What’s your life story?

Did you ever climb a mountain, set sail on a large boat to far-away lands, win a jackpot of huge amounts of cash, or just live a quiet, happy life in a comfortable home with your family?

Did you live on a farm and enjoy the rural life -- or did you live in a big city with all its noise and confusion? There are a myriad ways that one can spend his days on this earth.

Some people spend their lives in an ordinary way. They are young children; then they go to school, to high school and some to college. They get married and try to find a nice home, either buying or building their dream place.

Others seem to have most unusual lives, and there are those whose livelihoods take them to far reaches of the earth. We read of people who are missionaries that travel to remote corners of the globe to work and live. And there are those who decide they’d rather live in Europe or some continent other than North America.

Then there are those who work for our government and are sent to far-away places to negotiate with leaders of other countries; and our presidents, the ones we have known in our lifetimes and those way in the past. What wonderful adventures they must have had.

All this is leading to the main subject of this article Writing down your life story! About two months ago, since I have vivid memories of the past, I decided to begin writing down my life story. So far I have been fortunate that I have a very good memory. My pastor son said, “Oh, I could write down your life story in about three pages.” Really?

Well, I am far from finished because who knows what will happen in the next ten years - or twenty? I am already eighty years old but I hope and pray I’m not finished yet. I do hope I have some worthy adventures and memories left to add to my story before it is finished.

Joseph, my son, may think my life can be told in three pages, but I am now on page 69! The time from my birth until I was seven years old took almost ten pages. When I was born, and until age seven, we lived with my grandmother in an historic house where the Newton Post Office is now located. The house was built by Confederate hero, George W. Rabb. I have MANY memories of my time there and all that was around that corner of West C Street and Ashe Avenue during the 1940s and early 1950s.

Lots of memories also come from starting school at

Becky McRee

the old Newton Elementary which has now been demolished. Then, we students spent eight years there.

When my parents bought a house on West Sixth Street a bunch of new memories were made living there until graduation from NewtonConover High. Then there was college at Lees-McRae in the mountains that I love, and an internship in Charlotte at Presbyterian Hospital.

There was a 1965 marriage that led me to travel to Europe and the Middle East. There were two children born during those years. There was the work I did in many Charlotte, Raleigh, Newton and Hickory doctors’ offices and hospitals as a medical secretary.

And, then there was the return to college with a 1995 degree in English and Communications and a change in my career to become a writer, author and speaker. There was church which I’ve always been a part of and I’ve held memberships in seven different churches at various times.

There are now five grandchildren in my life - three grandsons and two sweet granddaughters!

There was a second marriage to a former classmate and returning to live in Newton where I was born. Many more memories pop up of a life of change and experience and every once in a while I’ll remember something that I left out.

So, I’m still working on my life story which I plan to have printed and bound and give to my children and grandchildren as a gift to keep and treasure. For, they are also a part of these memories and in a sense, these are their memories too.

I hope some of you will decide to undertake this task and reach the realization that you have achieved much in your years. There will most likely be things that you recall that you fervently wish you had never done -- and you will most assuredly find many that you are very glad you did. The recall of these precious memories of the days spent throughout your life will bring you thankfulness and joy.

I wish you all well in your writing!