Body Recently, a friend shared the following with us and we thought you might enjoy it. It reminded me of my mother.........

Body I’m thinking a lot this week about the loss of a spouse. Not my spouse, fortunately. We went through that scare seven years ago when Diane was diagnosed with cancer.

Body This is an excellent reminder; Worth repeating. In 57 years of teaching, there are many things I wish I had done.

Body For many of us the end of this pandemic is at hand. And I say, “Praise the Lord.” Being cooped up and suffering through one of the coldest winters in history has also been hard on us. I am a guy who loves getting out and seeing my fellow man.

Body In the living room of my childhood home there were two chairs, a couch and a television set. My mom always sat in the rocking chair. My dad’s territory was the Barkerlounger.

Body We were dressed and ready to go out for the New Years Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard.

Body Easter Sunday was such a great day. Our son Tim and Allen and Kathryn Brigdon brought the special music and I have never heard better. What a blessing. Dane brought a wonderful message and it was almost 1:00 before Dayna and I got home.

Body I had the opportunity to visit with my classmate and lifelong friend Lou Jean Tampleton. She has always been one of the sweetest people I have ever known. We were trying to come up with the names of former classmates of hers in the second or third grade at Parkview.

Body The Buck family and the Atwood singers are probably the two most well-known gospel groups in our area. The members of both groups have been singing since they were small children at countless events and many funerals.

Body Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org..