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- Hutchins’s Law
You can’t outtalk someone who knows what he’s talking about.
- The Ultimate Principle
By definition, when you are investigating the unknown, you do not know what you will find.
- Mothers
This is pretty much a repeat from Mother’s Day last year with a few additions and modifications, but no less heartfelt:
Maureen’s rose bush Maureen wanted a quiet Mother’s Day. We will likely go The Rose Wine Bar for an early dinner. It has been the site of many celebrations of ours.
Again, i am thinking of going outside to one of her rose bushes and getting two of her white roses, one for each of us to wear. It was a lovely tradition at the First Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee when i was growing up, as well as elsewhere i’m sure. On Mother’s Day back then, everyone wore a rose to honor their mother, a red one for mothers who were still alive and a white one for mother’s who had crossed that rainbow bridge. It is a tradition i wish we still observed.
A rose for Mother’s Day Thinking about it, in addition to my own Mother (capitalized because we always called her “Mother,” not “Mom”), i have had a number of mothers in my life. i wish to honor them by shutting up and posting some photos:
Mama Jewell: i was six years old when she passed away, but i can still remember her love. When in the first grade, i got in a fight with another first grader on my front lawn. Mama Jewell lived across the street and and saw the fight from her front window. She called my other grandmother who was keeping me while Mother was at work. She made sure Granny knew the other boy started the fight (i won).
Granny Prichard. She had five children, 13 grandchildren, and was the “house mother” for an untold number of boarding cadets at Castle Heights Junior School. She loved them all and cared for them all. She was the attending nurse that helped Dr. Charles Lowe deliver me. And there was a special bond between her and this great granddaughter. i think the thing that amazed me the most, among a thousand amazements she provided me, was in her mid-80’s at 4 foot-eight and 90 pounds shooting basketball with me at the goal daddy had added to the swing set he had built…i guess that is where my mother got her talent .
Aunt Bettye Kate with my cousins Butch and Tim My Aunt Bettye Kate Hall. She never had children but she was a second mother to every child in our family. She is with her nephews, Bill and Tim Prichard, in Florida. She and her husband Snooks were a constant throughout my growing up. She would undertake any adventure. She loved to frog hunting with her husband, but she kept in touch with me, sending tons of letters that helped on many deployments.
And she was that way with all of her nieces, nephews, and children of her friends.
Blythe Jewell Gander. My daughter who is the best possible mother in the world for my grandson Sam. She (and Jason) have been great at parenting this young man who will be attending the Savannah College for Art and Design this fall. We will be going back to Austin in a couple of weeks to attend his high school graduation. To watch her be a mother while carving out a successful career at Dell Computers continues to have be bursting with pride
Kathie Lynch Jewell. The mother of Blythe whose love for Blythe, our grandson Sam, and son-in-law Jason was wonderful to see. There has never been a mother and grandmother who loved her daughter and grandson as much as Kathie did. She was a force of motherhood while nobly suffering through many medical problems before succumbing way, way too soon at 65. i made many decisions based on the knowledge she loved her daughter. Those decisions were right because of her love for Blythe and Sam. We all miss her. She was the force of motherhood.
Maureen Boggs Jewell. She has been unbelievable in her unconditional love for Blythe, Sarah, Jason, and Sam. i take joy in watching her being a mother to all of them. And as i grow older than dirt, she, in many ways has become a mother to me. She takes care of me and ensures all is right. When she talks to Sarah or Blythe, a light comes on that is unmistakably motherhood at its brightest. Same thing with Sam, Jason, and Aaron. And her love is unconditional.
Lord, i am a lucky man.
Estelle Jewell. She was an incredible woman even if it’s her eldest son describing her as such. i don’t think i’ve ever known a woman who worked as hard as she did. She was strict, demanding, and always loving. She was also one of my best friends. And there are not many people in this world who have a smile like that. As with all of those mentioned before, her motherhood went far beyond her own children and grandchildren. i included her husband here as the she and Jimmy Jewell were inseparable.
You know those white and red roses mean a lot today. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. You out there deserve so much because you have given so much to us.
- Oliver’s Law of Location
No matter where you go, there you are.
- The Mockingbird and Irises
Once upon a time in a land called Tennessee, a young man left to explore the world and the sea.
His name was Lucius Peabody.
Lucius left before everybody knew everything about everything, and claimed their version was the right one, long before the gifts of television and mass and instant communication made us think we knew everything about everywhere. So, he was essentially wandering into the unknown.
Lucius went to sea and saw damn near most of the world. He learned a lot and quickly forgot it except that the most wonderful place to live was in the Southwest corner of North America.
Behore he settled there on one of his stops, he met a beautiful woman, Abigail Kilarney, who captivated him, and they devoted their lives to each other.
Lucius often traveled to his home of origin in hills of Tennessee. He vowed when he crossed that rainbow bridge, he would ask for his ashes to be buried beside his parents graves. Abigail vowed her remains would be next to Lucius.
As he grew older, Lucius traveled less back to those green hills and good folks of the country. He pined for that world of innocence and land of beauty.
An independent cuss of a mocking bird named Elmer somehow sensed Lucius’s yearning for his home. He decided he should give Lucius something to give him a reminder of back home in Tennessee. He collected some seeds of irises, Tennessee’s state flower, and take them to the Tennessean in the Southwest corner.
The flight of 2400 miles was arduous, especially for a bird who is not ordinarily migratory, but Elmer was determined and stubborn, and he was dedicated to his quest. He finally arrived in the Southwest corner and found Lucius’ home. Elmer was in bad shape having gone on such a demanding traverse of the continent. Even though he recognized he was reaching his final moments, he dropped the iris seeds he carried into the side yard of Lucius’ home.
The seeds landed in the middle of day lilies Abigail had planted in the side yard. They prospered and soon dominated the day lily greenery and blossomed.
Lucius woke one morning and began his morning routine by putting away the dishes on the dish rack. He looked outside his kitchen window and saw Tennessee irises in full bloom. He cried with joy.
Elmer heard Lucius shed his tears. He smiled with joy before his last breath. He felt good about completing his mission. It was even more comforting to him knowing no one, not even Lucius, would no it was him. Elmer closed his eyes in peace.
