Today we celebrated Mama's ninety-sixth birthday. The gathering at Parkview Retirement Community included Mama's niece and her husband, we three daughters and our spouses, all but the eldest of the seven grandchildren, and six out of eight of the great grandchildren. It was quite a lively group with six children ages five and under. It … Continue reading 96 Years: A Life Well Lived
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Shifting Sands at Chicamacomico
It was a sunny Saturday morning of my Outer Banks Solo Journey and time to drive south on Hwy 12 from Nags Head to Hatteras, where I'd take the ferry to Ocracoke Island. As a North Carolina native, I'd never driven down the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. That two lane road is bordered on the … Continue reading Shifting Sands at Chicamacomico
Dolphin Morning: Animals in Our Path
This first full day of my Outer Banks journey, I headed to the Manteo waterfront for an 8:30 a.m. Dolphin Cruise with Captain Johnny. My sister, Peggy gave it to me for my birthday back in March. She turned sixty the same month and likes gifts that offer the recipient a memorable experience; get out … Continue reading Dolphin Morning: Animals in Our Path
First Year of Discovery
Today we celebrated my grandson, Baker's first birthday. In a house decorated with colorful balloons and fiesta themed tablecloth the day before Cinco de Mayo, we gathered cousins and other family members around our little one year old. Seeing his cousins 'helping' Baker open his gifts since they are older, reminded me of how the … Continue reading First Year of Discovery
People in Our Path: Visits with Pauline
For almost seven years, I've traveled to my hometown twice a week to check on my mother at Parkview. When Mama first went there to live, I'd see so many of my high school classmates, all visiting their mothers, that I thought we could almost have a high school reunion in that retirement village. Most … Continue reading People in Our Path: Visits with Pauline
Easter Past, Easter Present
As a girl, Easter was my favorite holiday. Unlike Christmas, when the celebration was followed by the long, gray winter, Easter was filled with the sunny promise of new life. The spring and summer days ahead would bring the crops to harvest in the fields by our house, the farm coming to life after the … Continue reading Easter Past, Easter Present
Preparing to Launch
A week from today I'll be at my Book Launch Reading and Reception to be held in the fellowship building of my home church-- Shallow Well United Church of Christ. It seemed right to go there to do the first event since that church community has been an integral part of my life. I wanted … Continue reading Preparing to Launch
Happy Birthday to Me!
Yesterday was my birthday. I spent the day with my ten-month-old grandson, Baker. We alternated between playing with his stuffed 'my first basketball' while watching the March Madness games and him practicing walking. He gave me my first "Happy Birthday Grandma" card and reminded me why I need to stay healthy. Being with him was … Continue reading Happy Birthday to Me!
Sunday Suppers
It was almost 9:30 on Friday night when the Amtrak train finally pulled into Penn Station in New York City. The eleven- hour ride from Durham was my first solo journey by rail. Our younger son, Ross, was twenty-eight and had lived in Manhattan for five years. I would spend the weekend with him before … Continue reading Sunday Suppers
Connie Rosser Riddle 