I have always wanted to be a writer, and now at age 61 I am. I write stories, poems, and articles of Christian or spiritual nature. I was thrilled when in November of 2012 I became a published author in print with two short stories. I am also a writer for the Christian News Today online news blog, and a contributor to Believer's Life online ezine and Chrisitan Witness online blog.
My life has been pretty much like a patchwork quilt, moving from town to town when I was a child. The longest I have lived anywhere is Memphis, Tennessee,so I guess I can say that's my hometown. I now live in Southaven, Mississippi, which is really just a suburb of Memphis. I have a wonderful son and two amazing grand daughters. I am currently writing articles and poems for the online publication of Christian-News-Today. I am also a contributor to The Christian Witness and Believer's Life Ezines. I will also have two fiction stories published in Oaktara's publication of a book of anthologies "I Choose You."
Skipper Bledsoe died horrendously in a motorcycle accident on April 1st, 1991. The saddest part was that Skipper didn't ride motorcycles. He didn't even like them. Still, on this particular sunny afternoon on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, he was on the back of one traveling at such high speed on the winding campus road so as to not be seen by the driver of a car at a stop sign.
The young woman stopped at the sign and saw no traffic from either direction. She proceeded across the intersection and instantly collided with a motorcycle with two young college freshmen aboard. The cycle was moving in excess of 100 miles per hour. Skipper was not wearing a helmet and was killed instantly when he was thrown forward, and his head crashed into a nearby parked car.
The young man driving the motorcycle was wearing a helmet but suffered several broken bones. The driver of the car received no physical injuries.
Skipper lived an exemplary life in his nineteen years on earth. He was the son of an attorney and respected local politician. He was a Christian who attended church and was involved in the youth ministry. He read his bible, and was an honor student in high school.
Skip's life began to change when he went away to college. He shortened his name to Skip in order to fit in. His roommate, Wesley Hamilton III, was quite the character. He was a little on the wild side and liked to party. The two of them had little in common but Wes was funny and likable, and he and Skip developed the friendly sort of bond college roommates often do.
Wes talked Skip into going to a few parties with him, but Skip found them to be loud and raucous. His Christian beliefs were often offended, although he didn't tell Wes that. He just said he wasn't the partying type and begged off more often than not. Wes teased him for being what he called a fuddy duddy.
On that fatal day, Wes came back to school over spring break with a brand new motorcycle. Skip had never ridden a motorcycle before and wasn't really interested in trying it now, but Wes kept insisting they go for a spin together.
“I don't even have a helmet.” Skip said.
“You don't need one. We'll just take it easy around campus. I just want you feel the rush!”
Against his better judgment, a short time later Skip made the fatal decision to climb on the back of his rommmate's motorcycle. In less than two minutes he was dead.
When his father went up to the school to collect Skip's belongings he entered the room and immediately began to sob. In the middle of Skip's rumpled bed lay an open bible.
*Although the names have been changed and some speculation has been done, this is a true story.
Published author with Oaktara Publishers. "A Sunday Kind of Love" and "A Friend of Mine" two short stories in the book "I Choose You."
