The Baby I Never Held

Drugs . . . The beginning of the end of who I was.  Getting involved in drugs was the worst mistake of my life or so I thought.  Actually, it was what happened as a result of taking drugs that changed me forever.  I can say it wasn't my fault, that I was...
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Sisterly Fun

Laughter ranks on top when it comes to my family's emotions.  Mom and Dad made sure there was a lot of it, and we have all been blessed with a good sense of humor.  Some of us have more of a devious way of delivering humor; however, I tend to stay...
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Beginning piano lessons with a professional

After my 15 year-old daughter Rachelle completed the Rice University Piano Camp in June 2008, we knew we needed to get her to a professional piano teacher.  Rachelle has always been a very talented and dedicated piano student.  She wanted to take piano lessons when she was 8 years old.  We started her...
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My Hospice Experience

Last Friday, I had an experience I won't likely forget.  My friend Melanie & I went to Odyssey Healthcare, a hospice organization, to take a training from our friend Lorrie about how to work with hospice patients as I go volunteer with them, doing StoryKeeper work. We started off with several...
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Don't Drink and Drive--- A Night Never to be Forgotten

Don't Drink and Drive--- A Night Never to be Forgotten
  The 20th of September 1964, was a beautiful Fall day. George and I were driving home after spending the weekend with our friends on Cape Cod. My parent's apartment was on our way so we decided to stop for a quick visit. It had to be quick because our children were waiting for...
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Caroline Chapter Two -- The Ring

My parents moved to the other side of Waltham when I was twelve years old. Caroline and I sat on our steps and cried. She was to be left behind with the neighborhood girls who always chose to ignore her. Anita, one of the girls, gained pleasure from throwing rocks at Caroline....
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Carolline (Carol) Chapter Three - PERFUME

It was to be another fun day of shopping for my friend Carol and me. We went to the then famous Filene's Basement in Boston. It was where most entitiled women shopped in those days. We didn't mind pretending, it was a day out for us while the children were in school....
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Caroline-My Friend Chapter One

Caroline-My Friend Chapter One My family moved to Waltham Massachusetts& lt;/st1:place> when I was but two years old. The house next door was separated by just a few feet. It was a two story apartment house and on the second floor lived a little girl named Caroline who at the time...
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Bergin Intro

So I thought I'd start by introducing the family I helped to make. I have a husband--Sam. He's just fantastic. He's nearly everything I'm not. Calm, reserved and even keeled. I tend to be the hothead and spontaneous one of the two of us. Sam brought to our family two daughers--Jen...
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What Do You See?

IASK Founder and fellow LifeLenz friend Dennis Stack shared this anonymous poem at his link: When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was felt that she had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they...
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Broken Pieces

You must be more careful, I scold myself through the tears, you almost missed that one. Pieces of the whole will never do; if He’s to put it back together again, He will need it all.   Bending low, I wrap trembling fingers around the missing sliver and swath it in...
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Bridal Memories

From her "Bridal Memories": Fred Hunter and Nellie Turnage became engaged on December 19, 1924. They were married on Sunday, June 20, 1926 at 3 in the afternoon at Nellie's parents (Mr. and Mrs. John Turnage) home in Byers, Colorado. Fred and Nellie belonged to the First Baptist church of Deer Trail,...
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Etymology of the Turnage Name

Etymology of the Turnage Name   The Turnidge family began their westward movement from the time they entered the northeast part of North Carolina. They continued west as the opportunity arose, or the land was cleared. Now they are on the west coast in Oregon, Washington and California. Some have not...
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Julius Orlando Stone

Julius Orlando Stone was born April 3, 1840, at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, and passed away at Wilsonville, Nebraska,  July 2, 1940, at the age of 100 years, 2 months and 29 days. At the age of 21 he enlisted in the army of the Civil War and served his country in...
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More Prayers for Paul from His Mother Nellie

Dear Lord, Grant that this little baby may grow to pure clean manhood a blessing to all who loves him a joy in himself. Help that he may make himself useful to mankind and choose a profession of honesty and helpfulness to humanity. Keep him strong, straight in body and thoughts,...
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Letter She Might Have Written

I envision, Grandma Nellie would have written a letter like this to my dad if she could have: January, 1937 Dear Paul, There are times when being a sensitive soul is a curse for those of us endowed with tender temperaments feel life deeply. When I held you in my arms...
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Taproot for Nellie Evalena Turnage Hunter (10/8/07 to 4/4/37)

    75. Janet Turnage Shoelen (1933) daughter of 74. Nona Pierce Turnage (1908) daughter of 73. Alice Stone Pierce (1877-1956) daughter of 72. Olive Bourn Stone (1844-1917) daughter of 71. Olive Ballou Bourn (1804-1872) daughter of 70. Silas Ballou (1777-1863) son of 69. Silas Ballou (1753-1837) (Rev. War hero. Brother...
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Dear Grandma Nellie

August 7, 2008 Dear Grandma Nellie, Nellie Evelana Turnage Hunter. I am 55 years old, so why is it that I suddenly have this need to talk to a grandmother I have never known? Grandpa was born on December 8, 1904 - almost a Christmas baby. You were born in the...
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Prayer Nellie Wrote For Son Paul Before Her Death

Paul,   Heaven protect thee thou innocent one! The way of life is rough and thorny and often may its flinty rocks wound thy onward treading feet, and its sharp thrones pierce thy hand so eagerly extended to pluck its tempting fruits. Gather up thy strength for the battle of life...
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I'm Not Going to Live Forever, But While I am Still Here . . .

Saturday July 27, 2008 It's been said, "I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time." On Tuesday I will turn 55. Today I learned how to smoke. It's not like I woke up this morning and thought, Hmmm what vice can I...
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