Kathie Marshall
Do you have an appreciation of language and like to dabble with the written word? Perhaps you may be interested in writing stories of your life and capturing memories for your children and grandchildren to read. Do you have interesting travel tales to tell or a budding novel or memoir you’d like to develop? The Ranch Writers may just be the club for you. Explore your creativity at our monthly meetings held the second Tuesday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. in the La Vista Room of the La Hacienda Club. Members are encouraged to read their stories aloud to the group each month. If you feel unsure of a topic to write about and need inspiration, then the group is given a prompt word that can be used to stir your creative juices. In addition to the readings, the group will conduct research on various writing topics, and fun activities to help improve your writing. For more information about joining the group, contact Chuck Coxe at [email protected].
Here is a writing sample inspired by the prompt “Mother’s Day.”
MOM
By Keith Vincent
Every year for most of my life, I honored my mom for Mother’s Day.
For 61 years she was the unwavering witness to my life. She got to see my triumphs and my failures. She lent her strength (and she had a bunch of that) to convince me that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. She pointed out that if you want a helping hand, just look at the end of your arm.
She endured quite a lot. She married an abusive man who gave her one gift that she cherished. Me. He was out of her life months after the wedding.
We lived with each other in very sparse circumstances, and I didn’t know that anything was missing. She somehow managed to provide for the two of us when a single mother was assumed to be something beneath socially correct. I was born with a medical issue and she managed to get the help that I needed to grow up without any physical challenges.
She married a second time. All I’ll admit about that is that it was another mistake. By the time she was ready to correct that error, I was already athletic and strong enough to let that man know that there would be some severe consequences should he continue his behavior. I thought I was a big deal. Looking back, I can see that Mom took care of it all very well.
She married a third time. Persistent or insane? It worked that time. That man who became part of my life when I was a young adult, became more of a father to me than either of the other two.
“You can do anything you put your mind to” she repeated like a mantra to instill it in our emotional core. She developed quite the artistic talent. She and Tom (her newest hubby) grew emotionally and financially. They visited Europe, sailed the Caribbean, and built a wonderful life.
Then she fell in the kitchen. She broke a lot of bones and for a while, she didn’t look like she would survive. She put her mind to it. She survived even when complications and age ganged up on her to challenge her each day.
After she passed, I saw her three times. Each time had a message. She showed me a scene that explained why she stopped “putting her mind to it.” That rid me of my anger that she had given up. She showed me that only half our souls are with us. The other half is tied to all the other souls. Both halves are connected, which is why we sometimes know things that we have no business knowing. The last visit was to inform me that “love creates a soul.” I’ve pondered that often. The idea has changed my relationship with animals. People are still very difficult.
She made me in many ways.
I miss her every day.