In essence this soulful story is about the continuous coming-of-age of a fragile family during the fifties, sixties, and beyond who spent years crossing the invisible Mason-Dixon Line in search of the truth, new beginnings, redemption, and the best way to live their lives. When two Southern brothers from New Roads, Louisiana married two Northern sisters from New England, the roots of these Mason-Dixon matches were planted in the fertile soil along the Mississippi. Although one of the only things that these couples had in common was the word 'new' in their places of birth, the author's young and impetuous parents decided to elope nine days after they were introduced by their older siblings! They built the foundation of their family in a little cypress shotgun cabin under a beautiful cathedral ceiling of an old oak alley on a piece of land called Live Oak. For thirteen years the couple tried to make their marriage last until it finally shattered on the day that the author's mother took her children and left their Daddy behind without any warning in order to return to her roots in Massachusetts. This traumatic day of separation marked the 'before and after' of the lives of a family who, each in their own way, had to grow up. The children spent years crossing the lines of their youth as they went back and forth from South to North and back to Dixie again where they spent summers with their father, their college years, and some of the best moments of their lives! This nostalgic look back at first loves, home, divorce, and friendships that last a lifetime speaks to the strength, unity, and continuity of the thread of a family which connected them even after it fractured. Through time and place, as they each came-of-age, the relationships from both sides of the invisible line which had once separated them brought them back to the land where their story had begun. Even through their pain, they eventually came to see the blessings that were before them all along in the moments that mattered. Every day people are impacted by abuse, alcoholism, divorce, murder, mental and physical illness, and suicide. This family was touched by all of these, but they were also enveloped by the love, kindness, empathy, support, encouragement, understanding, and compassion of those who surrounded them. These are more than mere inspirational words because there is a great deal of truth behind them. "Mason-Dixon Memories" is the soulful story about who they became while they were carried through the best and broken moments of their lives by the goodness of others.
About the Author: Stacia Roberts Pangburn lives with her husband in Louisiana on the land where she grew up. They are surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and wonderful friends and family. She has been a social worker, special education tutor, counselor, and writer in between her favorite job titles of wife, Mom, and Gigi, her grandmother name. Their daughter lives next door to them in the little cypress cabin that Stacia was raised in. In a review of the book, Charlene, a lifetime friend from kindergarten wrote... "Stacia's lifelong trait of counting her blessings and blessing her loved ones has never diminished in all of the years I have known her. She chooses joy over sorrow, gratitude over bitterness, and generosity over mean spiritedness. She has suffered many heartaches and pain, yet she chooses to report happiness and contentment. She is who she is, and her inner clock defies reason. She marches to her own tune, and just because we have never heard that tune before does not invalidate it. I personally believe it abounds in beauty and love. A delightful, sweet read about thankfulness, contentment, pain and joy. We should all be so lucky!