Memoir: Moving in Poetry, Prose, and Photos
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The day after my birthday, Aunt Lucille informed Mama that I would have to fly to Germany posthaste because after I was seven months pregnant, I would have to wait until after the baby was born. Mama did not want to stay in Saint Louis any longer, and when Daddy called the next day, she asked him to prepare for us to travel immediately. In a couple of days, he called and said he had made the arrangements and had found somewhere for us to live until military quarters were ready. We thanked Aunt Lucille for her help and she took us to the airport. The airplane we boarded was an old, gray military aircraft that shook and rattled like a car with a flat tire. It was the first airplane ride for both of us. Mama and I tried to be strong by putting on our bravest faces for each other. We stopped in Newfoundland to refuel, and the pilot evacuated the plane. Mama and I purchased a soda and a snack, and in about ten minutes, the flight was reboarding. We were concerned about the quick turnaround. A ten-minute repair; And we were back in the air? How could it be repaired? We were scared.
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About the Book
This memoir is about moving from place to place 37 times in my lifetime. My dad was a career soldier, but only four moves were military-connected. I attended 14 primary and secondary schools before completing high school. The constant moving resulted in me losing friends, classmates, playmates, and family. My memoir discusses a few experiences as I moved from place to place, why I had so many addresses, and how the moves impacted me. It also discusses how I survived the loss and loneliness. The story is written in poetry and prose and includes many photos. I hope my story will help others who have moved constantly.
About the Author
Rachel Louise Cooper-Clay lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was born in Evington, Virginia. She moved 37 times in her lifetime and went to 14 schools before graduating high school. She attended McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C., and obtained a BS from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). She is a member of Spotsylvania Baptist Church, the Fredericksburg Senior Citizens Association, and the Pierians, a group committed to promoting the fine arts. She is also the author of “The Orioles: Second String Albert “Diz” Russell,” the story of the vocal group that arguably started rhythm and blues music in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1948. After a 30-year federal government retirement, completion of an MA from Central Michigan University, and a PhD from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN, she taught for almost 14 years at her UMUC alma mater, today the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Dr. Clay has one daughter and a granddaughter. She enjoys writing, music, entertainment, scrabble, and jigsaw puzzles. She wrote her memoir to share a few of her experiences as she moved to 37 addresses and to explore how the many moves affected her. She hopes others will benefit from her story.