May has a way of making us think about generations.
Graduation season reminds us how quickly children become young adults. Mother’s Day reminds us of the women who shaped us. And spring itself seems to whisper that life keeps moving forward, whether we’re ready or not.
I think about my own mother this time of year. She passed away 20 years ago from breast cancer, but her influence didn’t end when her life did. That’s the thing about a good mother — her love keeps echoing. In the way we speak. In the way we serve. In the way we show up for our own children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors.
This month’s cover profile with Debby Thomas captures that spirit beautifully. Debby is a nurse, servant, traveler, missionary, and woman of faith who has spent her life caring for others — in hospitals, homes, churches, homeless outreach, and now through mission work in Uganda. Her story reminds us that retirement doesn’t have to mean retreat. Sometimes it means redirecting our wisdom and compassion toward people who need it most.
Our Mother’s Day feature offers thoughtful ways to honor the women who have loved and shaped us — not just with flowers, but with time, memories, service, and meaningful connection.
In Grumpy But Grateful, we take on the Graduation Circuit — the long speeches, hard chairs, hot sun, and that one name you came to hear. It’s funny because it’s true. But underneath the complaining is something tender: the privilege of watching a young life step forward.
Jeff Barganier takes us to an Auburn teahouse where he unexpectedly finds history, hospitality, and hope for the next generation. And Greg Budell’s column reminds us that belonging to a community carries both blessing and responsibility.
Maybe that’s the heart of May.
We receive. We remember. We pass it on.
A mother’s love. A nurse’s compassion. A grandparent’s pride. A graduate’s courage. A missionary’s willingness to go. A friend’s willingness to show up.
Those are the gifts that outlive us.
As always, if you know someone who would make a great cover profile, I’d love to hear from you at jason@riverregionboom.com.