I was born an’ raised on Hic’ry Knoll ’til I was eight years old. It’uz a hard livin’. I don’t know how Poppy made it. Mommy never see’d a well day in her life. She was born with somethin’ th’ matter with her head—one side’a her head run from th’ time she was born ’til she died. But I can tell y’one thing. In your life, don’t never care a cent in this world t’wait on your mother, whether she’s sick or not sick. When she’s gone, you’ll be glad y’did. Yes you will. ‘Cause I’ve not a got a thing in this world t’regret. I waited on my mother day and night—what I mean day and night. Many a night I been up waitin’ on my mother when ever’ body else was in th’ bed asleep. I rejoice over that. God’ll repay you for all that. God’ll certainly bless y’fer it.
Poppy had a awful hard time, an’ his daddy died a way ‘fore he was born so he had a hard time t’begin with. Well, atter he’s married he had a worse time I’ll say, with all ‘at sickness’n’ever’thing on ‘im. Mommy did love wheat bread an’ he worked for a peck a’corn a day so he could get Mommy bread t’eat. Why, he’uz as good t’Mommy as a baby. Now Ulysses didn’t believe this, an’ I didn’t care whether he did’r not—you know, if I tell anybody anything an’ they believe it, it’s all right; an’ if they don’t believe it, I don’t care whether they do’r not—I never heard Poppy give Mommy a ill word in my life.
—The Foxfire Book
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of The Foxfire Book . Leave a comment on this post to be entered. *Giveaway ends November 8, 2023.
Last night’s video: 9 Brides & Granny Hite 13.
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Love the dialect!
I always take care of my Mom. My mom has worked a labor intensive job all my life. Here in the last few years I have seen her slow down and hardly get around sometimes. I love waiting hand and foot on her – it truly gives me joy. When she sincerely thanks me all I do is smile and tell her that I am thankful I can help her and make things a bit easier on her.
You only get one Mommy & I am SO thankful for her!!
I do believe that excerpt is from the first published interview with Aunt Arie.
I’m the oldest and always looked forward to being able to take care of momma but a car wreck took her before I had that chance. It was a month before her 80th birthday. Daddy came to live with us that day. He had dementia and couldn’t live alone. Even with the dementia he was a kind and gentle soul and always a gentleman. I don’t regret one day he lived with us and would love to have had more than the three years he was with us.
Is this an excerpt from the book? Such good advice & lessons in her memories.
Jenny-It is 🙂
Tipper, I am sure THANKFUL for you, your writings, n music…letting us feel a part of your dear family. I laugh and cry with you and pray for you. YOU ARE APPRECIATED. PLZ KEEP EDUCATING AND ENTERTAINING US. I would enjoy the foxfire book!
There is nothing better then a good ole Foxfire book! I love the stories from them. ❤️
Loved it!
I took care of my mother for 6 years by myself, she always said if it gets to be to much put me in a nursing home..but I couldn’t stand the thought of her being all alone in a room with no family,so she stayed with me till the day she died.
Such a sweet story
My Dad used to have several of the Foxfire books, I can remember reading them years ago. I recently subscribed to the Foxfire magazine and really enjoyed my first issue. I want to visit the Foxfire museum sometime.
Daddy and Mama both were 51 years old when Daddy died of a massive heart attack. Mama never married again and never learned to drive and I was the oldest kid so I took Mama lots of places, to the grocery store, Dr. appointments, therapy appointments, to eat at Red Lobster (her favorite place to eat!), to family reunions, picnics, visiting relatives, church, and all kinds of together times. I tried my best to be a good daughter and caretaker to Mama but like most people, I’ve wished I could have done more. I’m so thankful God gave me the strength and ability to take care of Mama. It was a priviledge for sure. She was a delight! She was always willing to go with me wherever I needed to go and one of my favorite times is when we would be on the way back home and stop and get a cup of coffee and a little dessert and eat it on the way home. It was such a wonderful precious comfort to have Mama sitting in the care beside me as we laughed and talked and had the best of times. It’s amazing to me how the simplest of things can turn into some of the sweetest memories. I’ve missed that special time many many times. It was lonesome without Mama there with me in the car. I loved Mama and Daddy beyond words and I know I am blessed that God chose them to be my parents. Time is precious and the time we spend will never be relived again so we need to make the most of the time we have and do our best to make some memories and show true love all along life’s pathway. Thanks for sharing some of your precious memories with us Tipper.
I love you to the moon and back.
That’s what Mama used to say a lot. Now she loves us from Heaven and back.
I love the story from foxfire, bless that child. Makes me remember helping my mom and dad till the last breath of both. My mom while passing said from her bed, look over there, there is your dad. I looked across the room with nothing there. My dad died about 25 years before mom. My dad suffered for about 3 years before he died with stomach problems. I would bring him ice cream home from work all the time, about the only thing that didn’t hurt him. It is a gruesome story the night he died. I helped him to our old outhouse and helped him sit down. When he finished I helped him up, shinning the light down the hole before helping him back in the house. Looking down that hole, I will never forget, blood was spattered every where. I told my mom and we sat down beside with my younger brother and sister. He waved to my brother the youngest of 10 years old then he died. I will never for get mom and dad, but know I will see them in Heaven. May God bless you and your family. I love the articles and music. Thank you an old guitar player from W.Va
So very thankful to have found your blog and YouTube channel….makes the world a better place!
This is such a sweet story of how a husband worked to please his sick wife.
People need to be more sensitive to others needs like they once were.
Carolyn
I spent almost 3 years taking care of my mom after dad passed away. And then I took care of my aunt and uncle for almost 4 years after that. I totally understand this story.
♥️ Miss Tipper, What a great story today. It truly brought me to tears. Thank you again Tipper for these glimpses of the history and life of your wonderful Appalachian ways. They are earthy and deep in real humanity.
♥️♥️
i moved home to take care of momma when she got sick with cancer…moved right back into that little 3 room house with no indoor plumbing and a wood stove, there was a whole slew of us in that house at the time, mom and dad, me and my brother, and of course several young folks mom had took in off the streets to give them a roof over their heads, we slept in every nook and cranny, couple of us on a fold out couch ( the kind you lifted up and the back laid flat, another on a day bed, one in a recliner, one on a fold out cot and then when my baby was born had in him in the travel bed my momma had used for me and my brother when we were babies..
would love have a copy of The Firefox Book cause my momma loved it…
My Pa fell deathly ill with emphysema just after Christmas and had to be hospitalized. None of us knew (or would admit) how sick he was. We all thought the hospital would fix him up and he’d be back home after a few days. My brother John and I took him to the hospital early on the first Saturday after New Years, 1964. We got him checked in and sat and talked with him all day until about supper time. I got a call about 6:00 o’clock the next morning from John telling me that Pa had passed. I was 21 years 4 months old.
Pa’s passing left my Mama alone; so my wife and I moved in with her. The house was old, ramshackle, and poorly insulated with an oil heater the only heat. It heated one room and the the adjoining kitchen. It was hard living for old folks. Winters were too much for Mama’s arthritis that was slowly crippling her. The next year I bought us a small house. We lived with Mama for about 5 years while I was going to college in the daytime and working at night. With so many siblings and their kids visiting, the stress on our marriage was too much; so we moved into an apartment. Mama lived alone for a couple of years; but became so crippled with arthritis, I had to hire caretaker/companions to stay with her weekdays. Me and my siblings still in town rotated staying on weekends.
One day she had an accident that cut her leg so badly that I had to take her to the hospital for treatment. She couldn’t get in a car; so I called an ambulance. Taking her to the ER and back home on an ambulance cost almost $2,000 in the late ’70s. I went by to check in on her 3 times a day for several years. By 1980 it was becoming too difficult and too expensive to hire companion sitters and her health had declined to where we had to lift her in a sheet to put her in her wheelchair. After another accident and cut on the leg, I was left to decide that she had to be in a nursing home. She cried like a baby when I told her. My 7 living siblings left all decisions about her care to me.
I have always felt that I could have and should have done more for her. I’ve felt guilty, wondering if I had her care in mind or the relief from daily care for me. I feel guilty and ashamed even now.
That is such a sad story for me to read. I’m in the same season of life as you taking care of my 90 year old mother. I feel like I need to deny my own husband and kids to do for her. We are about to sell our house to get a house that will accommodate her.she did tell me not to feel guilty about anything when she dies. I want you to do the same. Deep down I think your mom knows what you did for her and just feels sorry for herself being on such a shape. May the slits bless you and your family.
Not only is this story great, the comments are great also. This is very good therapy for lots of us who just need to share and good therapy for those of us who read something that is a blessing we need at the time.
Foxfire books are so interesting!
enjoyed this as I enjoy everything you post. The only time I ever saw my dad cry was when my mom dies. it was a double dose of heartbreak. prayers for Granny
Many people in the mountains used to live a hard life. The things they had to put up with, and the work they had to do would be hard for us to do today.
Such a sweet story. My husband and I took care of our sweet momma the last three years of her life and I don’t regret it either.
Praying Granny is doing well.
hard times many if us luckily? have avoided.i recall my now 91yo aunt telling me of my dad taking care of her as a child when she had pink eye.something amiss with their well , so he woke her up -several times- in middle of a winter night.bundled her and took her to creek on property to wash her eyes.she also recalls him sweeping dew and frost off the grass and weeds on a mile trail to her bus stop using white dog fennel plumes-to keep her shoes and legs dry. things family did for each other.
We owe our parents something. When we were kids our parents took care of us. My mom got sick, she had a stroke and a heart a tack at the same time. It left her pearlized all down her left side. She couldn’t walk. I took care of her . I stayed with her in the hospital for a month and half and work too. I don’t regret a minute of it. I miss her so much.
I just got a FoxFire book out to reread yesterday!
My only memories of my granddaddy Cantrell are of him in bed. He had what they called then hardening of the arteries. We lived in Tennessee and the rest of that branch lived in South Carolina. They told me that he had lived a hard but productive life before taking to his bed.
Grandma worked in the cotton mill. Her brother, Uncle David, moved in after the war and also worked in the mill. They paid for housekeepers to care for Grandaddy and do the laundry in a big black wash pot over a fire. Aunt Betty, Daddy’s sister, came by to see him every day to feed him a meal. She always talked to Granddaddy as if he were her baby.
Toward the end he thought I was his sister.
We all loved Granddaddy and cared for him tenderly.
What a touching story! I looked after mama until I had no choice but a nursing home. I actually looked after both of my parents and my husband and I looked after his. Both my parents and father-in- law passed in a nursing home but we did all in the world we could for them at home and then we were constantly a known presence in the nursing home, sometimes we were there every day. Neither my husband nor I regret looking after them even doing a lot of things for them in the nursing home. My mama passed 18 years ago, daddy has been gone 26 years, then my father-in-law passed in 2014, 10 months later, my mother-in-law passed. I think she died of a broken heart. We are so thankful that we did our best to care for them, after all, they raised us, that was the least we could do for them. We miss them every day, but we know where they are and that’s a blessing.
Tipper, once again, I enjoyed last night’s reading. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I also meant to comment about Katie and Corie singing, “What a day that will be” It was beautiful and it’s one of my favorites. We had that sang at my father- in- law’s funeral. And tell Corie, she sure has a gift for speaking. Her video was wonderful.
Beautiful story. Honor thy father and mother is straight from God.
I love this story and I love Foxfire books! I have books 1-4 published from the 70s I believe. I got them at an auction!
Daddy was the one i was closer to. Worked with him as long as he was able. I think what i miss most from both of them is asking them questions about this and that. My son took a tape recorder early one morning and went over and interviewed him on the porch. He probably told more about the old days than any other time. I really loved his baby brother too. I guess the best thing you can leave your loved ones is precious memories.
We all could enjoy life more if we didn’t worry so much about what others have that we don’t or what they think of us. Do right because it’s right. It’s never wrong to do right and never right to do wrong. God’s opinion is the only important one.
It is hard to think how hard people had to live. My parents had some really hard times in the 30’s when my older sisters were little. My Mom was a strong woman and she was a wonderful mother.
I so appreciate my parents. Thanks for the story.
As they say, hindsight is 20/20. I miss my momma every day in one form or another. I miss her holding me when I was sick. I miss her just taking time to visit and sit and talk. Now that I’m older, I almost believe that we were sisters separated by a generation.
Much love to you and yours today Tipper.
The story makes me miss my sweet Mommy so much. I think of her every day, several times a day, and keep her picture handy in my purse so I can see her sweet face. God Bless ALL here, especially Granny — my prayers for her to have no troubles <3
Beautiful to remember those days and care for a loving Mother.
What a sweet, heartwarming story! I wouldn’t trade anything for the time I spent taking care of my parents in their final years and being able to observe the love between them after almost 75 years of marriage. Daddy had always tucked Mom in at night, and when we finally had to put her in the nursing home, Daddy & I were sitting in the sun room visiting with her one sunny afternoon, the two of them holding hands, and I asked her how she liked living there. She said, “It’s OK, but I don’t have anybody to tuck me in.” Broke my heart, but it was a beautiful example of the love they still shared after all those years. Precious memories!
What a blessing this child was to his mother. I pray to be that way with family and friends who need me in a time such as this.
I would love to have a Foxfire book and read the stories of these wonderful people and their lives. I love stories of Appalachia. Many thanks to you Tipper for all your hard work. Prayers and hugs for Granny!
I love your blog and channel Tipper. It brings back good memories of my early life and my grandparents. We lived in the foothills and all these sayings and doings are quite familiar to me. I miss those days so much. I hope you and your family are able to continue to share this with everyone. You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day lady! Thank you.
That was precious!
Back about the time the first Foxfire Books were written and published I was working at Lake Rabun, just 12 miles south of Rabun Gap School. I lived at Needmore so passed by their sign twice a day oblivious to what would soon spring forth from that place.
About 3 miles to the southwest of the school Billy Creek and Keener Creek come together to form the Little Tennessee River. Some of me most pleasant memories were imprinted in my mind on and alongside that river. Some 27 miles north of the conjunction of those little streams as the crow flies, a few hundred feet back off the river, on a mountaintop is an erect stone cross with my wife’s and my names on it. Her side has has two dates, mine only one.
You always choose great pictures to accompany your posts. Abundant blessings! With the help of Hospice, my sister cared for her husband of 60 years at home for the last six months of his life. Such devotion and love! She counted it a privilege. I look forward to your posts each day, and never miss your (or the girls’) YouTube videos. You all seem a part of my family and have enriched my life. Thank you!
The Fox Fire concept was an amazing tool to give students an insight to their culture and surroundings. It also made learning enjoyable for problematic students. Wig took an impossible task and turned it into a teaching success. The students were in control of the program and had final say if an article was to be used along with decisions to what news outlets could publish about them. If you will read the introduction of some of these books this info is discussed.
There were a number of books written in addition to the twelve Fox Fire books, which can be found on the Fox Fire bookstore site. Also there is a magazine published twice a year that you can subscribe to.
I had the twelve books along with the other publications and magazines, the movie Fox Fire and some tapes of the singing group. Just last week I gave all of these to my 32 year old grandson who has always been interested in the content of these books. The interviews being done now are things done in my lifetime so I no longer have the enthusiasm of reading the magazine.
As you can tell I am a proponent of Wig and his movement. Don’t enter my name into the drawing.
Ah, the Foxfire Book! My aunt gave me a copy for Christmas one year when I was in high school. I didn’t appreciate it at the time for the treasure trove of information that it is, and now, having read this blog and followed your videos for a couple years now, I wish I still had it. It’s been lost lo these many years; I don’t even remember what happened to it, but really wish I had it now!
Doing the day-to-day slogging, physical and emotional, can sure be hard living as this girl and her Dad had. But her words tell us something later made easy by the earlier hard. She had no regrets. It has taken me a lot of years to learn but the redemption of the hard in life is to be found in love. When the hard turns to resentment and bitterness it only turns harder still. And no, I am not good either at taking hardness without taking on some baggage. But I know a better way anyhow.
I used to have nearly the whole set of Foxfire books back in the ’70s. But they’ve all disappeared through the years. I’d love to have another copy again. Such interesting reading.
Reading that little bit brought a tear to my eyes thinking back to just a few years ago when I was helping my momma when she broke her ankle and then taking care of her when she got real sick and then unfortunately passed. We all need to love on and care for our mommas while we have them cause they are the only mommas we have. I miss my momma everyday.
My momma always told me, “you never regret doing the right thing”
Bittersweet, like so many stories from the mountains ❤️
The Fox Fire story reminds me of a book I read a few years ago. Growing Up Hard In Harlan County made me cry more than once. Those stories are all too familiar to me as I heard similar stories from my parents and grandparents. I don’t want any of my kids or grandkids to have to take care of me. My daughter told me that if the time comes, I will never be taken to a nursing home.
I loved this. My boys are good to take care of me when I am feeling under the weather. You never know with buys. They can be so busy. I am thankful for their soft hearts toward their momma.
Caring for a dear loved one is a joy and privilege. I was able to care for my mother and husband. As I look back, I am thankful to have been able to do so, even though there were lots of difficult times. In sifting through the experience, I realize they gifted me with valuable life lessons and wonderful family stories before they passed on.
I have some of the early Foxfire books and enjoy reading them.
The Foxfire books are a glimpse into the old ways and something we should strive to embrace.
Such a lovely story! I’m wondering what was wrong with her mother? I took care of my grandma the last few months of her life. She blessed me with so much wisdom, love and encouragement. What a sweet grandma she was.
What a touching excerpt from The Foxfire Book. The Bible does say that we are to honour our father and mother – that’s not just a call for when we are young. I believe God does bless those who will look after our elders. Thank you Tipper for sharing this beautiful story from the book.
Fox Fire books! My husband and I used to check them out of our small local library. Someone had donated them and he would devour them cover to cover! What a tremendous amount of knowledge those wonderful books give us!! Tipper, I so hope your mom is feeling well. Being a three time cancer survivor myself, I know how low it can take you. I’m sure she is grateful for all her family does for her. I’ll keep her in my prayers.
I can’t help but wonder what medical condition that mama had. A time gone by where most all folks took care of each other since there certainly wasn’t any nursing homes to send them to. God bless the caregivers.
Beautiful story of love. Our Mother’s took care of us when we were babies. I was grateful I could care for my Mother until she went home to Heaven. I miss her every day! Prayers for all. Take care and God bless ❣️
Sharon, I feel exactly like you, my parents took care of me when I was young and growing up, I payed them back by taking care of them and not sticking them in a nursing home. Both of my parents have now passed on. During the last 15 years of my Daddy’s life he heated his home by wood. He had a heart attack and was no longer able to help cut his wood from his property. Even though I worked a 7 day swing/rotating shift job with 48 hours, not 2 days off between shifts, I kept him a year’s supply of wood cut ahead. He would go with me to the woods and sit on a block of wood in case I got hurt. Many times I would see him crying because he was no longer able to do for himself and I was doing it for him. I would always tell him “ I am paying you back for taking care of me”. Now I have to ask my son or grandsons to do or help me with things I can no longer do, I now know how it feels to have to depend on someone else to do things I use to be able to do.
Would love to read this book.
My mother lost her eyesight the last 20 years of her life. During those years, one of my sisters and I took care of her daily and nightly, did her cooking, shopping, her house and yard work, and during those years is when we truly got to know her. I treasure the conversations about her life, her people, her childhood memories, and her life’s fears as well. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything in the world for it brought us closer than we had ever been. Today she’s been gone nearly 23 years but it seems like only yesterday that I sat with her talking about her life. This post brought back floods of these memories. Many thanks. Praying for Granny.
I wonder sometimes how they got by, but I also I think you get used to whatever situation you’re born into.
It’s ironic, I was looking at the foxfire books yesterday at the library.
Everyone have a good Saturday and pray for our country.
Love the story with phonetically spellings, which reflects the way folks talk. I loved my folks, “ A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!” God bless y’all
“Regret is such a short word, but it stretches on forever.”
Please read “were not available to the caregiver”!
I envy that writer because I do have regrets. I did all that my Mother needed except I could have spent more time just sitting with her, watching Jeopardy each evening or more of the Olympic events she loved like figure skating. I’d be in my room, across the hall, reading or watching tv or watching the birds at the feeder outside my window. Those birds didn’t enjoy my attention but my Mother sure did. Regrets will eat you up on the inside because there’s no getting rid of them. No do-overs.
So much of life was centered around home and family back in the day; from birth to death. I think the mountain tradition of caring for loved ones was jus’ an accepted norm and partly because we didn’t have the options to do otherwise. And usually one family member undertook the task regardless of the change in their own life. And we were and are better off for doing so. It wasn’t easy then • and it isn’t easy now; but, in later life the rewards are immeasurable. I am still in awe of those who stepped up, especially back in the day when modern conveniences (lights, running water, bathrooms, and a dependable car) were available to the caregiver. Some very remarkable folks, indeed!
I cherish the times I spent caring for my dear mother-in-law and father-in-law in their last years.
I have never read the Foxfire books. heard alot about them. Would love to have a copy.
As I get closer to the end of this journey called life, I am firmly convinced ONLY things we did out of pure love will remain. I’ve never heard a saved person say they wish they could get drunk or mean and they miss it, but I as a saved person can testify, I wish I’d have done more good than I have and wish I always lived in fear of the Good Lord-always and never waivered. If you’ve got a good mommy and daddy do love them and be there to help them because that’s what you’ll want to remember. Don’t live with wuddas and cuddas. If your parents weren’t worth a dang, pray for them and cling tight in love and thanksgiving to the ones that raised ya! I’d give a thousand dollars right now to wait on my dear mommy one more time, hug her and hold her precious hands! And the Bible tells us if you have everything going for you but you lack a loving heart, you’ve got NADA…. Believe me love hurts and struggles and endures pain of the heart you think will kill ya. Stand by the one that bring ya and loves ya. Nothing else matters. May granny be healed and your family blessed in every way, Miss Tipper!!! I love y’all now from the rocks of WV. If’n you feel sad, remember all the ones who adore ya and think you hung the moon!!
What a great story of devotion and love.
Love this story! Love your pics at the top of this post!
I grew up poor but I can’t help but feel sorry for the people that grew up the generations before me , but one thing for sure that a lot of people don’t have today, they had God in their hearts and love for their fellow man. God bless you and your family.
I hope I never have to be taken care of by anyone but we never know.
People have a hard time now and I can’t hardly imagine how it was back then.
I remember my dad and mom going to sit up with sick people when I was small. I never knew a grandfather, my dads dad died before my dad was married and my mom’s dad died when I was 9 months old, both died from pneumonia, which is quite treatable now in most cases.
Blessings to all
I really enjoyed the reading last evening. I can’t wait to see how everything works out for Cynthia next Friday. I also watched the beautiful video from the Presley girls channel. Thank you all for the hard work you do to help us think about our many blessings and keep us entertained at the same time.
Good morning Tipper, catching up on the last few days of your blogs. As I read todays it seemed familiar. I believe that is Aunt Airie Carpenter talking to the Foxfire students. I fell in love with the Foxfire books way back in the late 70’s. Aunt Airie was a favorite of mine. Your writings remind me of those books. Precious and valuable ways of life preserved in the stories and explanations of how things were done. Those were tough times, but there was a common thread in all the stories, love of family, community and God. Your stories have that same thread running through them. I have so enjoyed the Flowers family. There’s a family over here in Scaly Mountain I think you’d enjoy meeting and talking with. Let me know if you’d like to meet them. They have some great stories about growing up in this little community. Have a blessed day. Praying for your momma. Hope she’s doing okay with her treatments.
I remember my dad reading the Foxfire series of books when I was a kid. He would buy them usually when we went on trips to Mammoth Cave from the gift store there. I still see them for sale from time to time. They do give a wonderful history of the old days right up to today.
Thankful to read this.The youngster sacrificed his childhood to help be a caregiver for his mother. He is aware of the disbelief of others but is living with no regrets for the care he gave. May we all realize how this coincides with scripture. Honoring our mother and father is a directive.
As a nurse I observed lots of folks that were natural caregivers.
Double dipping.. I have two family members that I look after. I helped with their dad….I look at it as a blessing and feel that I have gained two sisters That I never had. Keep on keepin’ on!
Sorry about the duplicate. Didn’t seem to go the first time……
I used to read Foxfire Books long ago. I really enjoyed the Granny Hite reading this week. Didn’t want you to stop there! Can’t wait for next week’s reading.
I remember the Foxfire books well…I had one at one time that my Aunt Ella Faye Byers gave me..
I used to read Foxfire Books long ago. I enjoyed this weeks Granny Hite reading. I just didn’t want you to stop there! Can hardly wait for next week’s reading!
I felt like I could hear the writer actually speaking to me. It’s true, you have no regrets when you’ve taken care of a loved one. ❤️
it is so hard to.imagine a c hild of 8 being responsible for their mother the pain they must have gone through and yet being grateful for the opportunity to show their love.
I so love your blogs. Glad I found you.
I remember when the Foxfire books came out, but I was young then, and although I enjoyed reading, I was too caught up in the “here and now” to look back.
There were seven of us kids when my dad died. Seven months after that, my mom had twins. She was a very patient woman, and we had the most amazing childhood. She’s been gone 20 yrs now and I’d give anything to sit and have a conversation with her again.
I know many people that have waited on their loved ones, I have not heard any of them say they regretted it. My mother took care of her Daddy for close to 4 years, her brothers and sister were too busy with their more important lives. My wife would use her vacation time to help take care of her mother in order to keep from putting her in a nursing home. I attended a funeral Thursday for a man a little older than me, he was the RA leader at my Baptist church when I was a teenager. Us teenage boys loved him and some of us remained close to him his entire life of 78 years. When he was in his twenties, he slipped and fell at his work hurting his back. He had 6 back operations, open heart surgery, and was a type 1 diabetic from the time he was 12 years. Much of his life was spent in a wheelchair, until he became bedridden the last couple of years. His wife and one son not only worked but took care of home through their 57 years of marriage Did she regret it ? NO. Now that my wife has passed on, I wonder who will take care of me. I know my son and grandchildren will do everything they can. To me something is wrong when these different agencies will take care of a no count bum better than a person that has tried to work all of his life to have a little something. They will take care of him but take everything he worked all of his life for away from his family. Very few of us have insurance for long term care. For many of us in the older generation had nothing like this available when we were younger.
When looking back to the days gone by, in addition to my current Blessing which are too many to number, I was Blessed with the healthy family that I have before me. We tend to not pay attention to what others complain about til it strikes close to home. I always remind people, if you really want to count your Blessings, go observe the people who enter the waiting room of a hospital. I for sure am truly grateful for my and my family’s good health. We as a society are quick to complain and most of us really don’t have a ‘leg to stand on’ so to speak. I will continue to pray for Granny and you guys. And remember, folks, smile God loves ya. Have a Blessed day and weekend. BTW, we really enjoyed yesterday’s reading and am anxious for next Friday’s read to see what will happen with her new life.
I am trying to figure out the illness that the mother suffered with. Was it chronic sinusitis or allergies? So many people suffered from ailments in the past that are so easily remedied today.
Me, too, Paula. I was wondering if it could have been her ear.
Bittersweet remembrance for a young person. I think we all have those thoughts, it’s our life…but I hope better ones are there too!
Beautiful Story!
Such a heart-warming story. I hope that Granny is doing well with her treatments. I love your blog and all that you share about you and your family.