You will, I’m sure, pardon my absence this past week.
Yesterday my family and I came together to say goodbye to our Mother. It was the first time we had all been together in about ten years. We are siblings, yes, but in many respects, we are strangers, too.
Our once-large family has been decimated. Each of us has gone our separate ways, our paths seldom to cross. But yesterday we shared a common loss. Mother was the last of her generation of this family. And, due to our unshared lives, dreams, and hopes I can’t help wondering when, if ever, we will all gather again. The thread that held us loosely together has been severed.
Rest in peace Mother Norma Grace Wright.
About Ol' Big Jim
Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history.
Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute.
No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership.
Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing.
When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection.
Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations.
His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Jim. Moms are special and I hope your memories of her will sustain you at this time.
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So sorry to hear of your loss, our Jim.
I understand your pain. Caz
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Good bye cousin
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So sorry for your loss. I lost my mother last year
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Condolences on your loss. It’s a difficult thing to get through. Many emotions creep in unexpectedly and leave one in a bit of a daze; don’t you think?
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Yes hard to believe they’re gone at times
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