Every day reveals a new story, a new bend in the road, and a clearer understanding of our journey.

About Southern Comfort

Penned by the beloved storyteller and newspaper columnist, Lynn Walker Gendusa, Southern Comfort is full of short, heartwarming stories plucked from her life.

With her signature transparency, Lynn invites readers into her world, which turns out to be the same world we all inhabit—a world full of scrapes and bruises, love and laughter, and weeping and dancing all tumbling together through our days.

Lynn’s compassion and warmth shine through as she acknowledges suffering, as she reminds us that we all belong to one family (the human family), and as she calls us to serve each other with kindness.

In the end, this book is a celebration of life. Sure, our lives are full of messiness and pain, but this book reminds us, most vigorously, that our lives are also full of color and laughter and joy.  With humility, love, and a great sense of humor, Lynn shows us not only how to survive this sometime-crazy life but also how to thrive.

Praise

A master of mood and situations, Lynn Gendusa plumbs the depth of both with intense, honest, spiritual boldness.  Southern Comfort intimately ponders the shatterproof resistance of family, friendship, and faith. She lays all her cards on the table in her personal showdown with life.
—Lee Walburn, editor emeritus Atlanta Magazine

Lynn Walker Gendusa is a masterful storyteller who connects her readers to home, common sense, and culture.  Her heart comes through in every sentence and the topics compel the reader to stop for a few moments, take a deep breath and be grateful for all the things that matter in life such as family, friendship, and neighborliness.
—David Plazas, Opinion and Engagement Director for the USA TODAY Network in Tennessee and The Tennessean

Lynn Gendusa writes with wisdom and humility and offers comfort and empathy to her readers.  Reading one of her columns is like savoring a piece of warm pie for breakfast.  I know you will enjoy this collection!
—Jan Eliot, creator of the comic strip Stone Soup

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About
It’s All Write With Me!

It’s All Write With Me! Essays From My Heart, is a book filled with personal insights and stories from the heart of Lynn Walker Gendusa. The book has fifteen chapters accompanied by original illustrations.

Chapters include the following topics: Family, Faith, Roots, Friends, LaGrange, Shadows, Southland, Healing, Age(less), Lessons, Treasures, America, Celebrate, Joy and The Last Chapter. The stories are a compilation of columns and articles that have appeared in newspapers and other publications throughout the country and offer inspiration and encouragement to the reader.

The author shares her own journey with depression in the chapter “Shadows” and her personal relationship with God in the essays about Faith. Patriotism shines in “America” and she shares her love of her beloved Southland. Celebrations of life are abundant throughout the book and “The Last Chapter” reminds us that we will all leave this world one day, however, a door is left ajar to enter another one. Just follow the light!

Praise

When Lynn Gendusa weaves the commonality of life’s ups and downs into the tapestry of her essays we see and feel remarkable similarities to our own joys, heartaches and victories. It takes an exceptional writer to connect so intimately with her readers. In this collection of Lynn’s stories be prepared to laugh hard, cry hard, and most of all, make sense of things.
—Lee Walburn, Editor Emeritus of Atlanta Magazine

Lynn understands people, their opportunities and challenges. Her columns leave good feelings radiating after each-a nice addition to today’s hard news.
—Jim Boone, Chairman of the Board, Boone Newspapers

If you like to read, don’t wait another minute to open this book and meet Lynn Gendusa who loves to write. And does it so well! She’ll tug at your heartstrings, remind you of the strength of family ties, and keep us all on a positive path of loving service to community and country. From quirky nostalgia on such as handmade aprons, iron skillets and homemade fried chicken, to the warmth of family past and current, Lynn’s memories and musings unite us all in the power of her words to open our hearts and minds to what is old or new and always deeply felt by us all.
—Allison St. Claire, Editor, Publisher, Senior Wire News Service

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About Lynn

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After spending forty-three years as an interior designer, Lynn Walker Gendusa was ready to retire to a hammock somewhere overlooking the blue ocean. Except God had other plans. Within a few weeks of putting down her tape measure, she picked up a pen. Her first story was published in the LaGrange Daily News in LaGrange, Georgia, her former hometown. Within a few more weeks, she became a weekly columnist for the paper, writing essays about faith, America, family, friends, depression, joy, holidays, and the other stuff of life. Her work soon spread across the country to other publications that loved her relatable down-home stories that are laced with inspiration as well as frankness.

Lynn has compiled many of her columns into these pages after readers encouraged her to do so. Her mission is to always inspire and remind us of life’s abundant blessings. She believes, “Every day reveals a new story, a new bend in the road, and a clearer understanding of our journey.”

Lynn currently resides in Roswell, Georgia with her husband David. She is the mother of three children, two stepchildren and three grandchildren.

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THE LATEST BLOG POST

“Here Comes Santa Claus!” November 24, 2021 - When I was small, I loved watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television.  I squirmed with anticipation as the bands and floats passed by, hoping the next float would hold Santa waving to crowds atop his sleigh.  When I finally saw his face, I knew Christmas was finally here!  "Lynn, calm down!" Mom would shout from the kitchen.  I have never been calm about anything, but certainly never calm about Christmas.  That would be sinful anyway. This year, there is something brewing in the air.  I know COVID is raising its ugly head again, but that’s not it.  I see… Read More
Thankful for an Angel’s Comfort November 18, 2021 - How many stories can one write about the Thanksgiving holiday?  We all know we need to be thankful for what we have and share our blessings with others who have little.  Whether we follow through on what we know to be true is up to each of us.  Because most of us, if we are being honest, are not always full of gratitude and charity.   Being human is complicated and fraught with transgressions and selfish behavior.  An abundance of grief and loss has spilled over the earth these last two years.  Our society has endured so much.  Some have not… Read More
“Welcome Home, Mighty Warrior” November 10, 2021 - Sometimes in life, we must go backward to move forward.  We may need to repair a bridge before we cross it, or perhaps, ask for forgiveness before we seek blessings. History tries to teach us not to repeat errors.  America has a long-standing record of fighting for freedom and for the oppressed throughout the world.  Our ancestors suffered or died in battles to protect our democracy and served us all with heroic acts and unselfish devotion.  America has given much, applauded many, and saved countless, but we have also created a few potholes in our roads that caused damage and… Read More
A Brave Adventurer’s Final Journey November 2, 2021 - After a seven-year battle with cancer, Tom passed away.  But then, I am still not sure who won.  In all my years living on this earth, the fortitude and power Tom exhibited during his battle were akin to Alexander of the Great family. At the beginning of his cancer war, the future looked bleak for Tom.  He was sick and fearful of what the next day would bring.  I am not sure when or what month or even what day, but somewhere along the battle lines, Tom decided he would live fiercely until he couldn't. Always the adventurer, he began… Read More
Makes Perfect Sense, Right? October 27, 2021 - Well, folks, my ears are beginning to hear jingle bells, my nose detects a scent of turkey roasting in the oven, and my eyes are spying Christmas ads.  Isn't it still July?  COVID has destroyed my mental calendar.  I would say it is age, but nowadays, I blame all things on the virus.  The pandemic certainly has provided us an excuse to blame our oft-errant behavior on a spikey menace we can't even see.  Makes perfect sense, right? Yes, the holidays are just a few weeks away.  The last time we saw Thanksgiving Thursday on the calendar was a day… Read More
Just Don’t Close Your Eyes! October 20, 2021 - A funny thing happened on the way to writing stories, columns, and books…. I saw God winking.   Author Squire Rushnell explains, “A God Wink is described as a personal signal or message, directly from a higher power, usually, but not always, in the form of a coincidence.” The trick to noticing God winking is to not close your eyes! I mean, how can you see a wink if you aren't looking, right? I have mentioned this God Wink briefly in a story long ago, but it bears repeating. When my friend Ricki was about to turn a significant age, we… Read More
Angels in Lab Coats October 15, 2021 - I despise COVID for many reasons.   It kills, maims, harms, and destroys, but we can radically alter its ability to do so if we collectively try.  So many other diseases do not come with such an option. October is breast cancer awareness month. Typically, pink surrounds fall's colors, reminding us of the disease that will claim an estimated 43,600 women and men this year.  Lung cancer will claim approximately 131,880 in 2021. Cancer, heart disease, and other catastrophic illnesses have no vaccine available to stop their killing tenacles. All we have is science, research, and medicines that ease and reduce… Read More
Our Last Harvest Moon October 6, 2021 - She sat in a rocking chair on an outdoor balcony gazing at the twinkling stars splashed across the sky. A bright, large October Harvest Moon cast a warm glow of light around her. The white caps of the ocean waves gently kissed the shore below as she watched them melt into the sand.  The sea's calming sounds were all that gently interrupted the quiet, serene fall evening. "Lynn, I have never seen such a beautiful moon."  My mother said as she slowly rocked back and forth, never taking her eyes off the scene laid before her.   I nodded my head… Read More
Loving those Birthdays! September 29, 2021 - Well, shoot!  As hard as I try to ignore it, someone always yells "Happy Birthday!" this time of year.  Yes, I just aged another year…… thank goodness!  Now, if I ignore the mirror and pay better attention to where I put my car keys, I'll be fine.  I am fortunate and thankful that I have survived the ups and downs of my life.  There is something about "making it through" that gives one a new lease on living.  When we survive heartache and trauma, we find that strength, faith, and attitude are necessary to attain peace.  There are a lot… Read More
Declaring War for Curtis September 15, 2021 - Curtis is walking toward his first day of middle school this year with his buds.     Curtis will notoriously spend a good bit of his time in the principal’s office for the comical excuses he invents for not doing his homework.    Being an eleven-year-old, Curtis would rather watch a movie, pick on his little brother, Barry, and listen to music.  He is your typical American kid who resides with good parents and possesses a kind heart. Curtis lives in the panes of a comic strip written by award-winning cartoonist Ray Billingsley.  Curtis's shenanigans usually make me laugh because they remind… Read More
Gather Our Slings and Stones August 18, 2021 - What good do mere words do during seemingly giant-sized tribulations?  I am sure David thought such when he faced Goliath with his sling.  “How are these five pebbles going to stop such a giant beast?” This morning COVID is again claiming victims and filling hospitals across the nation.  Medical teams are again working exhaustingly long hours trying to save lives through their sheer skill and determination while the rest of us fight over masks and vaccines.  Fires are raging, heatwaves scorch the earth, violence roams through our cities, while earthquakes, hurricanes, and terrorists continue to destroy globally.  And that is… Read More
My Name is “Old Glory” June 29, 2021 - As my cousin drove his ATV over the Tennessee hills and green pastures to show me his farm on a recent visit, I could see from afar our American flag flying high above the main house.  It was as if the banner owned the sprawling land below and she waved her stripes declaring so.   God’s lush acres encased by an azure sky dotted proudly with the red, white, and blue depicted a picture-perfect Americana post-card. Once we arrived back at the house, I looked toward the banner high atop the flagpole.  Old Glory’s ends were frayed and worn, her stripes… Read More
Salute the Vietnam Warriors May 27, 2021 - While recently thumbing through my old Tennessee and Georgia high school yearbooks, tears pooled in my eyes.  Yes, they were all there, young men with hope in their eyes and their youth on the edge of disappearing. I wonder what they would have accomplished in their lives if they had the promise of a future.  Would they laugh as I do at the silly antics of a grandchild?  Would they still possess the impish grin the camera caught in the 60s? Maybe Howard would have made it onto the big screen with his good looks.  Perhaps Bobby would be a… Read More
The Music Just Beyond the Doors May 19, 2021 - Years ago, shortly before my mother passed away, she described a vivid dream she experienced one night that prepared us both for what was to come.    In the Tennessee mountain town where she and I were born, the vacant old Imperial Hotel stands frozen in time as if passing years dare to touch it.  The brick three-story building next to the train depot was built in 1909.  Weary rail passengers would spend the night, enjoy a good meal, and feel the cool air as it whirled around the mountain.  The Imperial boasted 30 rooms and indoor plumbing, which in… Read More
WELCOME! May 20, 2019 - Welcome to my new site! Here you will find stories, both old favorites and new ones which I will change often. I will also write a post when something strikes me or I need to share important news. You can send me a note, a question, or a request. I would love to hear from you! In the meantime, keep reading, be inspiring, and change the world with kindness. Blessings, Lynn Read More

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