Memoirs from our '74 Friends: Chapter 2
Chapter 2 is the contribution of our loyal classmate Sherry Callaway. You are going to love reading her tribute to someone very special in her life. It's beautiful that her “life story” or memoir can be summed up best with someone else's story, the story of one she loved, one who was always there. Enjoy getting to know Sherry a little better in her, “Always There For You.” Great job, Sherry. Keep writing. ~ sb
“Always There For You”
Sherry Parker Callaway
What does that phrase mean to you, fellow-classmates of the LSHS Class of 1974?
I have recently binged-watched a few episodes of “Friends,” so I guess that’s why it came to mind as the theme of this remembrance story I write at the request of Steven Bowen.
I told him that (Sorry, Lollie Love) I’m no writer and have asked for his assistance to edit my ramblings. Thank you, Steve, for encouraging me and telling me that “it will come to
you in the middle of the night.” Well, it IS 4:15 am so here goes:
She was always there for me, even before my high school days.
Sometimes, I didn’t appreciate her advice, though – such as the time she would tell me to be careful who I hung around or dated and the many times she made me come home early from a night out with friends, or a dance at the Y, or prom breakfast at the Country Club.
I now regret the times I lied to her about being at the Coleman Library studying when I was really riding around town with Shelia Pye looking for fun while listening to “Ventura Highway” over and over and over and over and OVER!
She was always there for the next chapter in my life, too. Only now, I realized that most, if not all, of her advice before was given from a wiser point of view, and now I appreciate her wisdom – especially in the late 70’s and 80’s when she helped me raise my children.
When my babies were born – Steven in 1976 and Brandon in 1979 – there she was. She would lend a hand and support me whenever I needed help. When I divorced later, she was there to babysit while I worked or attended LaGrange College.
When I graduated from college, she was in the audience beaming with pride and – I’m sure, even though I don’t think she said it – she realized I could have never finished my degree while working full-time if she hadn’t been there for me.
Even through the years, after my marriage to Tommy and starting my business in 1985, she was there.
And in 1996, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was there with homemade mac-n- cheese the day I got home from the hospital. I can still taste it, and it is a special memory I will take with me to the grave. The best mac-n-cheese I have ever had.
I could count on her to be there for me to approach with questions or advice and sometimes giving it without my asking!
Yes, Mama, I know I don’t need to work so much.
I know I need to go to church, I know the kids need to be in Sunday School.
Yes, I know I need to get the boys’ hair cut. I know my hair is getting too long, or I got it cut too short.
I know I need to eat better; I know I need to gain weight; I know I need to lose weight.
So funny to think about it now and laugh at how now I give advice like this to my adult children (even though I try not to)!
Do any of us ever grow up? Do any of us ever stop giving our children advice?
As my children and bonus children – Allison and Gus – grew and came to know her, she was there for me in helping advise them and always being there for them, too. Grandmothers are like that! Now that I am the proud grandmother of nine, I can relate.
I try to follow in her footsteps and be there for my children and grandchildren. It has become easier since I retired in 2016. Spending time with them, although not as often as I would like, is my favorite thing to do!!
A Different Role
After retirement, I mainly found myself being there for Mama. Now, the roles were reversed. I then started giving her advice, which she probably got tired of hearing, just as I did as a teenager. Some of you have also had the experience of caring for your parents and know it is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences in life.
Mama left this earth and went into the arms of Jesus in 2020 and I miss her every day.
But Mama, don’t worry … I didn’t put too much sugar in that sweet tea last night, and I have lost a little weight …
And, most of all, you would be proud to know that I am a still a faithful Christian and can’t wait to see you in the land of endless day where there will be no more tears. What a
great reunion it will be when our spirits meet and we are there for each other for eternity.
Dedicated to my loving Mama, Robbie Lewis Parker 1930-2020.
With thanks to Steve Bowen …
and Lollie Love who was there for me, too.
It was a brief but meaningful (5th period?) English Composition class in 1974. Mrs. Love, I hope I didn’t leave too many dangling participles or run-on sentences and that my subjects always matched my verb tense. You were the BEST!
コメント