by MarianBeaman | Jan 25, 2014 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
Delight in Disorder A sweet disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness. A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction; An erring lace, which here and there Enthralls the crimson stomacher; A cuff neglectful, and...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 18, 2014 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Reflection, Uncategorized
This week we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, a tribute to the man with a vision for racial equality in the twentieth century and beyond. Just so, this post pays tribute to his dream and his legacy through a Mennonite lens. “Jesus Loves the Little Children, All...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 8, 2014 | Coming of Age, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Books, books, books! I had found the secret of a garret-room Piled high with cases in my father’s name, Piled high, packed large,—where, creeping in and out Among the giant fossils of my past, Like some small nimble mouse between the ribs Of a mastodon, I...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 20, 2013 | Coming of Age, Education, Gratitude, Memory, Uncategorized
Last Wednesday, into my inbox popped a message which included an invitation to lunch from Karen Bruner Upright, my former student at Florida State College. The last time I saw her, she was a “surprise” visitor at Christmas, marching up the walkway to our...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 16, 2013 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
My mother and I are waiting in Doctor Garber’s examining room, which always has a sharp smell of rubbing alcohol. She’s the patient, and I’m with her sitting on a chair eyeing the metal tray holding at least a dozen tiny vials, so cute they look like they could fit in...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 6, 2013 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
Facebook asks boldly, “Do you want to post this on your wall?” meaning do you want this information available to your Facebook friends? Obviously, walls in the 1950s were not electronic. The only walls we knew then were made of plaster. But more on that...