What an exciting Monday it was to tune in to the ALA Youth Media Awards. My granddaughters and I read one of the Caldecott Honor books I have that's a favorite, Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris and LeUyen Pham and talked about all the favorites we've read this year.
I received more postcards this week, more to help me appreciate the creativity of poet friends. I began to imagine postcards going from place to place, began to wonder if I could write a few about places I remember, thus this first one. I grew up in a small town in Missouri, a town my great, great grandfather helped found. My father died in World War II, lost in the Pacific over Leyte. I lived with my maternal grandparents for those early years and heard story after story. This is rough but I wanted to try.Thanks to Robyn Hood Black, Diane Mayr, & Christie Wyman for your wonderful postcards!
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| "All hail" indeed, also time to pay attention to this maligned creature this year! Hugs to Robyn Hood Black for the big smile! |
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| And then, Diane Mayr's card arrived, punctuating the need to remember that rat! Now noted! More smiles. |
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| Just the perfect timing because we had "Not a lot/just enough' Wednesday evening and now, writing on Thursday evening, it's snowing! Big smile from me and from the thirsty trees and other plants, little creatures, too! for these snowy words from Christie Wyman |
"Family tales whisper..." This is a beautiful way to start your poem, Linda. I am surprised that you could remember your stories so well. Mine are blurry for the most part. I had to laugh that you set off the alarm. My son did that at the Baseball Hall of Fame but he set off the exhibit alarm when he leaned over the glass case (he was quite small at the time). Memories are to be savored. I hope you write more of them.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I also received Diane's and Christie's lovely poems. Robyn's was new to me and quite a surprise. I guess the rat is getting some recognition.
DeleteThanks, Carol! I love that you have a story about an alarm set off by your son. Stories we remember about us and about our children are precious. And yes, I won't forget about this"year of the rat" now!
Delete"I am a child of my mother..." Wow. There's a whole chapter right there. Memory is a wonderful and tricky place to write from. I hope you do write some memoir poems. I always enjoy what you write and you have a unique past that all too many kids and adults can relate to. You are a survivor and so much more. Write the poems, Linda. Please.
ReplyDeleteI plan to try, Linda, and am rather inspired by the idea. Thank you!
Delete"Where will they go?" -- great question. I would like more details of the actual setting off of the fire alarm...what makes toddler Linda get the urge to do it (does she know what will happen? it is accidental? is it hard for her, physically?) xo
ReplyDeleteOf course I only remember what was told to me later, Tabatha. I think I was about 3 or 4 & was "inspecting" the knobs, etc. Evidently I wanted to sit in the firetruck, and then pulled a lever or pushed a button, setting off the alarm. It was a volunteer force & when that loud horn rang, the volunteers came running, including my grandfather! Oops!
DeleteLove all these postcards. Wonderful reading about your early memories. Smiled at Chef Pete and the fire alarm. So important to write things down; I regret that I didn't keep better journals throughout my life.
ReplyDeleteI have diaries from junior high on, but not before that, only stories told to me, Jama. I have loved what you've shared thought the years on your blog, though you wish for journals. Maybe I should tell the grand-girls how much they would love them years from now?
Delete"If I don't write them down, where will they go?" Stories are a gift. My father always says he wishes he'd written down his parents' and grandparents' stories. Thanks for sharing the postcards, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura, I have an old diary from one of my husband's great aunts, that day to day capture of her life & I treasure it. It would be wonderful to have others.
DeleteI hope more of your family stories and memories will find their way into poems. This one is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay, I will keep writing!
DeleteThose stories are so important... even the little ones. Do you watch the show Finding Your Roots? In my fantasy, I would be on that show one day and have Henry Louis Gates recover some of my family's lost stories for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that show at all, Michelle. I'll see if I can find it! Sending you a wish that you will get on that show!
DeleteI loved the memories in your poem. Those "uneven steps" is a great way to describe out childhood memories. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. I imagine you have a few to write, too.
DeleteVery strong, you paint a vivid scene in the first few lines. Your poem sounds like the beginning of a memoir. I just started Nikki Grime's "Ordinary Hazards–" I hope we hear more of these little stories, connection to your past too, thanks Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle. I just got Ordinary Hazards this week, will be starting it soon. I hope to write a few more postcard memories, too!
DeleteI love these family stories, Linda. And... where WILL they go? I want to capture them all. I like this poem very much... the beauty of poetry...it can capture the heart of the story in a few lines. I think I'll have to try that also. You have inspired me! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do write some, too, Karen. I'm glad to inspire. Thank you!
DeleteOh Linda, I love your poem and these final lines. How fun to put them on a postcard.
ReplyDelete"If I don't remember,
if I don't write them down,
where will they go?"
I'm encouraging others in our congregation to join me on my #52stories or #20 stories (20 for this special year) or #12 stories (one each month). Your poem has inspired me to try to write some of my stories as poems.
That is wonderful that you are encouraging others to write their stories, Ramona. I hope you do get some to do it & that you'll write your own, too. Thank you!
DeleteGreat story! What a surprise that must have been...and obviously a favorite story to tell over and over again! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary Lee. Yes, I heard that story a lot!
DeleteI love your postcard poem, memory of child Linda. You were raised by many, it seems. Love the surprise of the fire alarm story. It's time to write these stories!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret, yes, I had a whole family parenting me!
DeleteThe final lines of your poem are so poignant, Linda. They remind me of something in an essay I read recently: "What happens to what we remember?" (Brian Doyle, quoted by Patrick Madden. https://www.assayjournal.com/patrick-madden-8203once-more-to-his-last-game-61.html) I love the specifics of your memories, especially the firehouse story! Thank you for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all, Catherine. I'll find that article!
DeleteSo much to love in this post. I am glad everyone has enjoyed the postcard exchange.
ReplyDelete