Love of Writing, Noblesville Helped Shape Guest Columnist

It was the spring of 1964 and I was 6 years old. As I sat by the creek that wound around my country home in Noblesville, I was taken by the beauty of the buds on the weeping willow tree that swayed softly over the rippling creek. I was an only child, but my life seemed full in my solitude, sitting among the splendidness of the surroundings by my home.

We lived on two acres of my grandparent’s farm near Morse Reservoir. Life was so simple back then. I loved walking through the fields to grandma’s house, skipping rocks and catching frogs.

And writing poetry.

Now mind you, as a first grader, I wasn’t the best speller, but, boy, did I love coming up with the words to describe life around me.

“Spring” was the name of my very first poem, and it sounded more like a jingle for a product than prose. But it rhymed and spoke to the wonder of the new, unfolding season.

As I sat on what I came to refer to as my “writing rock” next to the stream, I couldn’t help but be touched by the simple splendor of the countryside. I didn’t usually share my writings, except with my teachers. I was a lucky one. Throughout my years at North Elementary, I was encouraged to never stop writing what I saw and felt. It wasn’t long before I realized this has always been my passion, my actual “first love.”

As I got older, the writing rock saw more lyrical language. Accompanied by my old Alvarez guitar, the words just seemed to flow. By the time I hit adolescence, the focus became more of an outlet for other feelings, like trying to fit in with friends and boyfriend break ups. But not to worry…I did not pull a Taylor Swift and name names! But who knows? If I had, I might’ve been famous!

The written word was a way of life, of PROCESSING life as I knew it. Fast-forward 60 years, and here I am with a chance to pick up the pen and run with it. There are so many memories sandwiched between ages 6 and 60. I’ve seen promise and pain, many times over. But with pen in hand, I’ve found solace, comfort, and my own truth.

I now live in the Indy area, but Noblesville and that beautiful countryside are my home. I come back every chance I get, since now I have grandkids there. RIGHT there, with full access to my writing rock, if they so choose.

Most of the fields surrounding my childhood home consist of newer homes and even a golf course (more memories ahead on that one!), but the wonder remains. As I see my granddaughters frolicking near the creek I loved so much, I just have to join them and share my rusty skills of rock-skipping and discovering crawdad holes nearby.

So here I am, much older now, but ever so grateful for the opportunity to share the love of my hometown. And maybe someday, I’ll come back for good. Just don’t tell my husband about my first love. He thinks it is him (but he’s right there with my first!).

Branna (McCarty) Shores believes that “HOME is where your story begins.” A Noblesville native and proud graduate of NHS and Purdue University, she is a professional speaker, advocate for mental health and work / family balance and retired social worker. Branna is the mother of two grown daughters, six precious grandchildren and wife of one brave husband! Her passions include singing, writing and sharing the lighter side of life through lessons learned, both personally and professionally. She can be contacted at [email protected]