Last Friday I had a conversation with a friend about our mothers. "There were questions I never got to ask her," she said. "Me too," I said. We had experienced the slow death of our mothers to dementia. I had no idea that Mama would lose her ability to communicate. She really enjoyed conversations with … Continue reading Doing Things the Hard Way
Month: July 2026
Summer Camps: A Time of Growth
This time of year, many kids are headed off to overnight camp. That was the case for my friend's two grandsons, a first experience for the 8-year-old and second, for his older brother who's 9. For the parents and grandparents there was both excitement and apprehension. While various family members had attended that same camp, … Continue reading Summer Camps: A Time of Growth
The Wisdom of Aging Well: Happy Birthday Mama!
Yesterday would have been Mama's birthday. She was born in 1923 and lived to be 96. I think back on how she exemplified some of the habits that are known to help maintain vitality -- no matter your chronological years. Mama enjoyed learning new things. When she was in her sixties, she started taking painting … Continue reading The Wisdom of Aging Well: Happy Birthday Mama!
Preserving the Past: “The Black Snake Story”
Last February, I did a presentation at the Lee County Enrichment Center for a class on "Telling Your Life Story." My focus was on the process of writing my memoir. The participants shared about their projects that included delving into family history and collecting objects from their lives to share with their grandchildren. Listening to … Continue reading Preserving the Past: “The Black Snake Story”
Connie Rosser Riddle 