McKenna Center

This past week I was invited to speak at McKenna Center in Greensburg.  My friend Mary is the director at the center, and requested a presentation on LETTERS TO MARY.  I always love taking about the book and the entire project, so it was a labor of love for me. 

There were several tables of guests who stayed after lunch to hear the story about how the book came into being.  Ron (surprisingly) had the afternoon free and came with his Aunt Darlene and Uncle Bud.  It amazes me that people who have never heard me give a presentation are so surprised that I can actually pull it off, and be interesting!  Uncle Bud, I believe, was impressed!  I was glad to see them there and have their support. 

I like visual aids, and I had brought Mary’s wedding dress and Lydia’s church dress, several books of photos and letters, a family Bible, an ‘obituary’ book that Lydia had created from news clippings, and of course M&M’s! (smile!)  I wore Mary’s locket with the M on the back, which was a gift from my mom when the book was published.  I was very pleased at the interest the group expressed, not only in the project but in my personal story as a writer. 

I explained the Seton Hill Master’s program, our local writer’s groups, and my early interest (elementary school) in creating stories and poetry,  and especially the encouragement of my 7th grade math teacher.  THAT seemed strange!  You’d think it would be the English teach who showed the interest. There were several questions at the end, and many of the guests had their own stories to share with me about their own family letters. It’s sort of like giving people hope, that their family stories are important and could be preserved or shared.  One older gentleman purchased a book for his friend who loved the Civil War – but whispered that he was going to read it first! 

I was on the way home the next day when I got a phone call from a friend of Mary’s, the directory of the Jeannette center, who asked me to do the presentation there in February.  So if you want to hear the story behind Letters to Mary, mark February 27th on your calendar, 12:30pm.  I’d love to see you there!  It’s at the Holy Trinity Luthern Church on Gaskill Avenue in Jeannette.  Thanks, Mary, for giving me the opportunity to be part of your group, and for sharing my information with Rose from the Jeannette center.  It was a fun afternoon!!