Author: Leslie Lippa
I am a 50-something-year-old lover of hippos, books, and the beach.
I currently work at the Greensboro Fire Department in North Carolina in Public Relations.
I wrote this piece in 2014 while struggling to climb out of the depths of despair after losing my mother to a long battle with cancer. My momma and I shared a special bond over the beach, and I recently added a tattoo in her handwriting of a line from the last note she wrote me - "the beach calls and I sure understand that. Love, Mom".
I had the opportunity to attend “Summer Camp at the Barn”, a week-long writing workshop at the Highlights Foundation this past July and was honored to work with Megan McDonald, of the Judy Moody series and the renowned Peter Jacoby.
I shared my essay with the other authors at the camp and was encouraged to send it out into the world.
We Fought Hard. We Loved Hard. Momma and Me
“What do you want me to do,” she asked, “live until I’m 88?!” “No,” I replied quietly, “I want you to live until I’m 88.” It was at that moment I finally realized my mother was dying. I had been down this road with her for what seemed like an Read more