Intersection Column | Blouses, Pants, and Professor Pendleton
- mtlmagazine
- 19 minutes ago
- 4 min read
by Michelle Griep
A shopping trip isn’t usually where I find inspiration, but there was this one time—
Me: (brings mother to petite section) Mom, this is where you need to look for pants
Mom grabs a blouse off the rack
Me: Pants. Look for pants here.
Mom: Is this shirt long enough for me?
Me: You need to get pants in this section, not tops.
Mom: I want a three-quarter length sleeve.
Me: Pants. ONLY look at pants.
Mom: I don't like the neck on this one.
Me: (hands mom 5 pair of pants) Here.
Mom: I want to cover up the bump on my elbow.
Me: (puts pants on a rack; full realization that the pants battle has been lost) Fine. No pants.
Shuffle mother over to the women's department
Me: Okay, mom. Here is where you can look at the blouses.
Mom: (picks up a pair of pants) Are these too long?
Yeah. That’s how it went. And honestly? Some days I would rather staple my tongue to the carpet than take my mom shopping. She has since passed on, but this particular trip stuck with me. Not because we came home with pants (we didn’t), but because it revealed something hilarious and deeply human. And that moment—that blend of confusion, stubbornness, and oddly placed affection—sparked an idea . . .
What if a character in my next novel reflected this strange, beautiful mess?
That’s how Professor Sebastian Pendleton was born. In my newest release, Of Silver and Secrets, he’s a celebrated Roman archaeology professor at Trinity College. Brilliant, articulate . . . and beginning to lose his way. He forgets the dates of his own published works, repeats stories with great flair, and sometimes stares at a statue as if it might whisper the answer he’s forgotten. His mind is still rich with history—but now some of it slips between the cracks and threatens not only his pension but Bram Webb’s livelihood.
There’s something profoundly vulnerable about watching someone once so sharp and capable begin to fade. You want to step in and help—but often they don’t see the need. That tension—the desire to protect someone who insists they’re fine—was something I poured into Professor Pendleton. He’s not just comic relief or a source of complication. He’s a mirror of what love looks like when it’s tested by time, memory, and change.
Admittedly, the professor is not the main character in my novel, but he matters. Because dementia, especially in its early stages, doesn’t shout. It tiptoes. And sometimes the people closest to us are the last to see it.
Writing Professor Pendleton was my way of honoring those early signs—the signs you can almost laugh off until you can’t. Inspired by my mom, the professor carries that mix of charm, frustration, and fragile dignity.
So no, Mom and I didn’t find pants that day. But I found a character. And that feels like a pretty great trade.
About the Author
Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos. You can learn more at www.michellegriep.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
About the Book
In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is struggling to care for her blind sister and manage her family's crumbling estate. When an ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Eva's need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics. An archaeological dig requires the help of Cambridge professor Bram Webb and forces them both to confront their past.
Did You Know?
A basic question asked by most of humanity is “Who am I?” Sometimes this query manifests when a person transitions from a child to a teenager. Sometimes even later in life. As childhood identities change, most teens try to discover how they fit into a new young adult culture. What does this mean?
The way children see themselves in relationship to others is heralded as critical to who they become in future years. Social identity involves interacting with others, making comparisons, and seeing how you fit into the “boxes” called social groups: gender, race, religion and occupation.
The interactions of family, friends, and peers can be powerful shaping influences in developing self-identity. How does a child interpret the messaging from others? Will those voices shape who they are and what potential they have? Parents are tasked with helping their young figure out who they are, encouraging the development of their unique gifts and talents.
We often hear about self-esteem and its impact on human identity. Self-identity is a complex part of the psychological makeup of a human. Without a positive sense of self, mental health will falter.
One biblical truth can arm children from infancy to never doubt their significance: Each human is created in the image of God.
Let’s affirm how much the people around us are loved, and how God sees them as precious and irreplaceable … each made in His image. Let’s unpack this message for all the children we know with hugs and encouragement, so each one understands how valuable they are.
-Joan B. Benson and Marjorie Wingert, co-authors of Who Am I,? one of four books in the Cornerstone Concepts for Kids Series