive letters of questions and thank you’s from readers from around the world, but whenever someone from my hometown sends me an email or message of thanks, regarding one of my stories, it instantly reminds me of the summer of 1979. Of all of the scripts, novels, blog posts, and articles I’ve written over the years the one that I will always be the most proud of is the article I wrote 38 years ago:


(At age 18, I wrote a “LETTER TO THE EDITOR” which was published in the local newspaper FREDERICKSBURG FREE LANCE- STAR on June 5, 1979)


PUT SOMETHING BACK, GRADUATES URGED
To the Editor:
I am a senior at Spotsylvania High School and will be graduating in a couple of weeks. This year many seniors from our area high schools will be going away to colleges and trade schools to become professionals in the business world and other fields. I hope that many of us will return to this area to put our skills and special training to work. We must not forget where we come from or those who helped us to get where we are (or will be). I can’t speak for every senior, but I have taken something very valuable from this area, and I feel that I must put something back to show my appreciation. I am speaking of education. I have learned that a person should give if he or she has received. I hope that the class of ’79 will join me in the future to reimburse our hometown.
RANDOLPH CAMP
Spotsylvania


Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

Wet Matches: One Shot

Thank you to all of my readers, followers and everyone else who’ve been so supportive of me and my work. This ol’ country boy from the backwoods of Spotsylvania County, Virginia is honored and forever grateful to you all. I’m truly blessed and I take nothing for granted. Here’s an update on the film adaptation of ‘Wet Matches: A Novel’


We’re still in the early stages of pre-production. It’s a long process going from script to screen. Because this independent movie project won’t have the financial backing of a big name Hollywood studio, securing the funds for production will be a challenge for the producer. Crowd funding, such as Kickstarter, have been discussed and is still a viable option.


Also, there have been a couple of suggested titles for this film. Possible working titles so far includes ‘Wet Matches: The Journey’, and most recently, ‘Wet Matches: One Shot’. All titles fit the storyline of novel, but no final decision has been made yet.


As a writer, this whole process is already a dream come true. I hope that each one of you have something to shine about in your life, and may your goals and dreams are realized as well. – Randolph Randy Camp


*(photo: Indie Film Producer Rachel Rand with writer Randy Camp)
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp