My Aunt, The Soup Lady
Myrt was a live-wire, always one of the social sparks in a family of apparent introverts.
Category: Memories
Whether inspired by a family member, a friend, or someone who I’ve helped to memorialize, I let my heart lead me when it comes to these stories. It’s therapy at times. And it’s nostalgia or a longing to learn my history that leads me to research the past.
Marking Time at 65!
Marking Time. That’s what we call marching in place, stomping our feet purposefully into the ground while pulling our knees up parallel to the ground, not just limply stepping in place. When I was a band kid, back in the 70s, our version of marching was a proud strutting down the road, keeping lines and … read more
Ode to the Son of a Farmer
By Susan Dempsey April, 2024 Robert is one of my more than thirty first cousins on my mom’s side of the family. We lost him recently to severe COPD, after years of his suffering with breathing issues. I’ve paused to think about him, his place in the family now vacant, and to ponder our brief … read more
The Answer is in the Journey
And just when I
Thought love had passed me by
We met
That first look
In your eyes
I can’t forget
You melted me
With your tender touch
I felt all fear and sorrow
Slip away
Now here we stand
Hand in hand
This blessed day
From “I’ve Dreamed of You” by Ann Hampton Callaway
Sometimes a 4 Letter Word is Called For
Aunt Florence was known for her colorful language. We need to learn to do as she did, “tell it like it is.”
Saying Goodbye
Just days ago I visited Mom for the last time in this life. I left her after an hour’s visit stretched into an hour and a half, trying to tell her in that brief moment how much she has given me, how much she means to me and our family, and how much I will … read more
Rodney Sherrill, A Good Man
September 25, 2017 Lesley asked me to speak on behalf of her and the family today. I hope to do justice to the memories you all hold dear of Rodney, and I pray you forgive me in advance for lack of knowing more of your stories. I hope you all will share those snippets of … read more
Please Allow me to Introduce Myself: I am my Mother
I wrote this essay five years ago to honor my mom on Mother’s Day. Today is her 90th birthday, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate her than re-posting this now. Happy Birthday, Mom! We all love you and are proud to belong to you! How many women have had the epiphany … read more
Ron Williams – You Earned This
No matter our ages, when one of our contemporaries dies, it hits a little harder. It makes us face the inevitable. It gives us pause to reflect upon our purpose on Earth and to examine our progress or even our failures. We’ve had another loss in our family this week when Cousin Ron Williams passed … read more
Hindsight in 2020: Looking Back and Forward on this Unusual Mother’s Day
No one will argue the point that this Mother’s Day is unusual. While some are planning to visit their moms, I’ll be here in Missouri, sending my love and best wishes over the miles to my mom who is well-cloistered in an assisted living apartment in Wisconsin. It’s not like I visit every year, but … read more