Carter story brought back a sweet memory

I took a little trip down memory lane after reading Roger Lucas’ remembrance of Jimmy Carter in last week’s edition of The Star.

While I never met President Carter, I did in fact spend a lovely couple of days with his sister Ruth and his Aunt Sissy in 1976 when my parents hosted them in our home in Oakley California. As I recall, Ruth had a speaking engagement in the area and my parents were acquainted with her in her ‘Inner Healing’ ministry. She authored books on this subject in the late ’60s and throughout the ’70s.

Sporting my, ‘The Grin Will Win’ tee shirt, we were introduced to our guests. I extended my hand and said, “I am pleased to meet you Mrs. Stapleton,” to which she immediately replied, “You must call me Ruth, and this is Aunt Sissy.” As a sixth grader, it was pretty cool to be invited to address an adult by their first name.

We shared meals, listened to family stories about Jimmy growing up, and got busted for putting my elbows on the table during Sunday breakfast at our formal dining table. In my defense, I was not the only one with my elbows on the table.

As was our family tradition, Sunday breakfast with my whole family was a regular occurrence. It wasn’t unusual for a couple of us to come to the table in our pajamas and robes. This Sunday, that was what our guests, in fact, were wearing. As was our family custom, my dad sat at the head of the table and I was to his right. We had finished eating, the adults were conversing, and quite suddenly my dad reprimands me with, “Tracy, get your elbows off the table”, only to look up and see Ruth and Aunt Sissy doing the same, and removing their elbows from the table as quickly as they could. We all had a good laugh. 

As it happens a reporter from our local paper called my mom a couple of days after our guests had left and asked if there was anything that stood out during their visit. My mom starts laughing and relays the Sunday breakfast occurrence featuring yours truly. I recall going to school the next day and one of my teachers calling me ‘elbows’, with a twinkle in his eye. 

I was too young to understand the election process. Although I did knock on doors with my mom in our small town asking them to vote for Jimmy Carter. Of course, wearing my prized tee shirt. 

I do know all these years, decades, later, that he lived a life true to the Gospel that he believed in. Whether in the Whitehouse or building a Habitat for Humanity house, he truly served others. Irrespective of political affiliations, it’s an ethos to aspire to. 

I wish you God Speed as you leave this world and have a hunch, in the plethora of people that will be there to greet you on the other side, Ruth and Aunt Sissy will be towards the front of the line.

Tracy G. Maher