Jodie's Journey

  The Majesty of the Marsh            There is renewal found in the ebb and flow of the marshlands. The sensory experiences remind me of my childhood. They bring back sweet memories of clams dug from black Pamlico mud, shrimping and setting nets with my Pop, the slap of the boat paddle on the water, and mosquitoes as big as dragonflies. The beauty and importance of the marsh is often underestimated.      Today, I stood and looked over the marsh and toward the sea and I felt the strong arms of life and promise embrace me like an old friend. The briny mud of the marsh holds so much meaning for so many. The brackish estuaries provide nourishment, hope, and cleansing for many Eastern North Carolina families. My roots are here and they run deep, from Ocracoke to Goose Creek Island.       I smelled the pungent salt air and closed my eyes. I drifted back to my childhood; to a flat bottom boat skimming across the waters ...

    It's been quite awhile since I sat at my keyboard and just let the thoughts flow. Writing is my healing strength. It's so important and I have been neglectful.  I get so caught up in the trappings of the world and I forget to breathe. I forget to heal. My journal has been calling for me and due to the demands of work and life, I've been ignoring the call. Why? I've been pondering that very thing tonight.  When I write, I SEE CLEARLY! Maybe I don't want to see what my heart is leading me toward.      There is so much to be grateful for! My 95 year old paternal grandma has beat this COVID virus with a big stick. I have always admired her love, courage, boldness, and strength. She is goodness and tenacity in human form. Love with spunk! My Mema (my maternal grandmother) held my hand and rubbed my arm and tried to speak to me a couple of days ago. I knew she knew who I was, at least I choose to believe that. She raised her eyebrows and hummed and ...

Life is all about our choices! I choose to live with enthusiasm and spunk. Today, I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet smell of cured tobacco and fleshly plowed soil. I saw a little mouse scurry to safety and a magnificent blue sky overhead. I felt the sun on my cheeks and the breeze as it blew my hair across my face. I tasted the sweetness of a ripe strawberry and quenched my thirst with a tall glass of iced tea. I listened to the purple martins singing as they circled overhead and I heard the whip of our American flag as it moved sharply in the wind. Our lives are what we choose. Even though all of our lives are different now, we can choose to see, hear, touch, taste, and feel the beauty around us.

Strength and love...  When I think of my Mema, Nina P. Holloman, that's what comes to my mind. She is the strongest person I have ever met. I have always felt like she loved me more than could be put into words. Just this week, I stopped by to drop off a ham biscuit for her. I stood in the kitchen. When she heard my voice, her eyes brightened and she lifted her head. I said, "Hey Mema, I love you." She said, "Hey" in the sweetest voice. My heart leaped. Today is her 85th birt hday. The last 15 years of her life have been difficult due to Alzheimer's, but her sweet spirit hasn't changed. She is still the same Mema who made me feel loved beyond measure. Her touch is still genuinely loving and her smile says it all. She knows we love her and she does her very best to show us in return. Happy Birthday Mema. I love you more.  Jodie Leigh

Trepidation Fear can be a paralyzing emotion. I have tried to avoid the television and news over the last couple of weeks. I know my tendencies and it’s just better for me to focus on things that I can control. PTSD is a real thing. It rears its head when things change in our lives. My bouts with PTSD come and go but they tend to coincide with trauma or environmental stressors. This social distancing is easy during these times. I am fine pulling back into myself because this alone time lends itself to reflection. We all need to pay attention. People are dying. One day they are fine and the next, they are fighting for their lives. The physical toll from being placed on a ventilator is enormous. I know this personally.   I have been there. I have begged for a tube to help me breathe. The ramifications are felt for years after the event. Over the last 3 years I have felt the effects of being on a ventilator and research shows that it can take up to ten years to recover from post...

God’s Reset Button         I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately. I think God is doing a FACTORY RESET in my life; in all of our lives really.   There are changes that need to be made. I’m listening to what God is saying.   His whisper has become a “teacher voice” and He has my attention.   I have been thinking about what is really important to me: God, family, friends, my school babies, happiness, and truly loving myself and following my dreams. I’ve been listening to a whole lot of music; really listening. I’ve been making of a list of things I want to see and experience. I pulled my camera back out this morning and blew the dust off of it. God has RESET my life and I’m going to take advantage of this quiet time.   I hear you, God! I have found over the years, if I write things down, I’m more likely to follow through with them. So, here it goes: 1. I choose to focus on what really matters. 2. I’m going back to foste...

      It's been a long time since I wrote a blog.  Things have been hectic.  There is so much going on and so many things I want to say about the days that have passed and the days to come.         Today, my friend and assistant, Gladys Williams, retired.  She was a great assistant and a fantastic friend.  Gladys has impacted so many children in her 20 year career.  Truly, she will be missed at WPS. Congratulations, my friend.        For those who don't know, I have been diagnosed with a large ventral hernia.  I will be having it fixed at Vidant on Friday, June 29th.  I was crushed when I found out that yet again I would be having an invasive surgery.  After a few days of being down and upset, I realized that there really is no need to be upset.  It's gotta happen. Anyway, I'm going into this surgery just like I did all the rest of them; with a positive attitude and knowing that there w...