writing
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Great-Aunt Myrtie (Was A Bad Girl)
Things are getting entirely too heavy these days, so I’m going to post a distraction and write a little about my great-aunt Myrtie. Myrtie was my maternal grandfather’s half-sister, but he never made a distinction about the “half”; she was his sister, and that’s all there was to it from his point of view. My Continue reading
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The Importance of Being Present in A Digital Age
As I sit here listening to the spring rain softly falling on the roof on this Sunday evening, I’m thinking of something I heard during the sermon at church this morning. The pastor, Brian, mentioned being present. Although the sermon was ultimately about humility, he mentioned that these days people often text or email instead Continue reading
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Remembering Lila Mae: A Southern Legacy of Love
Lila Mae was my maternal grandmother. Often described as a hoot, a character, or in loving Southern terms, “a mess!”. Being called a mess in the South is generally considered a compliment. She loved a good joke and was a great sport should that joke turn out to be on her. She was also quite Continue reading
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The Beautiful Light Of A Burning Bridge
“Don’t burn your bridges behind you”, the old saying goes. I disagree. Sometimes the brightest light can come from the flame of torching the link between yourself and things that are causing you harm, and that light can lead you out of the darkness. I know this because almost nine years ago, I did exactly Continue reading
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The Comfort of Sunday: Traditions That Feed the Soul
As I sit here on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I’m thankful for a day of rest. I’m in my favorite spot, with my beloved kitty, my blanket, and my laptop. I am content. The sound of the rain is a nice complement to the tapping sounds of my fingers on the keyboard, and quiet rolls Continue reading
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My Grandfather’s Journey: From CCC to Family Man
My maternal grandfather (“Papaw”), Jesse, was born in a small community called Sargent, Georgia, in 1917. His father passed away in 1934 when Jesse was 17, and Jesse immediately became the head of the household for his mother and siblings. He had seven brothers and sisters, six of which lived to be adults. (A younger Continue reading
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A 1978 Saturday Night: Skating and Style
As I sat here enjoying a beautiful spring evening, the song “Reminiscing” by Little River Band came up in my playlist and I was transported back to a time that was simpler. Well, at least things were simple for me, as I was younger then with no real responsibilities except for schoolwork and a few Continue reading
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Laughing with Lila Mae: The Monkey Joke
If there was one thing our father Richard loved, it was aggravating his mother-in-law, Lila Mae. First of all, she was the definition of gullible, and secondly, she was a good sport. Once, around 1974, Mamaw Lila was visiting and on Sunday, we all piled into the chocolate brown Ford LTD and headed to Sears Continue reading
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Remembering Kate: A Southern Beauty Shop Legacy
Our paternal grandmother, Sally Kate, was a beautician. Not a hair designer, nor a hairstylist…a beautician. Now, she would use the word “hairdresser” sometimes in the 1970s, as a nod to the more modern terminology, and as an acknowledgment that she could actually dress hair; but she usually described herself as a beautician, because it Continue reading
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Embrace the Hope of Early Spring Evenings
There’s something about an early spring evening that makes me feel hopeful. It’s the perennial newness in the air and the light, and in the budding leaves on the trees. Although March is fickle, she’ll sometimes gift us with a sweet preview of what is soon to come into fullness. Of course, there might still Continue reading
Kat's Rambling Mind 