Photo by Lucas Pezeta
“Hortense was a young woman, thin and flat-chested, with brown curly hair just below her ears, held back on one side by a bobby pin or barrette. She wore flat, brown, tied oxford shoes, and I could hear the clack, clack of each angry, determined footstep as she strode by our house each day, head down and arms firmly crossed in front of her.”
My Featured Blogger this week is Martha Hendricks of White Hair Grace. Read on and you’ll see why. There’s a profound humility and compassion that permeates everything Martha writes. A former professional singer, pastor, writer, decorative painter, and “introspective elder,” Martha “still finds life fascinating.” She’s a vibrant model of how to live a meaningful life.
“Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more.”
William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
I was 17 when I memorized that quote for my senior English class as part of an assignment. How have I remembered such morbid poetry for these past 62 years? I do wish I had that good a memory these days! I also much prefer not to be morbid.
However, these words of the hapless Macbeth popped up recently in my 3 a.m. fretting mind. The middle of the night was not the best time, of course, to be ruminating about anything! It was a golden opportunity for Macbeth’s hopelessness to become real if I so chose. After all, I am part of a world that endlessly frets and struts itself in the midst of an unending pandemic and…
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Mitch Teemley 
Thank you for always featuring brilliant, kind and inspirational bloggers. I have found great people to read through your posts. 😊
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So glad to hear that. I do enjoy presenting my Featured Bloggers.
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Thank you for introducing us to Martha Hendricks of White Hair Grace. Remembering Hortense is a wonderful piece wrought with wisdom and perspective.
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It is indeed, Mannette.
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Thank you for introducing us to Martha. She is an absolute delight and gives me something to aspire toward.
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I so appreciate Martha’s posts. They’re always uplifting, and her writing is exquisite.
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What a nice introduction.
What does the Shakespearean word really mean?
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The whole quote, Tega, or just one of the words Shakespeare uses? In general, the quote means something like, “life is like acting in a play that we know will end, and stressing over whether our lives have any real meaning.”
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Thanks for the explanation.
Exactly what I wanted♡
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I love Martha’s blog! Thanks for giving it a wider platform.
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