Tucked into the northeast corner of the busiest intersection in Peachtree City is J. Christopher’s restaurant, where locals gather for breakfast and lunch.
Hollie Sue Thompson, a self-avowed country girl, supervises the staff. Half busy bee and half social butterfly, Hollie leads by example, making new patrons welcome and regulars like me feel like friends or even family with a little friendly conversation and a warm smile as we are served.
Now and then when the mood moves her, Hollie expresses herself with poetry in her own style. Recently, with Mother’s Day on her mind, she wrote about her Mama, Tammie Sue St. Claire, who lives and works in the southeast corner of Georgia.
She showed her poem to me and I thought her words are a superb example of how we feel about our Mom, but we never find the words or take the time to say it enough. With Hollie’s permission:
Tammie Sue St. Claire — My Mama
by Hollie Sue Thompson © 2022
When I think of who I am
And who I wanted to be
I think of my Mama
Because we’re so alike, you see.
She raised me up like her
Strong and wild and free,
She raised me up to be
Everything I wanted to be.
The talks I have with her
Are my favorite times of day
Because my Mama always listens
To all I have to say.
My Mama is very kind
And her heart is always full.
But push her buttons just right
And you’ll get a raging bull.
In many ways we’re different
In many ways we’re the same.
But you see, I wouldn’t be me
Without my Mama to blame.
And now I’ve raised my Summer
So strong and wild and free
Because I wanted her
To be just like my Mama and me.
[Comments to Hollie — holliesukie28@icloud.com]
[Terry Garlock occasionally contributes to The Citizen. tlg.opinion@gmail.com]
