by MarianBeaman | Sep 10, 2014 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations
So now it matters almost not at all to any of them except as a storybook matters; loved in childhood but outgrown in adolescence, it still matters, still instructs, still is part of what the adult becomes. Phyllis Tickle, The Graces We Remember: Songs in Ordinary Time...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 6, 2014 | book review, Coming of Age, Literature, Quotations, Reflection, Uncategorized
Kathy and I are not old friends. In fact, our friendship is rather recent as we have explored each other’s blog posts early this year, discovering that we both were developing our writing skills after long, satisfying careers, hers in medicine and mine in education....
by MarianBeaman | Aug 20, 2014 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Travel, Uncategorized
Daddy was an avid hunter (pheasants and deer mostly) and an eager fisherman. The outdoors took him away from the stresses of his business, Longenecker Farm Supply, and helped him literally recharge his batteries. I never went hunting with him, but he invited me once...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 26, 2014 | book review, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized
A grande dame of British theatre, Judi Dench, spoke with Anderson Cooper just before the release of the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in 2012 making crystal clear she has no plans to rest on her laurels and retire. In another interview she remarks about...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 23, 2014 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized
My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it. – Boris Johnson * * * July is the birthday month for four our immediate family. If you count our extended family, there are three or four more birthdays this month. This month I celebrate the...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 12, 2014 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Reflection, Uncategorized
We have to try it again. Here’s another shirt,” Jane said as she plucked one of Dad’s blue work shirts out of a plastic bag full of shirts—clean, sprinkled and rolled—all ready to iron. “Start with the yoke,” she directed. I grabbed the damp shirt out of her hand...