My day job is interfering with this project my dear readers. I love what I do during the day, but this manuscript is really bringing me joy. We have folks out sick and I’m trying to help cover so this means I am working overtime. I worked in Raleigh today and drove from there to Wilmington so I can cover a shift tomorrow, only to have to drive back to Durham tomorrow because I work in Raleigh on Monday. I sometimes cover South Carolina clinics too, so thankfully I haven’t had to go down there recently. 

I had a long chat with my Uncle David from California today while I was commuting and we were reminiscing about his childhood. I have been trying to fill in the gaps that I know from my father. My grandparents were such interesting people. Because of the Depression they were mighty frugal, yet they traveled ALL over the world going to Quaker conventions. The last trip my Gram went on was to New Zealand when she was 90. My Uncle actually went with her. She decided after that trip to stop traveling because she got such edema in her legs from the long plane ride. She went to Africa, Ireland, Europe, all over the world, but only if there was a practical reason to be there. 

Part of what my Uncle and I were reminiscing about was how they never really celebrated birthdays and there was always just enough food but never excess. My dad talks about drinking curdled milk on his cereal because they didn’t want to waste it. They lived comfortably, always had enough, but my grandparents saved and never bought anything on credit. The Depression really affected them and seemed to cause long lasting trauma. I’m grateful for some of the life lessons they taught me with their frugality. I still save tin foil and baggies for multiple use because they always did. Not only does it save money but it is doing my part to help the environment.

I will leave you with the next set of letters- it is actually a postcard. Quaker Hill is a Quaker retreat center in Indiana. My grandfather went there often as a young Quaker minister and my Gram stayed in Greensboro teaching school at Greensboro College. She actually didn’t stay in that job for long because she said all the female students were just looking for a guy to marry and they were not serious about their schooling. She almost demanded I get a proper education. She embarrasses me now when she introduces me to the staff that care for her at her nursing home by first telling them all my degrees. I love how proud she is of me. I’m trying to fulfill her legacy.