On Monday we'll celebrate Labor Day in the United States. It was made an official holiday in 1894 to honor workers. It was during the Industrial Revolution when workers faced long, unsafe hours (per Wikipedia). The length of the day and standards have greatly changed since that time. I was a child growing up on … Continue reading Labor Day: From Farms to Freelance
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Doing Things the Hard Way
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
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”
Shopping Prayers: Jewel-Toned Answers
I once heard that God is concerned about the smallest details of our lives; whatever concerns us is of importance to Him. It's not that the thing has significance on a wide-scale but that it ties up our focus, our energy, and may preoccupy our mind with worry. In the early nineties, when I was … Continue reading Shopping Prayers: Jewel-Toned Answers
Embracing New Skills: Lessons from a Single Woman
Today I was reminded of my progress as a single woman learning to take care of my house. When I went through divorce back in 2020, I moved from the house we'd owned to an apartment. That was a good transition place since I didn't have to maintain the property or continue with the yard … Continue reading Embracing New Skills: Lessons from a Single Woman
Remembering Betty: A Life of Love and Legacy
Last Sunday evening, I lost a person who's been very important in my life, Betty. She was my Rosser cousin who was sixteen years older than me and from my earliest memories she's always been there. She had a brief illness and then died with her family surrounding her. While she was 86 years old, … Continue reading Remembering Betty: A Life of Love and Legacy
The Journey of Life: Celebrating Another Year
Sunday is March 22nd and my 71st Birthday. It's hard to believe I've reached this point in life. How could the past year have gone by so quickly? How could I be the same age as my mother was when I watched her be a grandmother? It seemed so far away when I was in … Continue reading The Journey of Life: Celebrating Another Year
Livin’ the Dream: Phases
This week I enjoyed a late morning walk on the paved path around Hunter Street Park. The weather was perfect and the leaves were hinting at fall with branches displaying some orange-gold color. The nice thing about retirement is that I don't have to walk in the early morning darkness like I did all those … Continue reading Livin’ the Dream: Phases
Remembering The Rawleigh Lady
Recently my son asked me about a tin of salve that his Grandmother Rosser once used. He remembered the distinct blue colors and lettering and had noticed the same kind of container on a display in an antique mall. "Yes, that was the miracle drug Medicated Ointment that she'd once sold as a Rawleigh products … Continue reading Remembering The Rawleigh Lady
Connie Rosser Riddle 