Mt. Pleasant Scribblers share writings

The regional writer’s group, Mt. Pleasant Scribblers, met for a luncheon, Monday, June 20, at the home of Rita Davis for the noon meal and a session of shared writings.

After a very brief business meeting, Rita Davis began with a reflection on her 2016 trip to Kenya. She traveled with a women’s church group that built and furnished modest homes in a program titled Homes for Widows. The region they visited had a restriction stipulating that when a man died, his house remained his property, and his widow was not allowed to perform needed repairs, but she could remain in the house. Rita’s group helped these women have a new home of their own. She was impressed with the formal gatherings that were traditionally part of these special events.

Karen Osborne shared three writings. One on her experience with Juneteenth from her childhood in her New York City neighborhood. She presented each Scribbler with a clever magnet that read, “It takes a group to raise a writer.” She also read a powerful selection on the love of a mother for a daughter and the enormous loss in the latest mass school shooting.

Mary Shy’s reading was about how long it seems to take employees to complete their tasks since the pandemic. Is this the social version of long COVID? Valerie Kruetner read a letter she had written titled “To the Head of Amtrak,” describing issues that needed to be improved in rail travel but also praising the staff. Going from the writing prompt, “anniversary,” from Sun magazine, Kathy Wiley wrote about her 40th wedding anniversary trip with friends to Italy.

“Unnecessary Worry,” was Marilyn Vincent’s description of her recent hand surgery and her fascinating, firsthand glimpse of how the tendon to her finger worked. Martha Wiley continues working on her stories for children. “Gravity Wins” is about a little girl who learns how to be smart about the way gravity works.

Scribblers are pleased to welcome new members who are interested in being part of a group, sharing efforts in the craft of writing. The next meeting, Monday, Sept. 19, will be in the gathering space at the north entrance of the First Presbyterian Church, 902 S. Walnut St., Mt. Pleasant. For more information, contact Karen Osborne, 319-367-5586.