A Girl and Her Dog

It's Sepia Saturday again.

Since my dear mother is recovering 

from shoulder replacement surgery,

I thought I'd feature her image this week.

This is little Betty with her dog Spot.

She was born in a small town in Oregon,

the third of four sisters.

The Depression defined her childhood,

though I don't know how much she knew or understood.

Her high school years were spent in the shadow

of World War Two.

She went to college at a time when women

sought an "MRS." degree.

She had a lovely singing voice and often performed 

as the vocalist for weddings and funerals.

I remember once when I was really little

that she was on television in Indianapolis.

She worked in the library at Butler University,

putting Hubby through school, so to speak.

She worked on and off through my childhood,

when working mothers were somewhat odd

and not at all normative. It wasn't a matter of personal choice

as much as necessity, because her husband's ministerial salary

couldn't quite stretch far enough.

She survived divorce, though it took a while.

And then, when she was in her 60s,

she asked her three grown children

if we thought it was silly that she wanted 

to become a lay minister in the United Methodist Church.

She thought she was too old.

We told her she was old enough not to worry

about what anyone thought

and just do what she wanted to do.

So she did. After some schooling, 

she was given a church flock to shepherd

until her retirement. 

Let's hear it for women learning to live the lives

they want to live!

For other Sepia Saturday participants,

click HERE

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