The Empty Chair: Ray Robinson’s Emotional Memorial Day in Shady Pines

The Empty Chair: Ray Robinson’s Emotional Memorial Day in Shady Pines

by | May 18, 2026 | Shady Pines Stories, The Kindness Connection Blog

A Story of Service and Sacrifice

It’s Different This Year

Dear Readers, in Shady Pines Story Town Memorial Day usually means picnics, parades and neighbors gathering on front porches.

But for seven-year-old Ray Robinson, the atmosphere this year feels a little heavier. While the rest of our close knit community prepares for the festivities, Ray is learning a lesson about service that isn’t found in his textbooks.

A Different Kind of Silence

Ray’s world is usually filled with the sounds of Saturday morning cartoons or Boomerang barking and the meows from Halley’s Comet when he goes to the Sanders’ house to play. Boomer and Halley are two of his best buddies. Lately the loudest sound in his house is the silence.

Ray’s father is in the military. Once again he’s been deployed somewhere overseas. Neither Ray nor his mom knows where they sent him. The war with Iran continues to grab headlines. Is he close to that conflict? The boots that used to sit by the front door are gone. The chair at the head of the table is tucked in tight, unused. The fear is real.

The Weight of “Wait”

For a sensitive child like Ray, time is a strange thing. “A few months” feels like a lifetime when you’re waiting for a game of catch or a bedtime story. What if his dad’s gone for more than a few months? What then?

Ray’s mom does her best to hold everything together. She sometimes takes on odd jobs around town to keep up with the bills. Ray thinks she tries to stay busy so she doesn’t have time to think.

Providing Support

That’s why Ray’s mom started dropping him off at the Shady Pines Community Center after school. Edna Sanders works there part time. It’s where Ray first met Boomer and Halley. Edna’s four-legged kids often make rounds at the center with their mom. Ray started joining them. Director Rita Malena knows that Ray and his mom are going through a tough time. She pays extra attention to the studious youngster and often sends Ray home with a casserole for their dinner.

Sometimes Edna takes Ray and her “kids” to nearby Stonewall Park to play catch. Ray loves to watch Boomer run after the flying disc. Halley thinks it’s just another silly thing that the Australian Shepherd likes to do. She figures it’s far better to hang back and get attention from Ray in between throws.

Even with this distraction, Ray often thinks about his mom. He notices the tired lines around her eyes when she thinks he isn’t looking. He sees her checking the mailbox with a hopeful expression that fades when there’s no handwritten letter from his dad. The fact is they live every day with the uncertainty of how to manage until he comes home. It’s like a cloud that follows them even on the sunniest day.

The True Meaning of the Holiday

This Memorial Day, Ray isn’t just thinking about history because he’s living it. He’s learning that behind every soldier is a family like the Robinsons, doing the hard work of waiting.

We often think of bravery as something that happens far away, but Ray and his mom remind us that acts of bravery are often happening all around us. This Memorial Day weekend let’s celebrate the unofficial start to summer. At the same time, let’s practice Shady Pines Strength by being extra patient and kind to everyone we meet. You never know who might be carrying a heavy heart or waiting for a loved one to come home.

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This Mother’s Day in Shady Pines Edna Sanders Shares the Joy of Becoming Mom

This Mother’s Day in Shady Pines Edna Sanders Shares the Joy of Becoming Mom

by | May 7, 2026 | Shady Pines Stories, Special Events, The Kindness Connection Blog

Becoming a Special Kind of Mom

And So It Begins

Dear Readers, in honor of Mother’s Day I thought you’d like to hear from one of our neighbors who became a mom when she least expected it. Yes I’m talking about Edna Sanders. The day she and Harold adopted those two four-legged rascals her life changed forever. I’ll let her tell you.

“Oh, for heaven’s sakes,” says Edna. “If you’d told me I’d be getting teary eyed over a dog slobbering on my good apron or a cat slung over my shoulder, I would’ve laughed right out loud. But here we are, just before another Mother’s Day, and I can’t help reflecting on the sweetest surprise life ever handed me and my Harold: the day we became fur parents.”

New Family Members

“To say that adopting these two critters came as a complete surprise would be the understatement of the year. Or, any year for that matter! I won’t get into exactly how it happened because my author friend, Mary Jane McKittrick, talks all about that in her second book, “Boomer and Halley Lost and Found -Learning to Live in a Blended Family.” I’ll just say it was a life changing experience for all of us.”

“One evening, not long ago, I was sitting out on the back porch in my favorite big wooden chair that rocks a bit. I was admiring my garden of flowers that took such care to get to bloom. Boomer was lying on the ground gnawing on his favorite rawhide bone with his head on my feet. Halley was perched on the armrest. And that’s when it hit me. I never had children of my own. Life just didn’t work out that way for us. But in that moment, with the late sun painting everything in a warm glow and these two babies looking up at me like I hung the moon, my heart swelled so big I thought it might burst.”

I was a mama after all.

Not Always Easy

“Being a fur mom isn’t always glamorous. There are muddy paw prints on my clean floors, early-morning zoomies that sound like a herd of elephants, and the occasional “gift” of a half-dead lizard from Halley.

But there’s also the way Boomer leans against my leg when I’m feeling blue, like he can sense it. And the way Halley curls into the exact shape of my neck when I’m reading in bed, purring her little heart out.

There’s the laughter when Harold tries to teach Boomer to fetch. Sure as shootin’ he ends up chasing the ball himself while Boom sits there grinning like, “You do it, Dad. They healed something in me I didn’t even know was aching.”

Different Kind of Parent

“This Mother’s Day, I want every woman who’s loved a four-legged child to know this: your love counts. The late-night worry when they’re sick, the silly songs you make up for them, the way your heart lights up when they run to greet you—it’s all real mothering. The kindness, caring and love you show them is real. Fur babies don’t replace anything, but they sure do fill up spaces you never knew were empty.”

Adults reading a book

“To my Boomerang and my Halley’s Comet: thank you for choosing us. Not sure who was most lost at the time, but I’m sure glad we found one another. You made my Southern heart a mama’s heart.”

“And to every fur mom reading this—whether you’ve got horses, dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, or all the above—happy Mother’s Day. May your treats be plentiful, your lint rollers never run out, and your fur babies always know how deeply they are loved.

With sweet tea and even sweeter love, Edna Sanders, in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.”

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May Day Arrives with Excitement at The Writers Residency in the Real Shady Pines

May Day Arrives with Excitement at The Writers Residency in the Real Shady Pines

by | May 1, 2026 | Shady Pines Stories, Special Events, The Kindness Connection Blog

Becoming a Special Kind of Mom

And So It Begins

Dear Readers, in honor of Mother’s Day I thought you’d like to hear from one of our neighbors who became a mom when she least expected it. Yes I’m talking about Edna Sanders. The day she and Harold adopted those two four-legged rascals her life changed forever. I’ll let her tell you.

“Oh, for heaven’s sakes,” says Edna. “If you’d told me I’d be getting teary eyed over a dog slobbering on my good apron or a cat slung over my shoulder, I would’ve laughed right out loud. But here we are, just before another Mother’s Day, and I can’t help reflecting on the sweetest surprise life ever handed me and my Harold: the day we became fur parents.”

New Family Members

“To say that adopting these two critters came as a complete surprise would be the understatement of the year. Or, any year for that matter! I won’t get into exactly how it happened because my author friend, Mary Jane McKittrick, talks all about that in her second book, “Boomer and Halley Lost and Found -Learning to Live in a Blended Family.” I’ll just say it was a life changing experience for all of us.”

“One evening, not long ago, I was sitting out on the back porch in my favorite big wooden chair that rocks a bit. I was admiring my garden of flowers that took such care to get to bloom. Boomer was lying on the ground gnawing on his favorite rawhide bone with his head on my feet. Halley was perched on the armrest. And that’s when it hit me. I never had children of my own. Life just didn’t work out that way for us. But in that moment, with the late sun painting everything in a warm glow and these two babies looking up at me like I hung the moon, my heart swelled so big I thought it might burst.”

I was a mama after all.

Not Always Easy

“Being a fur mom isn’t always glamorous. There are muddy paw prints on my clean floors, early-morning zoomies that sound like a herd of elephants, and the occasional “gift” of a half-dead lizard from Halley.

But there’s also the way Boomer leans against my leg when I’m feeling blue, like he can sense it. And the way Halley curls into the exact shape of my neck when I’m reading in bed, purring her little heart out.

There’s the laughter when Harold tries to teach Boomer to fetch. Sure as shootin’ he ends up chasing the ball himself while Boom sits there grinning like, “You do it, Dad. They healed something in me I didn’t even know was aching.”

Different Kind of Parent

“This Mother’s Day, I want every woman who’s loved a four-legged child to know this: your love counts. The late-night worry when they’re sick, the silly songs you make up for them, the way your heart lights up when they run to greet you—it’s all real mothering. The kindness, caring and love you show them is real. Fur babies don’t replace anything, but they sure do fill up spaces you never knew were empty.”

Adults reading a book

“To my Boomerang and my Halley’s Comet: thank you for choosing us. Not sure who was most lost at the time, but I’m sure glad we found one another. You made my Southern heart a mama’s heart.”

“And to every fur mom reading this—whether you’ve got horses, dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, or all the above—happy Mother’s Day. May your treats be plentiful, your lint rollers never run out, and your fur babies always know how deeply they are loved.

With sweet tea and even sweeter love, Edna Sanders, in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.”

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Exciting News Straight From the Founder of Shady Pines Story town

Exciting News Straight From the Founder of Shady Pines Story town

by | Apr 26, 2026 | Breaking News, Special Events, The Kindness Connection Blog

Becoming a Special Kind of Mom

And So It Begins

Dear Readers, in honor of Mother’s Day I thought you’d like to hear from one of our neighbors who became a mom when she least expected it. Yes I’m talking about Edna Sanders. The day she and Harold adopted those two four-legged rascals her life changed forever. I’ll let her tell you.

“Oh, for heaven’s sakes,” says Edna. “If you’d told me I’d be getting teary eyed over a dog slobbering on my good apron or a cat slung over my shoulder, I would’ve laughed right out loud. But here we are, just before another Mother’s Day, and I can’t help reflecting on the sweetest surprise life ever handed me and my Harold: the day we became fur parents.”

New Family Members

“To say that adopting these two critters came as a complete surprise would be the understatement of the year. Or, any year for that matter! I won’t get into exactly how it happened because my author friend, Mary Jane McKittrick, talks all about that in her second book, “Boomer and Halley Lost and Found -Learning to Live in a Blended Family.” I’ll just say it was a life changing experience for all of us.”

“One evening, not long ago, I was sitting out on the back porch in my favorite big wooden chair that rocks a bit. I was admiring my garden of flowers that took such care to get to bloom. Boomer was lying on the ground gnawing on his favorite rawhide bone with his head on my feet. Halley was perched on the armrest. And that’s when it hit me. I never had children of my own. Life just didn’t work out that way for us. But in that moment, with the late sun painting everything in a warm glow and these two babies looking up at me like I hung the moon, my heart swelled so big I thought it might burst.”

I was a mama after all.

Not Always Easy

“Being a fur mom isn’t always glamorous. There are muddy paw prints on my clean floors, early-morning zoomies that sound like a herd of elephants, and the occasional “gift” of a half-dead lizard from Halley.

But there’s also the way Boomer leans against my leg when I’m feeling blue, like he can sense it. And the way Halley curls into the exact shape of my neck when I’m reading in bed, purring her little heart out.

There’s the laughter when Harold tries to teach Boomer to fetch. Sure as shootin’ he ends up chasing the ball himself while Boom sits there grinning like, “You do it, Dad. They healed something in me I didn’t even know was aching.”

Different Kind of Parent

“This Mother’s Day, I want every woman who’s loved a four-legged child to know this: your love counts. The late-night worry when they’re sick, the silly songs you make up for them, the way your heart lights up when they run to greet you—it’s all real mothering. The kindness, caring and love you show them is real. Fur babies don’t replace anything, but they sure do fill up spaces you never knew were empty.”

Adults reading a book

“To my Boomerang and my Halley’s Comet: thank you for choosing us. Not sure who was most lost at the time, but I’m sure glad we found one another. You made my Southern heart a mama’s heart.”

“And to every fur mom reading this—whether you’ve got horses, dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, or all the above—happy Mother’s Day. May your treats be plentiful, your lint rollers never run out, and your fur babies always know how deeply they are loved.

With sweet tea and even sweeter love, Edna Sanders, in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.”

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Shady Pines Neighbors Answer the Call to Make a Difference on Earth Day 2026

Shady Pines Neighbors Answer the Call to Make a Difference on Earth Day 2026

by | Apr 7, 2026 | Shady Pines Stories, The Kindness Connection Blog

Lets Dig Deep For The Planet

Dear Readers get ready because Earth Day will be here before you know it! Spreading kindness is important to us here at Shady Pines Story Town. And what’s more important than being kind to our very own planet?

A lot of school kids are doing reports on this important day – including our favorite news guy.

“Hi everyone. I’m Scoop the Cub reporter from The Shady Pines Gazette.

Our planet is an amazing place but it needs our help to thrive!

That’s why each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and cutting down too many trees.

This year’s theme is: Our Power. Our Planet.

 By taking part in activities like picking up litter, recycling and planting trees, we’re making our world a happier, healthier place to live.

Plant That Tree

We learned in school that there are around 15 billion trees in the world that are cut down each year. You can make a difference by planting a tree of your own.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for people to breathe. They also provide shelter and food for animals like squirrels and owls.

You can sit under trees and relax in the shade on a hot day. They’re really important.

Turn Off The Lights

Does that lamp really need to be on while the sun is out? Electricity doesn’t just happen—it has to be produced from things around us.

A lot of times it comes from fossil fuels (like coal, oil, or natural gas) that contribute to climate change

But electricity can also be made from renewable sources like wind, water, and the sun.

No matter where it’s coming from, try conserving electrical energy by using only what you need.

Limit Your Water Use

It might seem like it’s everywhere, but clean, drinkable water is not.

Did you know less than one percent of the water on Earth can be used by humans?

The rest is either too salty or too difficult to reach.

Turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth can conserve up to eight gallons of water a day.

To help save even more water, challenge yourself to take a shorter shower (but still get clean!)

Offer Your Time

With a parent’s permission, you could volunteer to pick up trash. Editor Zulah Talmadge and I are going to be at Shady Pines’ Stonewall Park on Wednesday the 14th to cover a ‘Trash Pick Up’ event. Maybe you could find something like that where you live.

By getting involved and working with others, you’re not just helping the Earth—you’re making new friends too!

We really enjoy making a difference and helping our community at the same time.

In Shady Pines, we know that neighbors help neighbors. On Earth Day, we remember that the trees, the squirrels, and the ladybugs are our neighbors, too.

Let’s all pitch in for the sake of our planet, have some fun and plant seeds of kindness wherever we go!”  –Scoop out!

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An Easter ‘Who Dunnit’ Mystery Happening Now in Shady Pines Story Town

An Easter ‘Who Dunnit’ Mystery Happening Now in Shady Pines Story Town

by | Mar 25, 2026 | Shady Pines Stories, Special Events, The Kindness Connection Blog

An Easter Mystery To Be Sure!

Ah, Dear Readers, we could use your help. You see, last year’s Easter event didn’t go as planned. And that’s why we’re trying to get to the bottom of what really happened during the Great Egg-Saster of 2025 and who caused it.

Here in Shady Pines Story Town we’re used to the normal way the annual hunt for colorful eggs is run. You know, kids, baskets, lots of giggles.

Unfortunately folks are still finding sticky brown stuff and neon-pink glitter in their lawns from the one last year. It was supposed to be the town’s most sophisticated Easter Egg Hunt ever, but in Shady Pines, “sophisticated” is usually code for “get ready for chaos.”

The Incident: The Melting Masterpieces

We’ll let The Shady Pines Gazette Editor, Zulah Talmadge and Scoop the Cub Reporter tell you what happened. After all they would report on that very memorable news event.

Sunlight streams through the stately windows of the newspaper office. Zulah plops down on her desk chair. On the other side of the room, she sees Scoop typing away.

“Scoop we gotta talk about what happened at last year’s Hunt.”

Scoop glances her way with a painful look on his face. “Do we have to?”

Zulah nods. “We do. You must admit the plan was ambitious. I think all of us were surprised when Mayor Fibbs announced that instead of plastic eggs, the town would use “Ever-Lasting Artisan Chocolate Eggs.”

Scoop pushes back a shock of red hair from his forehead. “Yeah. I’m still not sure what that meant. Then, we found out he was getting those special eggs from some fancy chocolate maker from up north. Why?”

Zulah shakes her head. “Beats me. I just remember hearing that an army of volunteers would be hiding the darn things before dawn all around Stonewall Park.”

Here’s what you need to know Dear Readers, by 10:00 AM on that fateful Saturday morning, the temperature hit an unseasonable 85°F. By the time the children were released with their baskets, the “Ever-Lasting” eggs had turned into puddles of brown goo.

Scoop covers his face with his hands. “I remember that awful scene of melted chocolate everywhere. Oh. And it attracted every bee and ant within a three-county radius.”

Zulah winces at the thought. “Oh, boy. At that point it wasn’t a hunt. It was a rescue mission for sticky toddlers.”

The Suspect List: Who Dropped the Ball?

To find the culprit, we have to look at the three main players:

1. Mayor Fibbs (The “Visionary”)

The Mayor is the prime suspect. In his desire to outshine the neighboring town of River City and its Easter Egg Hunt, he insisted on the fancy chocolate eggs.

The Motive: A purely political reason. He wanted a photo op with the person who found the “Golden Chocolate Egg” to boost his popularity. He does come up for re-election next year.

The Evidence: Fibbs ignored the weather report from the local expert, claiming, “A little sunshine never hurt a Fibbs!”

2. Scoop the Cub Reporter (The “Witness”)

Scoop was assigned by Zulah to be on scene and act as the “Eyes and Ears” of the event.

The Motive: Lately he’s been entering his photos into competitions. He wanted the “Photo of the Year” more than anything..

The Evidence: Scoop got to the park early that morning and actually saw the eggs melting at 8:30am. What did the teenager do? Instead of reporting it or telling the organizers, he spent forty minutes trying to get the perfect “shot” of a melting egg.

Zulah Talmadge (The “Puppet Master”)

As the Editor of the Shady Pines Gazette, Zulah had a feeling things would go sideways. She saw the forecast and she knew about the chocolate eggs.

The Motive: Zulah believes the old saying, “A successful event sells ten newspapers, but a disastrous event sells a thousand.” In other words, if things went wrong, that story would boost sales of her newspaper.

Did she knowingly let the train wreck happen for the sake of the Monday morning headline: “SHADY PINES Easter Egg Hunt STUCK IN STICKY SITUATION?”

The Verdict: Who Is To Blame?

.

After much investigation, and a whole lot of rumors flying faster than kite in a strong wind, we have a possible answer. It’s as close to Breaking News as we get around here.

While Mayor Fibbs came up with a new approach that clearly got out of hand, and Scoop failed to do the right thing when he saw the situation unravelling, most of our neighbors think Zulah Talmadge is ultimately to blame.

As the gatekeeper of information in Shady Pines, she could have tried to talk some sense into Mayor Fibbs, especially when she found out about the overheated forecast. Did the excitement of a big selling story cloud her judgement?

But wait. Wasn’t it our postal gal Kim Dunworthy who saw an ad about those incredibly beautiful Easter Eggs? It was right there in the mail she was delivering. Someone who works at City Hall says they saw that same ad on the Mayor’s desk. Is Kim the one who planted the seed? Oh, my!

One thing you learn when you live in Shady Pines, it can be a long and winding road to the truth. And we all know jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts is not a kind thing to do. And this is, after all, a place known for its kind and caring neighbors.

So for now the mystery remains unsolved. We’ll hope all will go smoothly as we gather for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt (with plastic eggs) in our small Southern town. Wish us luck!

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