Mt. Pleasant Scribblers meet

The regional writer’s group, Mt. Pleasant Scribblers, met Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in the gathering space of the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 902 S. Walnut Street.

Those present included Kathy Wiley, Marilyn Vincent, Kathy Casteel, Karen Osborne, Claudia Streeter, Mary Shy, Chris Ryan, and Martha Wiley.

Chris Ryan joined the group for her first time and read “The Gift,” a remembrance of the winter she worked in sales at Marshall Field’s during the Christmas shopping season. That December the usual family traditions were replaced by hectic times with crabby shoppers and unfinished tasks at home. In the middle of her discouragement and exhaustion, at a gathering of the family to greet her son who was returning to Chicago, she was blessed with a story her “sometimes-trying son” related. He told about a brief encounter with a homeless gentleman when he was able to brighten that person’s day. Knowing that her child had grown to be a thoughtful and kind person was the best gift she could receive.

Kathy Wiley was given a journal for a grandma’s memories by her granddaughter. She read one of the entries she made into the journal. “The Stars, the Moon, and a Mother” was about a magical time going barefoot into the wet grass in the middle of the night with her 10-year-old son to watch a lunar eclipse.

Claudia Streeter shared what she had learned about Julius Rosenwald, a co-founder of Sears Roebuck and Company. The United States Park Service now has printed the story of how this Jewish immigrant used some of his fortune to build over 5,000 public schools for Black students in 15 states.

Marilyn Vincent wrote “Polly Wants a Cracker” about her week spent helping with Vacation Bible School. The kids were great and the programming at the farm moved like clockwork, until the last day when parents were invited to share the time with their children. Preparing a simple lunch around a campfire in the woods, the adult guests didn’t follow the rules for lining up or making life easy for the servers. One woman stood at the back of the group and repeatedly demanded to be given a marshmallow. It’s amazing how after all the wonderful things that happened during the week, the one loudly impatient adult can be what is remembered the most.

Mary Shy read “Markers.” She reflected on how a person keeps track of the progression of seasons with the tasks they perform like spring planting, summer watering and tending young plants. This past summer she was forced to delegate many of her summer activities after a foot injury interrupted her routine. Now that fall is here and her injury is healed, her brain is ready to start summer. The group remarked that the disorientation must be a Rip Van Winkle experience.

Karen Osborne shared a beautiful poem, “Little Boy Blue,” telling how captivating it was to marvel at her little great-grandbaby as he was being prepared for a surgery.

Martha Wiley had compiled a binder of genealogies and family stories to share with her cousins at a family gathering in August. It could have been titled “Finding Your Stump Family Roots.” For Scribblers she shared one letter from Dr. Ed Michael to his niece describing his practice in veterinary medicine and what he did when a horse’s ailment was mainly in the head of the animal’s owner.

Kathy Casteel has been working more on her delightful description of being a solo traveler along the coast of Maine. She also wrote “Old Time Fiddlin’ and Hobos” sharing her remembrances of being a 5-year-old visiting her Grandpa Harvey.

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 regular meeting, at 1:00 PM, Monday, October 16, will be in the gathering space at the north entrance of the First Presbyterian Church, 902 S. Walnut, Mt. Pleasant. For more information, contact Karen Osborne, 319-367-5586.