A Month Ago I Wrote:

I am in North Carolina tonight packing the belongings I can take to Roswell where I will live. Much will be left behind. Only the most special things and many of my books and notebooks filled with handwritten and typed stories and interviews with many, many interesting people. 

So much I have to leave behind and so many memories lay heavy on my mind. But with my sister's help, I will get this done.

I am in my second week of teaching a memoir class on Zoom. My students are delightful and fascinating people. These three-week courses are broken up into three topics and the subject of the next class is theme. While we want to write about our lives, we must carefully decide what parts of our lives to include and which ones follow the theme we have chosen for our book.

We can write more than one memoir. I have one book in progress about my family overcoming poverty on the farm and hard times to become successful business owners. Another manuscript has another theme. As I write my stories about my life, they fall into different subjects for a book. 

But until I get my house ready to list with a realtor, I can't seem to concentrate on writing.

I was really happy to drive my car for two and a half hours with no problems. For two or more months I could not drive due to shoulder surgery so this recovery is going well, I think.

Be happy, be kind and smile! It makes a difference. Till next time. Glenda

Time Marches on

 It was Memorial Day 1995 when we moved into our house in the mountains of western North Carolina. Barry and I were excited, but I was also sad to leave our home we had built on the land deeded to me by my father and mother. We had carved a beautiful setting out of the woods. A large oak tree, like the one I had played under when I was a child, shaded the front of our redwood, modern house with glass enclosing the living and dining area. It was talked about by all our family and friends. One sister-in-law said she would like to have my house with her furniture in it. She had excellent taste and the money to buy good furniture so I imagine she would have made it into a show place. 

We lived in that house for 25 years and made many memories. When we left it, the carpets still looked great and we had remodeled the kitchen which I loved. We changed the orange and green colors of the seventies to more neutral colors and the house was perfect. We had a built-in garbage compactor and a garbage disposal. Our large bedroom had a wall of windows with a view of woods as far as one could see. I awoke to birds singing in the trees. 

My mother died in 1985 and my father followed her in 1988. For over ten years I was a caregiver for my beloved Mother and when she died, I felt I had failed her. I wasn't with her when she walked back to the house from Daddy's garden. Barbara, the housekeeper, had gone out to pick a watermelon because our aunt Judy was coming for a visit and she loved watermelon. Mother walked every day no matter how hot the weather. She collapsed as she reached the steps to the back door. She died instantly. 

An era of my life ended that day. I realized I was finally and definitely grown up.

Now living with family here in Roswell, I am the most fortunate person. 

For the past week, my niece has been seeing to my needs. I was to go to their house on Memorial Day, but was ill for two days. She and her caring husband brought dinner to me. My sister was out of town for a week, but Lee was very helpful and responsible for me. I am doing well. 

As we age and our health begins to fail, our thoughts turn to who has been the most precious in our lives. So many people have influenced me and helped me through the passages of time. I wish I could see each one and tell them how much I love and appreciate them. 

From childhood, I was loved and cherished by my mother, sisters, and some of my brothers.  I had teachers who made me feel special. When my brothers and older sister married, more people came into my life who were special and supportive of me. Stan, my sister June's husband, was like a second father to me writing letters and encouraging me to stay in school at GSCW. 

My little sister has said she admired me and tried to emulate me when we were kids. I did not know that. I was proud of her and her accomplishments in high school. I felt that she and I could do anything as long as we were together. And we usually did.

Now as the autumn of my life approaches, I must find new and different means of living and purpose to my days. I deal with health issues I never had before and they play a huge part in my activities each day. As I begin to drive again, I see possibilities of meeting new people and making friends here in the city that will be my final home. Acceptance is the answer. I know that, but some part of me still fights the inevitable. 

I met an interesting woman, my age, at physical therapy, and we are very similar. She began her own business when she was sixty. I began my own business at the age of seventy. We talk often and find many common interests. She is from New York but moved down here years ago. Like me, her husband has died.

I am grateful that I am a people person and enjoy meeting strangers and learning about their lives. I guess this is why I love teaching older people who write about their family history. I have room in my class that starts this month. Hope we have a good group and have fun like we usually do.

Dear Readers, have a good summer. Be safe and stay healthy.

City Lights Books in Sylva

BOOK LOVERS AND WRITERS

See what is happening at City Lights Books in Sylva, NC 

UPCOMING EVENTS

5/18  Poetry Reading with Jane Hicks & Thomas Alan Holmes

Poets Jane Hicks & Thomas Alan Holmes will visit City Lights...

5/22  Brent Martin: A Hiker's Guide to the Bartram Trail

Local author Brent Martin visits City Lights on May 22nd at 6:00pm...

5/23  Terah Shelton Harris: Long After We Are Gone

Terah Shelton Harris visits City Lights Bookstore on May 23rd...

5/31  Benjamin Cutler Book Launch: Wild Silence

Benjamin Cutler is launching his new book of poetry, WILD SILENCE,...

6/6  Zelda Lockhart: In Conversation with Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

Zelda Lockhart visits City Lights Bookstore on June 6th at 7:00pm...

6/8  Jim Costa: Darwin and the Art of Botany

Local author Jim Costa visits City Lights Bookstore on Saturday,...

6/15  David Yamane: Gun Curious

David Yamane visits City Lights Bookstore on June 15th at 3:00pm...

Interview with a YouTube Success Hostess

Tonight I am reposting an interview I did with Tipper Pressley a few years ago. Tipper and I have been friends for many years. She helped me back in 2007 when I created my first Blog, Netwest Writers. 

Read the interview, and read the comments from her fans. She has touched many lives with first, her blog, Blind Pig and the Acorn, and now with her entertaining and enlightening YouTube videos. Celebrating Appalachia. She has inspired me to plant potatoes in my deck garden. 

Tipper has had some tough times lately first with her mother-in-law passing away and now her own mother, Granny, has been very sick and in the hospital for a long time. She also has become a grandmother since we did this interview.

Read it and leave your comment.

https://glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-with-tipper-pressley-writer.html?showComment=1672784930131#c3456187743151173674

Recovery and Anxious to Teach Again

Young Glenda who thought she was too thin.

I look forward to teaching more memoir classes in June. The classes will be on Zoom and I will continue with six or more students in two and one half hour sessions. 

In my last classes, I was delighted with my students and how they shared their life stories. They have said they will sign up again. Many of their narratives are publishable in the right venue.

By the second week in June, I will have my house on the market with a good realtor. I know someone will want my home which is privately set on a lot with no neighbors around it but the turkeys, the deer, and lots of birds. I see Pileated Woodpeckers from my living room. A small owl perched all day on my downstairs deck and hummingbirds flock to my feeders. In an old birdhouse in front, a pair of bluebirds hatch their young every spring. Wrens and other small birds like my deck garden where they build nests and teach their fledglings how to fly. 

1995 when we moved to our home
in the mountains

Everyone says my house will sell and sell quickly. I tear up at the thought of leaving a place where I spent some of the happiest times of my life with my husband of 45 years. But I am resetting my sails to deal with the winds of aging and health issues. Some things we have no control over, however, I constantly work at being able to write, teach, and to see loved ones. My sister, Gay, and I find things to laugh about every day and many of those things involve our misspoken names, words, or foolish things we do. We laugh at ourselves. I believe laughter is healing and love is, also. 

I will hold writing classes on Tuesdays,  6 - 8:30 PM, June 4,11,18.

See the Writing Classes for 2024 page for more information about the classes.

Going back to NC

Readers, if you are still with me after such a long absence, I appreciate you very much.

I look forward to going back to NC next week.

Scott Owens, the fabulous poet from Hickory, NC will come to our area on Thursday, April 18 to speak and read some of his outstanding poetry. He is always interesting to listen to and he will have some of his books for sale at the John C. Campbell Folk School in the Keith House where we will meet at 7:00 PM.

I will also speak and read prose that evening. As many of you know, I write poetry and prose, but at this meeting, Scott will share his poetry and I will share a short story or a nonfiction narrative from the many I have written over the years.

All of us who know Scott and his work will be happy to have him stay over to teach a workshop on Friday afternoon 1:30 – 4:00 at the Moss Library in Hayesville. You can read more about this event at www.netwestwriters.blogspot.com

Although we need fees to pay Scott for coming so far, we cannot ask for them because the library’s rules say we can only ask for donations and must be open to the public. But we ask for donations of at least $40 and registration sent to Sandy Benson 310 Quail Cove Cir.  Warne NC 28909

If someone wants to attend and cannot make a donation, we will welcome them. It is helpful to know who and how many will be attending so we hope to hear from you if you plan to be there.

Contact me at gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Meanwhile, I am happy to finally take off the sling I have worn for six weeks because of my surgery. I am still doing physical therapy three times a week and can’t use my left arm much, but was told I have healed very well and will have good range of motion if I stay with PT. Thanks to those who sent me good wishes and said prayers for me. I am very fortunate to be here with my sister and brother-in-law who are so good to me. Without their love and care, I don’t know how I would have managed.

If you live within driving range, I hope to see you on April 18, at the folk school with Scott Owens. And if you write or want to learn to write poetry, be sure to register for the workshop on Friday, April 19 at the Moss Library in Hayesville, NC.

Until next time, stay well and be generous. Even giving a smile away to others is a gift much appreciated.

Brandy, My Miracle Dog

                                                

            

WHAT'S NEXT, MOM?

        Brandy, my miniature black poodle, rode with his front paws firmly planted on the top of the Honda motorcycle, his little rear end on the seat between my legs as I sped down the farm road. His long ears waved behind him in the wind like two black flags. Together we leaned into the curves and he never once lost his balance.

            My husband Barry gave Brandy to me as a wedding present one week after we married. I should have been aware that the puppy would own me before too long. He was a tiny curly ball of fur, jet black and shiny. Only six weeks old. His face with a pink tongue peeping from his smiling mouth and his two inquisitive eyes should have been a hint that he would lead us on a merry chase as we came to adore him.

            I loved his new puppy smell as I buried my face in his coat.  He licked my face and I knew we were meant for each other. That first night we made him a bed in a box in the kitchen complete with a soft blanket, a ticking clock, and old socks. We went to bed feeling like proud parents. It turned out to be a long night, and in the morning, the puppy was sleeping on my pillow.

            For the first three months of Brandy's life, he and I were inseparable. He ran free in our small furnished apartment and behaved himself surprisingly well most of the time.

            In September I went back to work teaching fourth grade. We left him alone for the first time, confined to the dining room just in case he grew bored or had an accident being left inside for such a long time. Although he cried when I closed the door on my way out, I felt certain he would settle down once he saw I was not coming back.

            To my dismay, Brandy met me at the back door that afternoon. I looked down and saw this tiny dog standing in an explosion of foam rubber strewn from the back door to the living room and all over the kitchen. After a brief survey, it was obvious. Brandy had jumped up on a chair and from there to the dining room table.  From the table, he leaped through the spindles of a wall divider into the living room. That was where he proceeded to destroy three sofa cushions and then to chew each of the legs of the coffee table.     

That escapade was expensive, and we knew we had to do something right away. We replaced the ruined furniture and made a decision that became a turning point in our lives. We moved to the farm where I had grown up and where my parents still lived.

On the farm, Brandy ran free when we were home. He chased cows, and made friends with my horse, although he was somewhat jealous of her. He nipped her on the nose. He was content to be fenced when we were gone.

One Sunday afternoon, Barry climbed up on the roof to repair a television antenna. In a rush to watch a football game, he left the ladder leaning against the house and forgot about it.

Early the next morning, we left for work in different cars. I arrived home around four o'clock in the afternoon. As I drove up I couldn't believe my eyes. Brandy came running, as he always did when he saw me, but this time he was running up on the roof. I clambered out of the car knowing, in his eagerness to reach me, he was going to jump.

My heart pounded. I ran toward him. But Brandy, far more intelligent than I realized at the time, scampered over to the ladder, scurried down, head first, never missing a step until he was three feet from the ground. At that point, he jumped. I heaved a sigh of relief, gathered him up in my arms, and hugged him. I looked up and wondered why he decided to climb the ladder? How long had he been up there? Over the years of living with him, I became aware that Brandy was an unusual dog. We had more to come.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW

As I recover from shoulder surgery, I have had to cancel my ZOOM writing classes. We had six students who were writing and bonding and I look forward to continuing later this year, maybe in April or May.

Meanwhile, I look forward to meeting with writers and poets who knew Raven Chiong, when I return to Hayesville in March.  

In April I plan to read at the Literary Hour at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.

Our special guest that evening is Scott Owens, a wonderful poet, from Hickory, NC.

The date is April 18, Thursday, 7:00 PM in the Keith House.  

Friday, April 19, Scott will hold a workshop for poets at Moss Memorial Library, Hayesville, NC.

donations requested.