Hillbilly Aunt's recent excellent post about her conception made me jealous.  My parents were exceedingly square and would never have shared with me the circumstances of my conception.  In fact, I strongly suspect that, in contrast to Hillbilly Aunt, I was conceived in complete silence.&nbs… Read full post »

The two photos shown below illustrate perfectly what the problem was between me and Mama.  The only thing we had in common was near-sightedness.

Mama, age 12

When Mama was twelve she was the very picture of a blossoming Southern belle.  It was 1947 and the… Read full post »

The whole story of how I ended up here in Chandler, Arizona, alone and crying over the death of my mother just seems too long to tell in my current condition.  I feel so tired.  I was okay for a few weeks but I'm not so okay anymore.  I just want… Read full post »

I want to post today.  I want to tell you my mother's entire life story.  I want to tell you all about the service we had for her yesterday.  But the dull ache has set in and I am forcing my hands on the keys.  Daddy and I have fallen into… Read full post »

I've had the opportunity over the last few days to renew my love for my brother Clay.  That's him on Mama's lap. (Yes, there's The Demon Seed on Daddy's lap.)  Look at him!  How hard could it be to love a boy that happy?

The year that Clay's first child… Read full post »

I don't have anything cute or funny to say about this picture.  This is Mama and her mother, Ladye.  My best guess would place it in Birmingham, Alabama, around 1938.  The world had been in a depression for nearly a decade and was about to go to war.  Luther had a… Read full post »

Daddy Ben got three granddaughters in 1935, although Mama was the only one he got to name.  Mary Black Chapman (right) came first. Mama (center) came second.  Barbara Jean Morris (left) came third.  Mary Black was always called Sissy and Mama always insist… Read full post »

Mama was born June 27th, 1935, in Pulaski, Tennessee, to Luther and Ladye.  She was named Sarahann by her grandfather, Ben Chapman, who took advantage of Ladye's post-partum stupor and Luther's delayed arrival to fill out the birth certificate himself. 

No one ever called Luther Luther.&nb… Read full post »

There have been some rough moments over the last day.  I expected returning to Mama and Daddy's house without Mama to be hard and it was.  But it was also a comfort.  And I expected that pouring through her  belongings would be hard.  But we instinctively, and with an almost… Read full post »

Mama died today and I found out why she had lived through the night.  Early this morning she opened her eyes wide and summoned all her "little ducklings."  We shared an hour or so of raucous laughter.  The running joke (initiated by her) all morning was that everyone would get some… Read full post »

My mother is dying and I am constipated.  A few minutes ago,  I sat on a hospital toilet begging God to take my mother and please let me shit.  These two things would be simple kindnesses from Him. At the very least if He is going to keep her alive any… Read full post »