Today and throughout February, I am posting brief excerpts from my upcoming memoir, “Coming Full Circle — From Jim Crow to Journalism.” Today’s posting is about going back to Columbus, Ohio, the city of my birth, and living with my Uncle Watson and his family, including my four first cousins.
I remember many spankings that took place in the basement of Uncle Watson’s Ohio house, where he lined up the kids if one wouldn’t tell on the other. From time to time, we all got spankings from my uncle, the doctor.
“You know what MD stands for?” he used to ask us.
“We know, ‘mean daddy’,” we would reply.
I always loved my uncle dearly, but that year in Columbus was one of the unhappiest years of my life. However, in 1975, when I was 25 years old and engaged to be married, I called Uncle Watson and asked him to travel to Savannah and give my hand in marriage.
He said “yes” before I could finish asking him.
Wanda S. Lloyd 
Hi Wanda,
I’m really enjoying reading the excerpts, and can’t wait to read the full memoir. I can relate to so many of the incidents, especially those from the civil rights era. I started discussing the excerpts with Jackie, and she wanted me to send them to her. And, I think I’ve sent her 7 so far, and this one will be the 8th. She wanted me to give you her new e-mail address so you can put her on your mailing list, if that’s OK. Her e-mail address is: jdspms50@gmail.com
Hope all is well. My best to all the family,
Ronnie
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