by sheila morris
storytelling for truth lovers
From our first trip together to Cancun, Mexico in 2001…
…to a recent outing 22 years later with our granddaughters at a local Mexican restaurant…
…Pretty and I have considered Mexican food to be nectar of the gods
Viva! Viva!
Find your happy place – and stick with it.
(l – r) Molly, Ella and Caleb
Our granddaughters sixteen-month-old Molly with three-year-old big sister Ella plus their ten-month-old first cousin Caleb had a room with a view in our Memorial Day weekend place in the mountains of the South Carolina upstate. This is their story.
Caleb, come with me, said Molly
then Ella said Caleb, don’t go with Molly – she’s a drama queen
so Caleb stayed with Ella, and Molly sat by herself
I’ve got my baby and my guard dog Carl, Molly said
Carl and I can hang out with Naynay
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I went for a walk with my Aunt Darlene, said Ella…
I petted a baby goat at the Farmer’s Market…
I had s’mores around a big campfire while Molly and Nana talked
Mama and Daddy were all smiles when we went to dinner…
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and then every night Naynay and I were so tired we went fast asleep
while Nana read her book
The End
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Slava Ukraini. For the children.
Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I’m still standing here, and you’re miles away
And I’m wondering why you left
And there’s a storm that’s raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time thinking about you
And it’s almost driving me wild
And there’s a heart that’s breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain’t missing you at all
Since you’ve been gone away
I ain’t missing you
No matter what I might say
There’s a message in the wire
And I’m sending you the signal tonight
You don’t know how desperate I’ve become
And it looks like I’m losing this fight
In your world I have no meaning
Though I’m tryin’ hard to understand
And it’s my heart that’s breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain’t missing you at all
Since you’ve been gone away
I ain’t missing you
No matter what my friends say
And there’s a message that I’m sending out
Via telegraph to your soul
And if I can’t bridge this distance
Stop this heartbreak overload
I ain’t missing you at all
Since you’ve been gone away
I ain’t missing you
No matter what my friends say
I ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing you
I can’t lie to myself
And there’s a storm that’s raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I ain’t missing you at all
I ain’t missing you, missing you
I ain’t missing you, no, no
I ain’t missing you
I ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing you
I ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing you
I ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing you
Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
These lyrics written in 1984 by John Waite became a #1 hit on Billboard’s Album Rock Tracks, then covered by other artists through the years until it reached Tina Turner’s Wildest Dreams album and tour in 1996 where it found a home in the hearts of millions of Turner’s fans – including mine.
From the Spring Hills Baptist Church choir in Nutbush, Tennessee as a child of the late 1940s to concert halls around the globe that set ticketed attendance records including her largest venue with more than 180,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1988 Turner entertained and amazed millions of people for nearly six decades with her raspy voice, high energy, sexy self. Her ability to overcome, to survive and thrive in a man’s music world were an inspiration to everyone that knew her story.
Thank goodness for YouTube videos of Tina Turner who has often been referred to as the Queen of Rock and Roll – I watched my favorite, the Amsterdam concert, through tears when I heard she had left the building.
Every time I think of you, I always catch my breath…this week I spent my time thinking of you, and it’s my heart that’s breaking.
RIP, Tina Turner. I will be missing you.
My most recent interview with Dianne Barrett for the B-E Collection is now available on the website under Coming Out stories. I think it’s probably my best of the three I’ve had with her. Certainly my most relaxed. If you or someone you know should be included, please help spread the word.
My spouse, Margaret Elfering, and myself, in conjunction with archives such as the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives and the Gerth Archives and Special Collection at California State University Dominguez Hills, will contribute an ongoing series of interviews of lesbians and their careers. The collection will be known as the B-E Collection: Lesbians and Their Careers.
The “B-E” of the collection is a shorthand for our last names (Barrett – Elfering). However, there is a second meaning to our collection’s name: the verb “be” is also defined as “to exist” or “to occur or take place”. Our collection is a means of bearing witness to the stories of lesbians of different generations, from different walks of life.
The mission of this collection is to dignify the accomplishments, pride, and effort lesbians put forth in their careers on their journey in life. We make oral histories to document our existence then and now. Many of us had the “don’t talk – say nothing – you are wrong” experience. Now we are talking.
We would appreciate a referral of lesbians who might be interested in participating in our project. We would be more than delighted to speak with anyone who you think would be interested in participating in the B-E Collection.
Your support is always a gift.
Dianne Barrett
Please check out this important project and consider adding your stories at the following address:
Won’t you please contact Dianne to add your voice – every story is important, and it’s so simple: a zoom call that’s less than an hour, at your convenience. The project has been expanded to include stories on additional topics.
Bring it, sisters. Tell your Coming Out stories to someone who will not only appreciate but also preserve them.
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P.S. I also want to say a huge personal thank you to Barbara Embick for her participation in this important project.
Yes, Nana a/k/a Pretty had a birthday party on her birthday Sunday, May 21st. at Drew and Caroline’s house where she had the best time! Three-year-old Ella and sixteen-month-old Molly love a birthday party, too so they had almost as much fun as their Nana did. Caroline’s twin sister Chloe and her husband Seth brought nine-month-old Caleb to add to the festivities; Naynay (me) was the official photographer. Viewer discretion is advised!
Nana holds Caleb while Ella explains a birthday gift beside her
Molly said you’re my Nana, hold me
Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!
Nana needed help opening her gifts
Nana and Ella danced to the music Uncle Seth had Alexa play:
the Beatles singing When I’m 64 (which is Nana’s birthday next year)
Daddy and Mama brought cake while everyone sang Happy Birthday!
Molly was her happiest when birthday cake was served
(Ella prefers the icing just like her Nana)
This is my cousin Caleb
he’s a boy
Uncle Seth brough a picture of his great-great grandmother
(she walked the Trail of Tears from North Carolina to Texas – fascinating)
Late in the afternoon when the table was cleared, music stopped, cake had gone to overload mode, Ella asked “Nana, is your birthday over?”
Nana said, “Almost – it will be over when you go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning, but thank you for my wonderful party!”
Tomorrow became today, and Nana’s birthday was over so she woke up early to go to work in her antique empire, but will she forget her birthday party…not anytime soon. Maybe she will carry these memories all the way until next year “When She’s 64.”
I have been blessed to share Pretty’s birthdays for twenty-two years, but even more I share her values, world view, love of family, kindness, sorrows, and joys every day. Our family has grown over the years, thanks to Drew and Caroline – the new additions have been a bonus I never expected – they are the true icing on our cake.
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Slava Ukraini. Remember the children there and at our own borders. Bless them.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
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