Memories Of The Way We Were

I stood in front of the headstone which read ‘Rita Rocca Nee Tomlin (15/6/1942 - 21/10/2020)’ and thought, ‘Is this all there is? Her name on a headstone with mine to follow.’ I remembered a warm May Day in 1948, when we both kneeled at the same altar waiting for a priest to give us our first taste of Jesus. She, in her white dress, was wondering if the day would yield enough for a new doll and pram, while I wondered if mine would yield enough for roller skates and maybe a new football. I recalled the honeymoon in Jersey in 1963, Miss World at the Royal Albert Hall in 1980, and the ball that followed at the Savoy Hotel. I said, “Sorry girl, I can’t give you a Taj Mahal, but I will write a book, which will hopefully make us more than just names on a tombstone.”

About the Book One day Anna Harris was remembering growing up on a farm in Leavenworth, KS. As she thought about that, she began to write the memories of things that had happened during her life. She thought it would be fun to share her memories with her community. She began writing a new story each week for her local newspaper. She had so many folks telling her as each story was written how much they enjoyed it. Then they started encouraging her to write a book! As the memories continued to flood her mind and folks told her how much they enjoyed her stories, she decided why not! She began gathering the memories she had shared and adding more as they continued to come to her. Some of them were FUN stories and some were fond memories of family and friends that were around her family as she grew up. Memories of her family members and all they did on the farm flooded back to her. Each story reminded her of another one. The pages grew and grew! She wishes her mom and dad had lived to be able to read the book. She can almost hear her dad saying, “So, Tut Tut, you think you are a writer now.” He would have been so proud. Her mom would have been even more! She can hear her saying, “Anna Marie!” or “That’s My Anna!” She is so glad that Mom and Dad adopted her at birth. She was wanted and loved just as if she were their own blood. She would like to thank everyone who has encouraged her to do this. She would also encourage you to write your own story. Even if it is just for your memories and your family. We go through life so fast these days. We need to slow down and enjoy each other and the happenings in our lives. Not only MAKE the memories, but also KEEP the memories. Farm Livin’ Was the Life for Her!

The story of Ray Pettit is the story of America. a country of decent and generous people, a country with a heritage and system of government based on liberty and the rights of individuals, a country where opportunity has no bounds. Encouraged by his mill-worker parents, who were lacking in formal education but not in intelligence, character, and love for their children, he used his natural ability in mathematics and high-level academic achievement as a springboard to great accomplishments in engineering, some of which contributed to the development of today's modem cellphone technology .Mill-Village Boy begins with the story of a barefoot boy in overalls, in the small town of Canton, Georgia, during the depression years of the 1930s. Unconditionally loved by his parents, Ray Pettit went from Class Valedictorian to graduation from Georgia Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering. This was followed by Masters and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, and outstanding achievements in industry and academia. Mill-Village Boy has elements of intrigue and danger, love and adventure, comedy and sadness, loyalty and betrayal. . . a fascinating description of an exciting and rewarding life!

Writings by a Western North Carolina family showing their inner feelings and thoughts about life in general.

Matching folio contains 10 terrific songs, including: Memory * Evergreen * The Way We Were * My Heart Belongs To Me.