Shirley May Berry Currie

08 NOV 1922 - 27 FEB 1993, Today marks the 15th anniversary of my mother's death. It's hard to believe she's been gone that long. Momma was a pleasant woman ready to serve her family. For 20 years she worked as a Nurse's Aide at St. Joseph Hospital, on the third shift. While we were at school she was at home sleeping. By the time we made it home from school, she had already started dinner. Everything was made from scratch. Chicken 'n Dumplings, Pinto Beans and Cornbread, Lemon Meringue Pie with homemade crust, assorted cakes made from scratch, and just so we didn't get bored she would prepare something like Veal Parmesan. Every Sunday we had Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, a green vegetable and homemade rolls. The nurses on Momma's shift would say, "Currie why don't you just give them TV dinners?" The closest we ever came to having TV dinners were the times my Daddy would go out of town on business. Momma would have fried shrimp and frozen cream pies. It was exciting for us kids knowing we would get to eat those special treats! The three of us kids would sit down at the dinner table. She was taking the last of the shrimp out of the frying pan. She would count out the shrimp so that we each had the same portion. She was always fair.

After she retired her goal was to identify all the trees on the 52 acre property, to read a biography of each President, sew, and do volunteer work of some kind. She was a docent for the Memphis, TN Wonders Series, Catherine the Great and Splendors of the Ottoman Sultans.

She spoiled me after the birth of Anna and Samuel. She would come over everyday at 5 PM for about 2 weeks and bring a full course meal.

She was much beloved by her siblings. Being the oldest girl she was almost like a second mother to them.

I miss her when the spring comes. She enjoyed gardening and was always puttering around the yard, even enjoying mowing the lawn. She was a birdwatcher, great cook and loving grandmother too.

Cloudy Day Brings Beautiful Sunshine

The drive home this afternoon was cloudy. I was almost home and saw the most beautiful sight before me. I know you have seen this too! It reminds me of walking down a dark hallway and looking into the living room where all the lights are on. Everything around you is dark and right in the middle there is a bright spot. In this particular scene there is a break in the clouds and the sun shines against the white bark of the trees. Winter time is not void of color. There are the dark greens of cedar and pine, lighter greens in the winter grasses and blackish green of honeysuckle vine. The skies are varying shades of steel blue, charcoal gray and shades of white.

The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:23-24

Mammogram and Ultrasound

Today I returned to the Methodist Breast Center for a follow up mammogram and ultrasound after my needle biopsy in August. Everything is fine. The soreness I had was evidently from my Tae Kwon Do class. We learned the use of the Bo Staff and I had some discomfort after that class. I was concerned because it was on the same side as my biopsy. My instructor, Mrs. Wiggins, was right about it being a result of that Bo Staff. Thank goodness!


I had the nurses take the photos for me. I want to encourage you to take care of yourself and not wait because you're scared. Just go and ahead and do it and have peace of mind!

Hospice - My First Visit

Today was my first visit to my first patient for hospice. What a blessing! The patient was upbeat today and wanted to talk. The patient talked for 2 of the 3 hours I was there. We covered talk about family, children, flowers and God's blessings. Some friends and family have wondered if I was ready to be a hospice volunteer. Yes, I'm ready. Today was a wonderful day. I shared myself with someone who needed a new refreshing face to talk with. Although a hospice patient is terminally ill, they are still living. Their road to death is marked whereas ours is not. They still love, feel, remember, and want the best for their family and friends. They are who they have always been and will be until they take their last breathe.

I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Thinking of Brent

Brent has been in the forefront of my mind everyday since he died May 05, 2007. He's the first thing that comes to mind when I wake in the morning and my last thought at night before I drift off to sleep. Thoughts of him in all situations were fresh in my memory. Watching TV commercials or movies brought back conversations we'd had. I remembered where and what we were doing when we saw a particular movie, actors he liked and didn't like. When I was cooking dinner I would think about whether or not he would have enjoyed the meal. Listening to bluegrass songs filled my eyes with tears remembering how hard he worked to learn to play the mandolin and to learn to sing harmony. The last five years of his life playing bluegrass were his happiest.

Last Sunday I was cleaning house preparing for the Mother's Dinner on Tuesday evening. I was busy most of the day. Late afternoon I realized that I hadn't thought of him. I questioned if he were my first thought when I woke that morning. I couldn't remember. I wasn't upset but realized he was not in the forefront of my mind. It was as if the first folder in the filing cabinet labeled BRENT, had been moved back one space. Now, I realize that Brent is being pushed to the back of my mind. The saddest that I have felt, the clear, fresh memories of him lying in the hospital bed fighting for his life, are beginning to go away. For a while I wanted to look at the photos I took of him while he was at Johns Hopkins. Looking at photos of him from years ago left me brooding and forlorn. Now, those photos bring immense joy of the 26 years we had together.

When meeting new people I so want to be able to "show him off". He's not here for me to do that. But, I can bring honor to his memory and hopefully show him off through my blog. Not to make him a martyr or to put him on a pedestal, but to show how one man can love God, his wife, family, friends and how much he enjoyed living.

Hospice

Hospice is health-care for the terminally ill that emphasizes pain control and emotional support for the patient and family. During my father's last days hospice was there to provide support for me and my family. I decided that after Daddy's death and when Brent was cured of his leukemia I would volunteer for hospice. After Brent's death I waited a while longer. On Saturday, February 16th I went to an all day hospice training. I received a call the following Thursday from hospice telling me I had my first patient if I was ready. Yes, I am ready. I will make my first visit as a hospice volunteer this coming Monday. I'm looking forward to making a difference for a family in this their greatest time of need. I will not be able to give any information about the patient, but I will be able to share how the experience is for me.

Mother's Dinner

When I started homeschooling in 1989 I had a luncheon for homeschooling mothers. I had an ulterior motive in mind. I had lots of questions about homeschooling and thought the best way to have answers were straight from the mouths of those who were already doing it. That first luncheon in August of 1989 begin a tradition that has lasted all these years later. After the first luncheon I decided to have dinner in the evening. For three years the ladies came to our 600 sq.ft. duplex once a month to encourage one another, have a nice dinner and discuss homeschooling ideas. In August of 1992 I decided to take a break. I was pregnant with Samuel and wanted to slow down a little. The ladies begin to host the dinners in their homes. I was going to get back to having dinner at my house in a few months. In October of 1992 my mother had a brain aneurysm. She was in the hospital in ICU for 4 months before she died in February of 1993. My heart wasn't in it anymore. I felt a strong need to minister to my family, to make them the center of my attention. Brent and I bought our first house in 1993 and I had a Mother's Dinner in November of 1993. The ladies surprised me with a housewarming. It was so special. It was my last dinner for a long, long time.

The ladies continued to have the dinners in their homes and started many other traditions. Once a year they have a slumber party and stay all night talking and eating. Another tradition is during February. One or two of the ladies are chosen to be "Princesses for the Night". They are treated royally the whole night and given special gifts. (2nd photo).

After Brent's death I felt the need to have people around me. I've had three Mother's Dinners, one in July, one in October, and in this month of February. What a blessing. I'm able to share my gifts of service and hospitality. Our topic this month was organizing. I admitted to the ladies that I was a hoarder, clutterer and a messie! My sister, Grace, tells me that admitting there is a problem helps to overcome the problem! It was a great discussion. I gave away door prizes. #3-an organizing book, #2-I would come and clean their refrigerator, and the #1-Grand prize, 8 hours of my time to help them organize a room in their home.

To help encourage the ladies I will be posting some before and after photos of my cluttered and clutter FREE, organized spaces.

P.S. I was able to clear up one fact about those earlier Mother's Dinners. Some of the ladies did have to sit on wheat buckets, NOT bales of hay! :)

Valentine's Day Breakfast

Abigail, my nine year old, made me an omelet for breakfast. She did a great job! She had a balloon for me, a card she had made and housecleaning coupons too! I knew she was up to something when she ask the night before about how do you make an omelet, how do you spell vacuum and some other little hints! When Brent and I decided to have another child we talked about what a blessing she would be in our old age! I was 44 when I had her. She has been a real blessing these past months since Brent's death. She is happy and cheerful most of the time, is always busy with this and that and full of questions about everything. My other two children, Samuel and Anna have done special things for me on special occasions. When your children give of themselves it is so rewarding. I am so blessed to have my children, each special in their own way.

Jammin' in the Forest

Most everyone was watching or listening to the Memphis Tigers and Tennessee Vols play basketball tonight. The Tigers are #1 and the Vols #2. The Tigers lost 66 -62.

But, for a few, tonight was the first of hopefully many more bluegrass pickin's at our house. I think I'll call it, "Jammin' in the Forest". Pickers Tony Butler banjo, Mike Busby guitar and Harry Mclellan mandolin, came out and played for a couple of hours. Samuel joined them on the banjo. I had a big pot of White Chili and some cornbread, coffee and tea.

Samuel was over in the corner pickin'. Samuel is photo shy so I don't usually get a photo of him. You can hear him in the background pickin' banjo in the video clip above.

I've been wanting to have a pickin' at the house for a long time. There is always something going on in the world of bluegrass in our area. My decision was to just jump on in there and start. There is nothing quite like live bluegrass music to stir the soul, bring joy and fellowship. It's also a great way to help motivate me to keep my house clean and to have supper early! I'm looking forward to next Saturday night!

Jessie Playing Fiddle

My friend Jessie playing a little bluegrass fiddle. Jessie is a sweet girl and also plays classical violin. Jessie sometimes plays fiddle for the bluegrass band, Sorghum Hill, which was the last band Brent played with before his death. Jessie and another friend Becky, who also plays fiddle, played twin fiddles at Brent's funeral. They played Ashokan's Farewell so beautifully. Samuel, Jessie and Tim(who plays banjo for Sorghum Hill) will play a banquet being held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. They were having a practice session.

Our Friend Karen Has Dinner With Us

Tuesday night our friend, Karen, came and ate dinner with us. We all enjoyed her visit. Karen and my husband, Brent, used to pick bluegrass together and also played in a bluegrass band together. We had a flatiron steak, baked sweet potatoes, Lima beans and a salad. We had a great time visiting. We'll have to do it again soon.

Lunch With Liz

Lunch with a friend makes for a pleasant afternoon. I invited my friend, Liz, for lunch on Friday. I wanted to make a quiche but didn't have all the ingredients for it. Oh well, Pot Roast is just as good, especially with cornbread and some spinach. Liz enjoys chocolate so my mother's brownie recipe was the perfect thing to fix. Abigail wanted to participate in the preparation of lunch and decided to make a topping for the brownies. She mixed bananas, chocolate syrup and peanut butter together. It was a nice topping. We sat at the kitchen table awhile and then moved into the living room. We talked about this and that. We encouraged one another and were blessed by each other.

First Buttercup

The first buttercup of the year always brings me joy and hope and is always a surprise. I found this one on Monday, February 4th. My mother planted these years ago. They've been there as long as I can remember. Sometimes the real surprise is when they bloom in January. My daughter, Anna, likes to see them in March which is her birth month. Buttercups are the jewel of late winter and hope for sunny days ahead.