MWR : Articles : Virginia Ham

Last updated March 12.

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Articles : Virginia Ham

Memory box

The parcel sat in a corner of my office, taking up space and collecting dust. But I ignored it, until several weekends ago, when I finally inspected its contents.

I unearthed a treasure trove, a documented narrative of the most formative period of my life — a stack of priceless art work by Jimmy Bishop; illustrated animal stories that I think match some of the better children’s books on the market today; essays from freshman English class (handwritten, not even typed, some even with decent grades and “clever” and “well done” notes in the margins from the teacher); a collection of columns for the Weather Vane student newspaper my junior year at Eastern Mennonite University and photographs from my college commencement in 1967.

42 years, why knot?

I was already feeling hesitant, but as Anna and I entered the gathering space at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, the anxiety level really shot up.

Key to a legacy of learning

I thought: What an exemplary gesture in honor of one whose life touched so many, including a relative of mine who never met this man, the late C. Henry Smith.

This column’s under pressure

Stress — a single word that can pack a punch, rendering us weak and powerless.

The seat of the scornful?

I often wonder why people prefer the front of the bus, the middle of the road and the back of the church.

Parent-child roles reversed

Day by day, we are all on the same journey of aging, with certain events and experiences providing stark reminders of this reality.

Keep pace with human race

The year 2008 has become another chapter in life’s annals. How did that happen?

Surprised, again, by grace

I noticed a white ring around the fourth finger of my left hand where my wedding band should be. What had happened to this silver symbol of betrothal?

Hymn sing: peak experience

MINERAL COUNTY, W.Va. — The phone call from Uncle Phil Dayton, my mom’s youngest brother, came weeks before the event, a personal invitation, and I thought, yes, why not? We pass this way but once.