I remember hearing about that '37 flood. My grandparents owned a drug store in Paducah, KY. The flood didn't quite reach them, so they were the only pharmacy open for a while there. My mother said one of her first jobs was for a photographer who came to the store wanting to sell postcards from his photos of the flood around town. I don't remember how much she got for selling them. One of those "How did you grow up, Mom?" kind of stories. She lived to 100.
How the U.S. has changed. She told me a million years ago, "If you're good to the company, the company will be good to you." Not any more, Mom. Those days up and left a long time ago.
So now, I'm the "elder" of the family (actually the last one who's left). Haven't lived in the states for almost 40 years. That's fine. I like "eldering" from this side of our tiny planet. Different challenges and different rewards, I guess.
Thanks so much for this post - for Johnny Cash, who wrote a lot about the plight of the poor and various rising waters he saw and its effect on people. There are so much more of them now, and the dams built to hold them back aren't holding. Love how you think in metaphors.
And thanks for Stephen Jenkison and that passage about wrestling angels; made me want to read him. Thanks for your articulate, artistic, poetic, caring, adventurous soul - you bring us all enrichment with your posts. Your thoughts, who you're reading and meeting, what you're seeing in your travels and right there in your back yard, resonate.
When can I consider myself an elder? I'll be 71 - but sometimes I feel like I'm hundreds of years old and so, so tired - at the same time, standing in wonder at life and its lessons everywhere with the eyes of a child.. Do I qualify for those eldering chats?
This is terrific, Joyce. Thank you for sharing the people you meet--the ones that stick with you after you meet them, with your readers. Stephen Jenkison is my age and says it better than I have ever written an ABOUT page. His starts with this: Conceived while the ash of the Second World War settled. That just makes me want to read all six of his books. You are fortunate to have met him in person. And he's fortunate to experience some Joyce Wycoff.
Gosh, everything you touch on here has had a hold of my heart for some time now. I like the analogy of the rising water, so fitting. My grandfather died in a flood in the mid states, not sure of the year. It could be the very flood you mention. Always up for discussions about eldering.
Thanks Joyce. I look forward to seeing the new flip book on the big screen when I sit down in a few days, until then I'm kinda busy - eldering, I guess.
Hi Joyce,
I remember hearing about that '37 flood. My grandparents owned a drug store in Paducah, KY. The flood didn't quite reach them, so they were the only pharmacy open for a while there. My mother said one of her first jobs was for a photographer who came to the store wanting to sell postcards from his photos of the flood around town. I don't remember how much she got for selling them. One of those "How did you grow up, Mom?" kind of stories. She lived to 100.
How the U.S. has changed. She told me a million years ago, "If you're good to the company, the company will be good to you." Not any more, Mom. Those days up and left a long time ago.
So now, I'm the "elder" of the family (actually the last one who's left). Haven't lived in the states for almost 40 years. That's fine. I like "eldering" from this side of our tiny planet. Different challenges and different rewards, I guess.
Thanks for writing this post, Joyce.
Thanks so much for this post - for Johnny Cash, who wrote a lot about the plight of the poor and various rising waters he saw and its effect on people. There are so much more of them now, and the dams built to hold them back aren't holding. Love how you think in metaphors.
And thanks for Stephen Jenkison and that passage about wrestling angels; made me want to read him. Thanks for your articulate, artistic, poetic, caring, adventurous soul - you bring us all enrichment with your posts. Your thoughts, who you're reading and meeting, what you're seeing in your travels and right there in your back yard, resonate.
When can I consider myself an elder? I'll be 71 - but sometimes I feel like I'm hundreds of years old and so, so tired - at the same time, standing in wonder at life and its lessons everywhere with the eyes of a child.. Do I qualify for those eldering chats?
This is terrific, Joyce. Thank you for sharing the people you meet--the ones that stick with you after you meet them, with your readers. Stephen Jenkison is my age and says it better than I have ever written an ABOUT page. His starts with this: Conceived while the ash of the Second World War settled. That just makes me want to read all six of his books. You are fortunate to have met him in person. And he's fortunate to experience some Joyce Wycoff.
Gosh, everything you touch on here has had a hold of my heart for some time now. I like the analogy of the rising water, so fitting. My grandfather died in a flood in the mid states, not sure of the year. It could be the very flood you mention. Always up for discussions about eldering.
The post title had me go straight to Johnny Cash and that song, I do like his music
I love the passage about wrestling with an angel.
Thanks Joyce. I look forward to seeing the new flip book on the big screen when I sit down in a few days, until then I'm kinda busy - eldering, I guess.