Author Archives: averyellk

Averyell A. Kessler Saturday Reprise The tiny yellow house on St. Mary Street’s steep hill had always terrified me. To my eight-year-old eyes, it was an exact copy of a gingerbread house haunted by the frightening witch of Hansel and Gretel fame. It’s peaked front door was flanked by two miniature fan top windows andContinue reading “Bottle Tree Magic ©”

Averyell A. Kessler Brenda’s stand at the old Farmer’s Market is open now. I spoke with her last Saturday and she’s doing well. Can’t wait to slice a Smith County tomato and slather on the Duke’s for a summertime treat, dripping with juice and full of flavor. . I promised her that I’d to re-postContinue reading “Teaching Jesus©”

Averyell A. Kessler As Memorial Day approaches, I am thinking of a man I never met. His name is Charles Willis Kessler; his was a young, second Lieutenant from the small town of Eunice, Louisiana.  Two of his brothers went to war also, one older, one younger. Both came home. Willis did not. He lostContinue reading “A Silent Gathering©”

Averyell A. Kessler There was once a beautiful cornfield right in the middle of Jackson Mississippi.  It wasn’t a few scant rows in a backyard garden, or a scraggly plant struggling for life as a middle school science project, but a full fifteen acres of carefully planted, obsessively tended, Midwestern knockoff corn. My grandfather WGContinue reading “Corn Conversation ©”

Averyell A. Kessler As the child of midwestern parents, I was not taught the language of the south. Instead of Ohio, Daddy said Ahiya. Mama attended Northwestern in Chicaga and rode the L – whatever that was. My conversion happened by osmosis, as gentle expressions and soft southern words covered me like a fine mist.Continue reading “Honey©”

Averyell A. Kessler It’s the last day of school and my final day as a sixth grader at Power School. My brain is pacing back and forth like a caged tiger. We all are. Even our teacher has a faraway look in her eyes as she tries to hold back an imminent explosion of joy.Continue reading “The Last Day©”

Saturday Reprise Averyell A. Kessler “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Mrs. Mills asked. I was sitting in her first-grade classroom on the first floor of Power School’s antediluvian building. Her question caused an immediate response and a wave of hands shot up. “A fireman!” Tommy called out. That made sense.Continue reading “What’s Next?©”

Averyell A. Kessler My grandfather WG was a master storyteller and trickster.  I received assurance this week when I leafed through one of his old photo albums. I found it in a forgotten blanket chest under a stack of aging sheets, saggy pillowcases, and a multicolored hooked rug. What a discovery! Inside, I saw aContinue reading “Reversal of Fortune©”

Averyell A. Kessler Saturday reprise Last week, I heard a remark in a silly romantic comedy showing on TMC. I wasn’t paying much attention until this  “May the good Lord make you smart enough to live in a small town.”*  How strange, a bit of wisdom direct from Hollywood to my southern ears.   DuringContinue reading “Small Town Smart©”

Averyell A. Kessler What’s the most important thing I learned growing up in Jackson? Yikes!! Before you hide under the covers or take shelter in a crowded closet, let me explain. I’m not talking about multiplication tables, the proper spelling or Argentina, and anything else I learned meandering through the Jackson Public School System. It’sContinue reading “Let’s Pretend©”