Month: May 2004

Many people call me names. I am Brenda, wife, mother, Amma, friend, speaker, writer, and many more. Each name says a little something about me. For instance, the coffee store clerks, who have been preparing my weekly treat for a … Read more

Years ago in Nursing Assistant training, we were given an exercise to help us gain insight into the difficulties with which some of our patients would have to live every day. We were each given a bag of things that … Read more

Although I like meeting my bank teller face to face, when I'm in a hurry, I like the convenience of the modern bank machine. Recently, after I had finished my business at one of these machines, I stepped aside to … Read more

A writing course I once took required me to write three pages of Morning Notes to get my thoughts moving. We were to write about any subject that came to mind. The first page was a usually-dry diary-type note, but … Read more

There is nothing like a dose of heartburn to make us realize our age! In self-defence, I have given up coffee, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, carbonated beverages, garlic, onions, peppermint, and spearmint. I have had to choose between short-lived … Read more

When I was very young, perhaps pre-school age, I remember my father sitting in our humble living room in a straight-backed chair and singing. When Dad sang, he sang with all his might. He especially loved the songs of the … Read more

For a short time, some years ago, I served as a hospice volunteer. Some of my most treasured keepsakes, not counting the wonderful memories, came from these people who were my patients. One lady crocheted to pass the time during … Read more

Several years ago, I ran into an acquaintance in the middle of what is usually a busy mall. We'd not seen each other in awhile, and we started in talking right away, as there were a few things we wanted … Read more

For several weeks last spring, my way of life was turned upside down. We were getting ready to move to a smaller home, and, before that could happen, we needed to sort through nearly thirty years of keepsakes and memories, … Read more

In downtown Thomasville, Georgia, there is a giant live oak tree, an American species of evergreen oak. It is 323 years old and 68 feet tall, and has a trunk circumference of 24 feet. Its limb spread is 162 feet, … Read more