Page 14 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior

James Lowell Vinson

“Big

at theBase”

by Leah Vinson

“ rees are big at the base of the and sacrifice, he supported
trunk and small at the end of his family and enabled
Tthe branches; make sure to all four of his children to
draw the ears centered on the sides, attend college. Many of the
then draw the eyebrows.” Sitting opportunities I’ve been given
in the dark green corduroy chairs, as well are a result of my grandad’s When visiting my grandparents as
I practiced shaky mountain ranges years of hard work. a child, my grandad would play
and lopsided dogs, learning how all of our make-believe games and
to sketch with my grandad’s voice In one of his novels, G. Michael answer every one of our questions.
guiding me and his own paintings Hopf writes, “Tough times create He would take us to the lake right
hanging on the walls. strong men, strong men create easy outside of Dalhart to look for rocks
times. Easy times create weak men, that we decided were arrowheads.
James Lowell Vinson, LoLo as weak men create tough times.” As we got older, we would walk
he is known to me, was born in LoLo is a man who overcame his around the lake, finding waterfalls
1934 to Pete and Mary Vinson in circumstances, and as a result, it and animal footprints. My grandad
Everton, Arkansas. During the Great made him stronger. He went on shared the beauty of unpretentious
Depression, his family of nine loaded to prepare a wonderful life for my Texas rocks and wilderness, instilling
into a borrowed pickup truck and dad, who did the same for me. The a love for nature in me early in life.
traveled west to Dalhart, Texas. Pete development of weakness which
would eventually find work for the Hopf’s quote predicts in “easy times” Mornings in Dalhart consisted of
Rock Island Railroad. Lowell grew is avoidable. I get to share in the easy Lolo doing a crossword puzzle
up in Dalhart and, following high times that my grandad created, but while my siblings and I switched
school graduation, went to work I also need to model myself after the the channel between Smithsonian
for the railroad. In 1956, he married character he cultivated during the and Nick Junior. Lolo would read
my grandmother, Jackie. Together hard times. books that seemed taller than I was
they had four children: Kathy, Lori, and encourage us to do the same.
David, and Jeff, my dad. Today, Lolo and I share many He is truly a lifelong learner, and his
common interests. We love art, love for knowledge has spurred my
All his working life, my grandad making and appreciating it. We both personal desire to be informed and
was employed with the railroad. like our coffee strong, although his curious. He has encouraged me in
He traveled hundreds of miles each “cowboy coffee” is a little too strong every occupational dream, whether
week, working nights, weekends, for me! Running was also an activity as a fashion designer or orthopedic
and holidays. Needless to say, it was in which he excelled and practiced surgeon. He reminds me of the mind
not an easy life because economic for many years as an adult, and he I have been given and the importance
downturns and labor disputes has cheered at my cross country and of putting it to good use.
caused many uncertain times. track meets throughout high school.
However, due to his consistency

14 Lubbock Senior Link