Writer Ellen Morris Prewitt Blog

Our Failure to Address Violence Against the Homeless

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 19, 2014. Posted in General. 5 Comments on Our Failure to Address Violence Against the Homeless

I knew him as a willing orator. At any given Memphis School for Servant Leadership gathering, he might rise and recite one of Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches. “Recite” is too tame a word. He would perform the speeches. From memory, without notes, with passion. I knew him as a part of the life of the school. I was quite...

The Mysterious Shirt

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 18, 2014. Posted in General. 3 Comments on The Mysterious Shirt

I’m sitting here in a cast-off/picked-up shirt, and it reminded me of this story about another cast-off/picked-up shirt. This essay might have run in Strut! Magazine, I can’t remember. In any event, I’m sharing it again: The Mysterious Shirt My sister gave me this shirt. At the time, she was living in my basement. I told...

The Dog Must Pee

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 14, 2014. Posted in General. 4 Comments on The Dog Must Pee

So I went outside today for the first time in four days. I know it’s been four days because my husband said, “Do you realize I’ve been taking this dog out every time for four days?” The only reason I went outside today is because my husband’s comment led me to conclude that if I didn’t get my butt off the...

When Do Fish Sleep?

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 11, 2014. Posted in General. 7 Comments on When Do Fish Sleep?

My three-year-old grandson handed me a book to read. He found the book in the drawer of the beach house this past week (later, he would ask me, “What’s a beach house?). The title of the book was “When Do Fish Sleep?” Narrating our activity, as is my want, I said, “I hope this book isn’t rhetorical—I...

The Loss of a Friend

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 2, 2014. Posted in General. 6 Comments on The Loss of a Friend

People I care about are leaving this world. I want to honor them with the life I live. I’m not talking about being a good person or doing a lot of charity work or taking on causes or achieving anything at all. I’m talking about incorporating into my life what I loved in theirs. It is amazing how many times death has implanted...

The Butterfly Emerges

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on September 29, 2014. Posted in General. 4 Comments on The Butterfly Emerges

My web presence is about to transform from a fuzzy caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. I love caterpillars, their chunky little bodies moving with unexpected grace. But a butterfly! Soon, you’ll be able to actually read this blog—no more black background making you squint and ultimately blame me when you discover you’ve...

Competency

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on September 27, 2014. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Competency

I cannot lie: I LOVE feeling competent. For me, “competent” means I’m able to satisfy expectations. Mine, others, or both. Today at the Literacy Mid-South inaugural Book Festival, I was competent. I know this because after the talks people keep coming up to me and telling me how helpful they found the information I...

So Easy

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on September 26, 2014. Posted in General. 6 Comments on So Easy

So my friend had three polyps; two benign, one malignant. So he had to have another colonoscopy this year to recheck things. So he’s on Medicaid. So Medicaid doesn’t pay for the prep material that you must drink and cannot have a colonoscopy without. So he had to postpone the colonoscopy until a day came when he didn’t have...

The Website Has Me Trapped Like a Spider

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on September 23, 2014. Posted in General. No Comments on The Website Has Me Trapped Like a Spider

This website re-design is so hard! I am a trial and error person, which, by definition, means I make errors. Another way to look at it is I need to play with things. Try a little of this, mix in a dollop of that. Maybe take a big eraser and start all over—why do you think my husband marvels at the process I go through to get dressed in the...

Thank God Dogs Gotta Pee

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on September 19, 2014. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Thank God Dogs Gotta Pee

Thank God dogs have to pee. My time at my dad’s family reunion this past week was invaded by the Door of Hope book, Writing Our Way Home: A Group Journey Out of Homelessness. Calls from TV news anchors; an interview with Leonard Gill of the Memphis Flyer, which resulted in this great article: MEMPHIS FLYER All wonderful stuff but, for...