Category Archives: Memoir

My life and welcome to it.

The Sky Goes All the Way Down

Posted on May 12, 2026 by mitchteemley

Source: Raised to Action My Real Memoir The sky goes all the way down, I thought. Or at least it did where we lived. It didn’t in L.A. because the buildings got in its way. Mom used to work there, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Every Day is Mother’s Day

Posted on May 10, 2026 by mitchteemley

Photo by Mitch Teemley Happy Mother’s Day! And remember, every day is Mother’s Day. I took this photo of my wife Trudy and our recently-born first child when Trudy was exhausted. And yet all I see is her bottomless, heart-melting … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Memoir, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

I Always Knew You Loved Me, Mom

Posted on May 7, 2026 by mitchteemley

I made the above Mother’s Day video a few years back. I’ve posted it here so you can share it with others, if you wish. To show it at a church or other public gathering, click here. Mom was twenty … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Music and Videos | Tagged , , , , , , | 42 Comments

My Farewell to Old Los Angeles

Posted on May 5, 2026 by mitchteemley

Scenes from a long-forgotten L.A. My Real Memoir My farewell to old Los Angeles. That was what it turned out to be. When school was out, Mom would sometimes take me to “her L.A.” The two musts of these magical … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

The Kindness of Strangers

Posted on May 1, 2026 by mitchteemley

All photos by Mitch Teemley, except Tulip the bulldog (by Elliot Teemley) She Was Completely Dependent Upon… The kindness of strangers. A few weeks ago, our firstborn Elliot was walking near their apartment, when they* spotted a rotund little bulldog … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 63 Comments

Horror! Devastation! Pee!

Posted on April 28, 2026 by mitchteemley

War of the Worlds (1953) My Real Memoir Horror! Devastation! Pee! It was late summer, shortly before second grade began, and Dad wanted to see a movie. Imagine that — Dad wanted to see a movie! It was normally Mom … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

My Super-Secret Operation!

Posted on April 21, 2026 by mitchteemley

Photo courtesy of Leicester Mercury My Real Memoir My Super-Secret Operation! I asked my wife whether I should publicly share this  confidential nugget from my childhood. Being pseudo-famous, I always find it wise to ask my very private wife when … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Life With a Capital L

Posted on April 14, 2026 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir Life With a Capital L: My first introduction to Life beyond my neighborhood came from a tiny black-and-white TV. And by “Life,” I mean storytelling–which virtually defines who I am–some subtly-inserted human values, and humor; if storytelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

My All-American Friend

Posted on April 7, 2026 by mitchteemley

TV taught me that Ovaltine was the perfect food. My Real Memoir My First “Normal” Friend I’ve never been normal in any rational sense of the word. But Stevie was. Heck, he had red hair and freckles. Which was as … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

The Year I Turned Shy

Posted on March 31, 2026 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir The Year I Turned Shy: Me? Shy? Hard to believe, I know, but up until Kindergarten I’d never had any friends my age. And when I finally did meet some, they seemed weirdly “normal.” I didn’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments