The Joy Troupe has been brought to you by many, many inspirational people. I have had the privilege to know a great many wise and wonderful people, and among them is my Grandmother, the Wise and Wonderful Betty Gray, who was a Joy Makin’ Mama from Way Back.
Perhaps some of us have been blessed with the kind of grandmother who lived a decorous, proper life, but she was not one. She taught us to play poker. She was never, ever shy about stating her opinion. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and that heart was so very, very full of love for us. She could tell stories from one day’s end to the next. She laughed loud and hard, and wanted everyone to laugh with her. She drew people in. She “adopted” them. Whether you were her tenant or the owner of her favorite antique store, she’d get your life story out of you, remember all of it, and love you for it.
She’s gone now, but her ability to gather people up, to love them like family, and to make them a part of her “tribe” inspired the creation of this community of like-minded moms. So welcome to the fold, Joy Makin’ Mama. We gather you up. We want to hear your story. We’ll sit beside you. We’ll cry with you. We’ll most certainly laugh with you. Come be a part of our tribe.
