The Way We Were

Today while reading Dana Wildsmith's blog post, I realized that my writing has changed or evolved over the years. I don't write the way I used to write. I sometimes find documents, stories or memoir pieces that I think I wrote but am not sure because I did not put my name on them at the time. I would never want to plagiarize someone's writing, so I can't share it as my own since I am not sure. I wonder if my readers have had that happen to them.

I don't have problems with my poetry because so much of it is autobiographical, and I recognize it as my own. Dana writes about how her writing has changed over the years and even if she knows it is her work, she doesn't recognize that writer that she once was. 

I am using this weekend to gather my writings, memoir and short stories, into files where I can self-publish them one day soon. I don't plan on reaching a large audience, but I would certainly like for my family to have the pieces I have written about my parents, my siblings and my ancestors I have researched over the years. 

My neighbors said they don't think their adult children would be interested in their family stories. I think they would be interested, but it might be after their parents have passed on. I notice that it is not until the parents die that their children and grandchildren wish they had asked more questions and had written down the history of the family for generations to come. 

Every time I talk with my older brother on the phone, I ask him to tell me his memories about our family and I learn something new each time. He was born years before I was, so he remembers the day I was born and the place I was born. He remembers when and how our family moved to the farm where I grew up, and he can tell me details I never heard before. I hope his own children are hearing his stories and will remember them always. 

Max, Gay and me at 2013 family Christmas party

My brother, Max, has composed beautiful songs in his life. Some of them he sang with his brothers when they were the Council Brothers Quartet, and many of them he sang with his lovely wife in their later years. Even today after her memory has diminished, she will sit down to the piano and play music they sang together. Max says she remembers the words better than he does.  I wish his children or grandchildren would record them before it is too late. 

I often think Max is more of an artist than any of his siblings. He has drawn and painted birds that are perfect. He creates poetry and song lyrics, sings and is a story teller. He has never been taught by an artist, a poet or a song writer. Completely self-taught, he amazes me. 

This photo goes way back to when Max, and his wife, Salita, were young. Their first two sons are in this photo. I babysat these kids. 

I reached out today to a long time friend I haven't seen in years. She and I plan to meet in October some place where we can social distance and catch up on our lives. Even if we are not able to get together as we once did, we must keep up our connections with those we care for and enjoy. 

Well, this gloomy looking day is about over and I still have many things to do. I hope you are enjoying your weekend, my friends. Stay well and safe.

Visit www.glendacouncilbeall.com for an interesting post by my friend, Roger Carlton. 

The Council Brothers Quartet

My brothers, Ray, Max, Hal and Rex Council used to sing at the Council Family reunion in Crawfordville, Florida. My husband, Barry Beall, played guitar and sang also. Although Ray is gone now and they don't sing together anymore, we have tapes of their music and many photos of them singing. Mother was proud of her sons and accompanied them whenever she could to hear them sing in churches or at the reunions. Daddy seldom went anywhere but I don't remember him ever going to one of the little country churches when they sang. The Council Brothers were well known around south Georgia and sang on WGPC radio in Albany when I was still a teenager. Blanche Crosby played piano for them for many years and Billy Berry accompanied them for awhile.
I was happy that my husband enjoyed being a part of the group and was always ready to accompany the quartet on his guitar. He usually had a solo part some where in the performance. The brothers had an excellent sound and their harmony was good like that of many siblings. Barry was a music major in college and he had and still has a beautiful voice.
For the past few years he has sung with the Methodist Church choir in Hayesville, NC and also with the Singing Disciples, a men's group led by Roger Hove.
Max and his wife, Salita, sang as a duo for some years but lately Max only sings with his friend Jerry Marlowe.
I think Ray's death ended an era of singing for my brothers. They had always been the four Council brothers and it just wasn't the same with only three..