The untold story, only brought to life and light, in death. Elissa, I am so thankful this morning for Ms. Bickel's story. She inspires me to expand my life, notice my life and to do the same of and for others.
This piece makes me think of my grandma. When she died (over 30 years ago now), a service was held at the Methodist Church she was a member of in Memphis for over 50 years. An African-American man no one in the family knew sat at the back. After the service he came up and introduced himself. It turned out my grandma taught third grade in one of the first two integrated classrooms in the Memphis Public Schools. The man's best friend was in my grandma's class and was so transformed by the experience he never forgot her. He would have come himself to pay respects, but he had to work, so he sent his best friend, who was in the other first integrated classroom, the third grade across the hall. The man talked at length about how much my grandma meant to them.
I had never heard that story in all my years of being a devoted fan of my grandma. It made me realize how many unsung heroes there are in this world, just going about their business.
Thank you so much for sharing that inspiring story. I often think how incredibly naive it is for western society to praise the lives of celebrities while ignoring the amazing adventures of the mundane general public.
I have always loved obituaries. People live fascinating lives. I read the local and Provincial (I live in Canada.) every day.
For the longest time, I had an obituary posted on my fridge of a man I had not known. His obituary contained a picture of a bespectacled man with a wonderful smile. He was wearing a hat. The obituary spoke of his kindness and his work with the homeless. It mentioned the hat! It concluded with a request that people make a donation to their local food bank and tell them that he had sent you there. It was such a touching and inspiring obituary. When visitors would ask if this obituary was my family member, my daughter would laugh and say “No. Mom just loves a good obituary.”
Reading about Margaret’s full life expanded something in me this morning. Thanks for sharing her beautiful story.
My dad passed in 2020 and my family would joke that once he retired, he shifted his full time job into attending wakes and funerals. He combed the obits daily and if he knew the deceased at all or knew their family well enough, you bet he would attend that wake/funeral. I really admired him for displaying that kind of sympathy and reverence to others. And the turnout at his wake - remarkable.
This essay made me miss my dad and the salt of the earth folks like Margaret Bickel. ❤️
Margaret's story played out like a film in my mind's eye. In sharing her extraordinary life, you've shown us we're all extraordinary too.
The untold story, only brought to life and light, in death. Elissa, I am so thankful this morning for Ms. Bickel's story. She inspires me to expand my life, notice my life and to do the same of and for others.
This piece makes me think of my grandma. When she died (over 30 years ago now), a service was held at the Methodist Church she was a member of in Memphis for over 50 years. An African-American man no one in the family knew sat at the back. After the service he came up and introduced himself. It turned out my grandma taught third grade in one of the first two integrated classrooms in the Memphis Public Schools. The man's best friend was in my grandma's class and was so transformed by the experience he never forgot her. He would have come himself to pay respects, but he had to work, so he sent his best friend, who was in the other first integrated classroom, the third grade across the hall. The man talked at length about how much my grandma meant to them.
I had never heard that story in all my years of being a devoted fan of my grandma. It made me realize how many unsung heroes there are in this world, just going about their business.
Thank you so much for sharing that inspiring story. I often think how incredibly naive it is for western society to praise the lives of celebrities while ignoring the amazing adventures of the mundane general public.
I have always loved obituaries. People live fascinating lives. I read the local and Provincial (I live in Canada.) every day.
For the longest time, I had an obituary posted on my fridge of a man I had not known. His obituary contained a picture of a bespectacled man with a wonderful smile. He was wearing a hat. The obituary spoke of his kindness and his work with the homeless. It mentioned the hat! It concluded with a request that people make a donation to their local food bank and tell them that he had sent you there. It was such a touching and inspiring obituary. When visitors would ask if this obituary was my family member, my daughter would laugh and say “No. Mom just loves a good obituary.”
Second chapters. I love reading about them.
The unordinary life of an ordinary person. Thanks for the reminder of the good people do quietly, dutifully, without Facebook or Instagram.
Reading about Margaret’s full life expanded something in me this morning. Thanks for sharing her beautiful story.
My dad passed in 2020 and my family would joke that once he retired, he shifted his full time job into attending wakes and funerals. He combed the obits daily and if he knew the deceased at all or knew their family well enough, you bet he would attend that wake/funeral. I really admired him for displaying that kind of sympathy and reverence to others. And the turnout at his wake - remarkable.
This essay made me miss my dad and the salt of the earth folks like Margaret Bickel. ❤️
This was so beautiful, thank you x
What a wonderful life🕊️🤍🕊️Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I would love to have known her, what a remarkable woman! Thank you for sharing and honoring her, I head into my day inspired.
What a life story!
Makes me realize that we all leave a legacy.
A wonderful life story. Thanks for sharing!
Such a pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing this with us, Elissa.
Gosh! ❤️