Upon the suggestion of an astrologer I met for the first time this last week as a birthday gift from my friend Meghan, I began to re-read my memoirs beginning with the first one published in 2007. Deep in the Heart: A Memoir of Love and Longing was described by author and poet Ed Madden as a story of what life was for a little butch tomboy growing up behind the Pine Curtain of East Texas in the mid-twentieth century. I still like this little girl I wrote about in 2007, and I adore my maternal grandmother Dude as well as my paternal grandmother Ma today as I did then. Fifteen years later I feel more loving toward my mother the fudge maker – perhaps the result of sharing the last four years of her life as she struggled with dementia from 2008 – 2012. The difficulties in the relationships between mothers and daughters are universal, although they may hopefully be set aside at least once a year on Mother’s Day.
Sheila Morris is a personal historian, essayist with humorist tendencies, lesbian activist, truth seeker and speaker in the tradition of other female Texas storytellers including her paternal grandmother.
In December, 2017, the University of South Carolina Press published her collection of first-person accounts of a few of the people primarily responsible for the development of LGBTQ organizations in South Carolina. Southern Perspectives on the Queer Movement: Committed to Home will resonate with everyone interested in LGBTQ history in the South during the tumultuous times from the AIDS pandemic to marriage equality.
She has published five nonfiction books including two memoirs, an essay compilation and two collections of her favorite blogs from I'll Call It Like I See It. Her first book, Deep in the Heart: A Memoir of Love and Longing received a Golden Crown Literary Society Award in 2008. Her writings have been included in various anthologies - most recently the 2017 Saints and Sinners Literary Magazine. Her latest book, Four Ticket Ride, was released in January, 2019.
She is a displaced Texan living in South Carolina with her wife Teresa Williams and their dogs Spike, Charly and Carl. She is also Naynay to her two granddaughters Ella and Molly James who light up her life for real. Born in rural Grimes County, Texas in 1946 her Texas roots still run wide and deep.
Maybe it’s wrong of me to laugh, but you brought back memories of my mother. She offer would tag along with me on a weekly hour drive one way to check in on my sister who couldn’t drive, but needed groceries and other errands done. I gave up a Saturday or Sunday out of filial duty. Mom just wanted something to do. After getting to my sister’s, we usually decided on where to have lunch. Toni and I shared sideways glances. The choice was fraught with maternal traps. Dozens. Maybe hundreds!! I won’t elaborate but to say no restaurant was good enough even though Mom got a free meal. Many a trip was punctuated by late breakfast at Howard Johnson’s, the only place meeting with her grudging approval as they served decent enough pancakes. And yet, I’d love to have another meal with both my mom and sister. I know you know: “The difficulties in the relationships… is universal…”
And yet, I know you would love to have another meal of pancakes with your sister and your mother! You were a good sister and a good daughter, too, Ann.
You gave me a good smile tonight…
I'll Call It Like I See It 
Oh wow. I so empathize and relate Sheila and I am sorry.
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Thank you, Cindy. We all had our issues.
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Wow!
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Maybe it’s wrong of me to laugh, but you brought back memories of my mother. She offer would tag along with me on a weekly hour drive one way to check in on my sister who couldn’t drive, but needed groceries and other errands done. I gave up a Saturday or Sunday out of filial duty. Mom just wanted something to do. After getting to my sister’s, we usually decided on where to have lunch. Toni and I shared sideways glances. The choice was fraught with maternal traps. Dozens. Maybe hundreds!! I won’t elaborate but to say no restaurant was good enough even though Mom got a free meal. Many a trip was punctuated by late breakfast at Howard Johnson’s, the only place meeting with her grudging approval as they served decent enough pancakes. And yet, I’d love to have another meal with both my mom and sister. I know you know: “The difficulties in the relationships… is universal…”
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And yet, I know you would love to have another meal of pancakes with your sister and your mother! You were a good sister and a good daughter, too, Ann.
You gave me a good smile tonight…
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By the way, Ann, I can’t think it’s ever wrong to laugh!
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Laughter really is the best medicine. Love you girl!!
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Love you, too, Sister Girl!
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Sweetest memories.
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