I Am Jo, Jo Am I

It started as a suggestion from our grief group leader to start journaling. It was formed whenI joined a small writing group in Beverlys living room and we got the assignment to writeWho are you now? and then to write Who were you before that? and Who were you......... andfi fteen before thats later I had the outline of this book. Th e telling became compelling as I workedover the four years and chronicled my story. I tell it because it affi rms for me who I am and maybelater generations will want to know something of where they came from. In the beginning my grandparents came into Oklahoma when it was Indian Territory and participatedin the journey to statehood. Th e changes that took place between the time my mother was born in1898 and when she died one hundred and fi ve years later are hard to imagine. She lived in threecenturies and this story lives in these three centuries. Being a mother and enjoying two sons that are a joy to me to this day is a rich part of my life storyand this part of my telling is a joy to remember. Th e love of two gifted men blessed my tale andfi lls me with appreciation for both of them. Th e three children from the second marriage are anamazing gift. What it meant to be a woman, wife and mother changed and morphed as I grew fromchildhood to an eighty- eight year old woman and I had the opportunity to work with women ofthe Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as we began to struggle with issues that impacted ourhomes, schools, churches and political institutions. Retirement bloomed into ten great years exploring the United States and Canada and also helpingthe fi ve children that now form my family. Many hours of helping to redo, remodel and restorehelped build relationships and gave me many special memories. Th is story of I am Jo/Jo am I is one womans story of life, love, learning and living toward the end. I am still doing it!