Richard E Kelly

For as long as I can remember, books and and the written word have been an important part of my life.  In fact, I wouldn’t be who I am without them. For me, it was a very special privilege to be invited last May to participate, along with four hundred other authors, in the first annual two-day Tucson Festival of Books in March 2009. Scheduled to be held on the lovely University of Arizona campus, I could not imagine a better setting for the fifty thousand readers that were expected to attend.

Seven months before the book fair, I received a phone call from a lady on the Festival’s planning committee. She had read my book,Growing Up in Mama’s Club, and Esther Royer Ayers’ Rolling Down Black Stockings, a memoir about growing up as an Old Order Mennonite. She believed we both had interesting stories to tell and wondered if I would be willing to put on a one-hour presentation with Esther to share our childhood experiences. This presentation would be in addition to the time each author would be allowed to sell and sign books at their assigned booths. Continue Reading »

Hello Everyone
Thanks to Diane and Larry, Marlene and Don, Bob is doing well. He says he has been enjoying the love and concern. He also says he is enjoying wonderful food and meals. He, of course, is lonely without Darrell. Bob has read each and every card that arrives by mail for him. He looks forward to receiving the mail and all things considered, he is Ok. Grief is a process and will take time.
Mary Ann Cram, Tucson

A little bird told me that Marlene and Don Carlson will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary today. Wow! That is some accomplishment in today’s world. Congratulations Marlene and Don!

I also know that Marlene was one of the five women that were the love of Darrell’s life. He told me many times that his mother and sisters were the very best. While he experienced his fair share of adversity, he felt blessed to have such a great relationship with his mom and siblings. And so my kudos today go to the special ladies that enriched Darrell Gene’s seventy-four-plus years of life.