I don’t often share personal stories with you all, but I have one I'd like to…

This coming Tuesday, July 22, would’ve been my beautiful maternal grandmother’s 100th birthday. Affectionately known to me as Mamaw, Willie Jean Pearman (she would be so mad I put the Willie out there as she went by Jean and would only include the W. initial when and if she had to) hailed from Pineville, KY. Not long after graduating from high school, she relocated to Kettering/Dayton in search of better employment opportunities. It paid off. She worked downtown at NCR for many years for a wonderful boss who greatly valued her clerical talents. She had a small group of co-worker friends. I remember one was named Cookie & I thought that was so cool. Anyone else miss Old River?

Mamaw was an absolute beacon of light for me. A loving, guiding pillar in my life until she passed away at 69, one month after her birthday. Three months later, my first daughter was born. I was 19 at the time. I’ll be 49 next Friday, and I miss her just as much thirty years later as I ever have. I yearn so badly for just one more talk, one more meal, one more camping trip, one more back scratch - sending chills all over my body (she had the most beautiful nails), one more embrace. She smoked cigarettes like so many other people back then and contracted emphysema/COPD. She wound up at Hospice in her final days and wasn’t able to communicate like she once could. Having a moment of clarity just a day or so before her death, she told me she saw my unborn daughter in her dream. She said that she had a full head of dark hair and big brown eyes. She then paused for a long moment, and said, “But then there was another one - with blonde hair and big blue eyes.”

You guys, she was right. Taylor Jean (middle named after her), with her full head of dark hair and brown eyes, was born three months later, also on the 22nd. Ayla Marie was born FIFTEEN (the long pause) years later with, guess what, a beautiful head of blonde hair and BLUE eyes - neither my husband nor I has blue eyes or blond hair!

There was never a proper obituary written for her on the internet, as it was 1995 and we weren’t quite there yet, technically. I think I’ll use this newsletter as the first of a blog page, which I’ll add to the website in the coming days, hoping that if someone ever searches her name in the future, they'll have at least one relevant result pop up.

This is she and I in Sarasota in 1985. I can’t believe it was 40 years ago. So many memories of this trip are still so vivid in my mind…anyone ever do the moonwalk on a washed-up palm tree? I wouldn't recommend it! Talk about foot-splinter city!!

This is she and I in Sarasota in 1985. I can’t believe it was 40 years ago. So many memories of this trip are still so vivid in my mind…anyone ever do the moonwalk on a washed-up palm tree? I wouldn't recommend it! Talk about foot-splinter city!!

I was always happiest in her arms...

In honor of my Mamaw, I would like to spend the day with my mother Pam (her only child), my daughters, and my granddaughters Charlie (who is 9 & the same age I was in this pic) and Grace, 6 (who has my same middle name) to celebrate her. We are a homeschooling family, and Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting an event called Tech-Free Tuesday: Habitat Is Where The Home Is. The focus is on learning more about the habitats in Warren County and the plants and animals that call our habitats home! It’s a free event open to kids of all ages. Here’s the link if you would like to attend:

https://facebook.com/events/s/tech-free-tuesday-habitat-is-w/10062966957128977/

After our 7@7am Rise & Shine Morning Sesh, I'm going to spend the rest of the day with my girls to share stories, reflect, and maybe even bake one of her yummy pound cakes. Here's her beautifully written, well-worn recipe card if you'd like to make one of your own!

7@7 Rise & Shine Morning Session via Zoom will still take place on Tuesday @ 7am, but I'm going to take the rest of the day to share stories, reflect, and maybe even bake one of her yummy pound cakes with my girls. Here's her beautifully handwritten, well-worn recipe card if you'd like to make your own!

Happy 100th Birthday, Mamaw - Here's to you.