Still Waters
A Collection of Childhood Memories
by
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Life with my aunt taught me to become invisible, shrinking myself to evade her notice and anger. However, this strategy was not always successful. When she did focus on me, her words were cutting and cruel, often telling me that my mother had abandoned me because she didn't love me. Her abuse wasn't just verbal; it included forcing us to eat food left behind by her children and terrifying us with threats of putting us in hallway at night where rats lurked.
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About the Book
I was the quiet, reserved. extremely shy, introverted middle child. One day I overheard my grandma say to my mom in what sounded like a warning voice, “You better watch her Clover.” she said, “You know “still, water runs deep.” The phrase “still waters run deep” is an idiom that means a person who appears quiet or calm on the surface may have great depth of character, knowledge, or emotion. It suggests that there is more to someone or something than meets the eye, and that beneath a calm exterior, there may be profound thoughts or feelings. When grandma warned my mom about me, she made it sound ominous. I took it to mean “You better be careful of her and watch your back. She is unsafe.” I remember thinking, “I don’t want to be still water.” I remember for years worrying about being still water.
About the Author
Brenda “Gigie” Cunningham-Parker Gigie, (pronounced “Gig Gēē”), graduated with distinction in Education from the University of Michigan and earned an MFA in fibers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. After completing her BA, Gigie taught in public and rural schools in Michigan, as well as private independent schools in Pittsburgh, PA, and Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. She was passionate about teaching and always saw herself as a child advocate. Following her move to California, where her husband transferred to work for the Rockwell Corporation, Gigie joined Chadwick School. After five years of teaching at the Village School (K-6), she was promoted to Curriculum Director and later became the Head of the Village School, serving in that role for three years. Gigie subsequently accepted a position as Head of Westchester Neighborhood School (WNS), later renamed Westside Neighborhood School, in California. During her tenure at WNS, she fostered a child-centered, diverse student body and a supportive school culture. After serving thirteen years as Head of WNS, Gigie resigned in 2007 to collaborate with her husband on projects aimed at enhancing parental involvement and student learning. In 2009, Gigie and her husband were invited to aid in revitalizing the struggling African-centered K-8 Detroit Public Charter School, Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology, which was later renamed Obama Leadership Academy. Their leadership over four years led to the school receiving a five-year extension of its charter, credited to a highly motivated and dedicated staff. Gigie has co-authored several articles with her husband, participated in his projects at the United Nations in New York, and traveled to South Korea to engage in Brain Education events, training teachers and students on its benefits. Now, Gigie is enjoying her retirement with her husband on a golf course in Sedona, AZ.