Meeting Grandmother Josephine
My initial meeting with my paternal grandmother24 total reviews
Comment from Pantygynt
This is a fine memoir that has a messageunderpinnig the story. Industry bosses seem to be engaged in constant conflict with their workforce as if they were engaged in a war. I have seen it here in UK too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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This is a fine memoir that has a messageunderpinnig the story. Industry bosses seem to be engaged in constant conflict with their workforce as if they were engaged in a war. I have seen it here in UK too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you sir. I have been toying with writing my life story. I think I am now ready to give it a try.
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Go for it.
Comment from Pj Dennison
This is a wonderful autobiographical story. I liked reading the chronology of your life that you shared. Family stories are a mixture of many things, happy, sad, and crazy. It is unfortunate you met your paternal grandmother after she missed you growing up but in the reconciliation, you found out some amazing similarities, and maybe it was just at the right time. People do need to think and ask before they make a decision involving children what is best for the children. Publishing a book of her works is a beautiful tribute to her and one from the heart.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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This is a wonderful autobiographical story. I liked reading the chronology of your life that you shared. Family stories are a mixture of many things, happy, sad, and crazy. It is unfortunate you met your paternal grandmother after she missed you growing up but in the reconciliation, you found out some amazing similarities, and maybe it was just at the right time. People do need to think and ask before they make a decision involving children what is best for the children. Publishing a book of her works is a beautiful tribute to her and one from the heart.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Yes. Thank you. I got a great deal of pleasure in bringing her book to the attention of grandchildren and great grandchildren who had no idea that she had even written a book.
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You are welcome. Yes, the book would be a great keepsake of their grandmother.
Comment from Jane Graille
This is a beautiful and well written memory. The mysteries of our parents' pasts can feel like missing puzzle pieces. It's lovely you were able to transcribe and publish Josephine's book.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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This is a beautiful and well written memory. The mysteries of our parents' pasts can feel like missing puzzle pieces. It's lovely you were able to transcribe and publish Josephine's book.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you. I learned a great deal about her by reading her thoughts and feelings.
Comment from royowen
I never really knew my paternal grandmother, (she was a most forbidding woman, running a boarding house) my father was sired by the second husband in the house, he died long before I was born. I have no idea where my ability as a poet came from, perhaps it's the Celtic part of me. But it's gratifying to know where yours comes from, my education was lacking, unlike my wife, but I guess that's because mum and dad came from a very working class background. Beautifully written, thanks for sharing brother, well done, good to know you. Blessings Roy
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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I never really knew my paternal grandmother, (she was a most forbidding woman, running a boarding house) my father was sired by the second husband in the house, he died long before I was born. I have no idea where my ability as a poet came from, perhaps it's the Celtic part of me. But it's gratifying to know where yours comes from, my education was lacking, unlike my wife, but I guess that's because mum and dad came from a very working class background. Beautifully written, thanks for sharing brother, well done, good to know you. Blessings Roy
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you very much for your wonderful comments. You have no idea, or maybe you do. It is wonderful to communicate with someone who is compassionate, knowledgeable and well spoken. I appreciate you.
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Bless you bro
Comment from LJbutterfly
This is a well written and easy to follow story spanning several eras in time, including your service in the Air Force, work at the Chrysler plant, and employment with the City of Detroit. Did you retire from the city?
Growing up, my favorite poet was Paul Lawrence Dunbar. I had memorized his poem "In the Morning."
"Lias! Lias! Bless de Lawd! Don' you know de day's erbroad?"
I'm glad this story had a very happy ending and meaningful message. Well done.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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This is a well written and easy to follow story spanning several eras in time, including your service in the Air Force, work at the Chrysler plant, and employment with the City of Detroit. Did you retire from the city?
Growing up, my favorite poet was Paul Lawrence Dunbar. I had memorized his poem "In the Morning."
"Lias! Lias! Bless de Lawd! Don' you know de day's erbroad?"
I'm glad this story had a very happy ending and meaningful message. Well done.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you for your comments. No I moved to LA and retired from the County of Los Angeles Office of the Assessor. My favorite Dunbar poem is "We Wear The Mask." I, in fact wrote an answer to that poem, titled "The Mask Has Been Lifted."
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"We Wear The Mask," is a more serious poem. "In the Morning," was humorous. If you posted "The Mask Has Been Lifted," on Fanstory, I going to search for it.
Comment from Judy Lawless
This is an amazing story, and well written; Besides the emotional family matters it was also interesting to learn how the automobile industry treated their employees. This is posted under general fiction, but I'm wondering if it is non-fiction, autobiographical?
The only suggestion I have is to use the terms "maternal' and "paternal" grandmothers to help us follow a little better. I had to re-read to sort them out.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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This is an amazing story, and well written; Besides the emotional family matters it was also interesting to learn how the automobile industry treated their employees. This is posted under general fiction, but I'm wondering if it is non-fiction, autobiographical?
The only suggestion I have is to use the terms "maternal' and "paternal" grandmothers to help us follow a little better. I had to re-read to sort them out.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you. I will make the noted corrections.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Isn't it amazing how God works? So many things about your life is now made clearer. Thank you for sharing this with us.
The next day we were visited by my mother and my father. 'What?" (The following day, it has to do with definition.)
She asked me how my mother was doing, and I replied that I thought she was ok, (you can omit 'that' for a tighter read)
hings came full circle as I was able to take a book that my grandmother wrote back in the 60s, hand typed and mimeographed. (again, omit 'that')
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Isn't it amazing how God works? So many things about your life is now made clearer. Thank you for sharing this with us.
The next day we were visited by my mother and my father. 'What?" (The following day, it has to do with definition.)
She asked me how my mother was doing, and I replied that I thought she was ok, (you can omit 'that' for a tighter read)
hings came full circle as I was able to take a book that my grandmother wrote back in the 60s, hand typed and mimeographed. (again, omit 'that')
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you. I appreciate your comments and your suggestions.
Comment from Mary Vigasin
There is much sadness in your wonderful story. Can you imagine the richness in your and Josephine's lives had you been growing up knowing her?
Your tribute to her in publishing is an act of love and respect to her
Beautifully written. Thank you for the read .
Regards
Mary
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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There is much sadness in your wonderful story. Can you imagine the richness in your and Josephine's lives had you been growing up knowing her?
Your tribute to her in publishing is an act of love and respect to her
Beautifully written. Thank you for the read .
Regards
Mary
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you. I appreciate you.
Comment from amahra
Yes, Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Family members need to stop allowing their disagreements with each other affect the children. If I ever did one good thing in my life was not to speak badly of my ex-husband to our son, though he chose not to be in his life after our bitter divorce. When my son grew to manhood, he wanted a relationship and to their surprise, both had played and loved football and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
So glad grandmother's book is on Amazon.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Yes, Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Family members need to stop allowing their disagreements with each other affect the children. If I ever did one good thing in my life was not to speak badly of my ex-husband to our son, though he chose not to be in his life after our bitter divorce. When my son grew to manhood, he wanted a relationship and to their surprise, both had played and loved football and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
So glad grandmother's book is on Amazon.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you. Surprisingly I have experienced some jealousy since she did not share a copy of her book with all of my cousins who ironically, grew up around her.
Comment from WalkerMan
You covered many of the key episodes of your life as you build up to how you met your paternal grandmother, Josephine, who had missed out on knowing you sooner because she did not get along with your mother.
Once you met her, both her life and yours changed as you each realized now much you had in common, including writing poetry and considering Paul Laurence Dunbar (her and your) favorite poet. (He stood out in his time for writing many wise poems, four of which are in my literary art book.)
You did her a great honor and created a lasting treasure for your family by transcribing her original text into a book for sale at Amazon, where both family and interested others may buy it. Your resultant pride is well justified.
Your Notes make an important point about not letting disagreements interfere with family connections.
Superb, and aptly illustrated by the front cover of Josephine's book.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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You covered many of the key episodes of your life as you build up to how you met your paternal grandmother, Josephine, who had missed out on knowing you sooner because she did not get along with your mother.
Once you met her, both her life and yours changed as you each realized now much you had in common, including writing poetry and considering Paul Laurence Dunbar (her and your) favorite poet. (He stood out in his time for writing many wise poems, four of which are in my literary art book.)
You did her a great honor and created a lasting treasure for your family by transcribing her original text into a book for sale at Amazon, where both family and interested others may buy it. Your resultant pride is well justified.
Your Notes make an important point about not letting disagreements interfere with family connections.
Superb, and aptly illustrated by the front cover of Josephine's book.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2021
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Thank you so much. I am actually surprised that I did not miss and correct other possible mistakes. My eyes were nearly closed with fatigue by the time I did my last edit. I will certainly fix it.
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You are most welcome, Nolan. I see the correction and have removed my comment on it, as promised.
It is heartwarming to know you and she had time to know each other, though it was not as much as either of you would have preferred.
Having had the life you have led so far, you are an interesting man I'm pleased to know and consider a friend. -- Mike
