by MarianBeaman | Sep 11, 2024 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Waiting in the sitting room for my dad’s truck to arrive for me, I was a spectator, looking through the mahogany-trimmed doorway into the kitchen. Women with prayer caps, Grandma Longenecker and Aunt Ruthie, were sitting at the gray, Formica-topped table facing...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 28, 2024 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, meditation, Neighborhood / Environment, Quotations, Tips
Like a blushing bride, impeccable from head to toe and listening for the first strains of the Wedding March, works of art require just that: Work and time to re-work. Years ago, as a professor teaching English literature, I introduced students to examples of exquisite...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 22, 2024 | blog, book review, Family / Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Reflection, Travel, Uncategorized
I am pleased to be part of author Liz Gauffreau’s blog tour, Day 10. To date, I’ve read Distant Flickers to which Liz contributed a short story and reviewed two of her books, Grief Songs and now Simple Pleasures. Liz shows up regularly to comment on my blog posts....
by MarianBeaman | Aug 14, 2024 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Coming of Age, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, popular culture, Quotations, Uncategorized
The Earl It’s a fact! On August 6, 1762, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich asked for a meal between two slices of bread and thus, the sandwich was born. Legend has it that the Earl was a gambler so addicted to card-playing, he didn’t want to leave his card game to eat—thus...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 31, 2024 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized
A Heinz 57 bottle, a 1957 Chevy BelAir, and a Jewish fable provide multiple metaphors for marriage. The first two proclaim the magic number 57, the number of years we have been married. August 5, 1967–August 5, 2024 which equates to our anniversary milestone this...
