Mary Ney Gilhooly is reliving the good old days, and she’s invited us to join her.
Her recently published book, “The Windmill’s Song and Other Memories of a Country Child”, takes readers to rural Texas in the 1930s and ‘40s to a small farming town in Medina County, where 61-year-old Gilhooly grew up.
“Life has changed drastically since I was a child,” Gilhooly says. “There are no longer family farms, and if there are, the farmers hold down second jobs.”
Gilhooly says her biographical book celebrates nature and family traditions.
“What it does for many people is remind them of their own childhood,” she says. “I hope they (readers) will get an understanding of Texas history. I hope to evoke pleasant memories.”
As a child, Gilhooly spent hours sitting on her front porch listening to the humming of a nearby windmill, she says.
Windmills are symbols of rural life; they represent hope, she says. Where there is a windmill, there were settlers who believed they could bring water to barren land, she says.
For years, Gilhooly has collected windmill miniatures, models and pictures, and now boasts a sizable display.
Gilhooly, a former nurse, lives in our neighborhood with her husband, John, and has two grown sons, Kevin and Stephen, who both live in Dallas.
Gilhooly heads the grief ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology.
Writing has always been her first love, she says.
She won her first writing award at age 16 for two short stories written while trying to relieve boredom when she was sick with the mumps.
She also has written articles for the now-defunct Dallas Times Herald newspaper and the Hondo Anvil Herald. “The Windmill’s Song” is her first book.
The book is available locally at Carol’s Creations in Old Town Shopping Center, located at Lovers Lane and Greenville.
News & Notes:
PRESBYTERIAN OPENS NEW MEDICAL CENTER: Presbyterian Healthcare System opened its fourth Senior Medical Center lat month at the East Lake Medical Building, located at Garland and Centerville. The center serves seniors age 65 and older and accepts Medicare. Each center is staffed with a physician, registered nurse or nurse practitioner, a social worker, and center coordinator. Services include health and wellness education, nutrition information, social services, home health care coordination and diagnostics, such as lab and X-ray. Office hours are 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. For information, call 328-1800.
POLICE CHIEF SPEAKS TO AARP: Dallas Police Chief Ben Click speaks to the American Association of Retired Persons, Ridgewood Park Chapter No. 3787, May 23 at 10 a.m. at the Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church, 6445 E. Lovers. Lunch is served for $1.50 per person. Call 827-6678 for information about the chapter.
DOCTORS HOSPITAL TEACHES SENIOR SAFETY: Doctors Hospital, 9440 Poppy at Buckner, recently launched its SeniorSafe program, a free educational series for older adults. The workshop “What’s New in Nutrition, Exercise & Fitness” is offered May 18 & 22. Workshops are offered each month in Doctors West Tower Conference Center on Wednesdays and include health and wellness education, nutrition information, social services, home health care coordination, and diagnostics, such as lab and X-ray. Office hours are 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. For information, call 328-1800.
FREE HEARING EVALUATIONS: Total Hearing Care, 4130 Abrams, offers free hearing evaluations for senior throughout May in recognition of Better Hearing Month. Of the 27 million Americans age 65 and older, as many as 50 percent may have a hearing impairment, which often leads to isolation, say Total Hearing Care representatives. Call 827-1900 for information.
