My Dash

From dirt floors to wall-to-wall carpet. Water from a well that now flows from the front of her refrigerator - and filtered, to boot.

This is a story ninety years in the making, starting at the beginning of an economic depression that consumed the world and spanning the rise of computers, the Internet, and the introduction of self-driving cars.

Name her Mary Sue Yeary or Ina Mae Yeary. Choose Mary Sue Preston or Mary Sue Dunn.

Some people know her as Sue, others, Mary Sue.

Rarely will you hear her referenced as Mary.

Today, she proudly emblazons herself Mary Sue Turnipseed, having taken the name of the last man she loved and married.

She is all these people, and when you finish this book, you will have met each one.

This is the autobiographical story of Mary Sue Turnipseed's life, with added memories from her children. It was put together and published for her ninetieth birthday celebration. The book starts in 1930 and follows Mary Sue's life through the rest of the Twentieth Century and past, finishing up in the year 2020.

From Mary Sue's youngest son (editor and collector of stories about his mother):

This book began as a Life History my mother wrote for her grandchildren. She wanted them to see the changes in the world she had experienced, and to know her for who she was.

She didn't imagine she would live another seventeen years (Although I'm sure she hoped - Mom has never suffered from a lack of interest in "tomorrow.").

I edited her story - modified it in places to bring it up to date for 2020 - keeping it as true to her original as possible.

Then I asked her children and stepchildren to contribute a memory if they wished to do so. I inserted them as I received them, their order dictated by the time crunch of an impending ninetieth birthday bash about to commence.

By the final pages of this book, you will understand what has made Mary Sue Turnipseed the person she is today.

I don't promise that you will understand her. That's something entirely different.

Farley L. Dunn

September 2020