A Paper Time Capsule
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "Letter 1"Letters to my granddaughters
49 total reviews
Comment from royowen
It's very hard to write short letters without the detail and the emotion of change, one would have to be accepting of constant change. We've been to and stayed with friends to Germany, Elaine studied in both Germany and Switzerland. Beautifully written Barbara, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2023
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It's very hard to write short letters without the detail and the emotion of change, one would have to be accepting of constant change. We've been to and stayed with friends to Germany, Elaine studied in both Germany and Switzerland. Beautifully written Barbara, blessings Roy
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2023
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Thank you for your support.
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Welcome
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Thank you
Comment from jmdg1954
I agree with holding the letters back till they reach those ages indicated. They will better understand grandmas military life and in foreign countries.
Since they will be older, it will give you the opportunity to share more details throughout the times.
But, that's my opinion. It's up to you.
Thank you for sharing this interesting part of your life!
John
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2023
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I agree with holding the letters back till they reach those ages indicated. They will better understand grandmas military life and in foreign countries.
Since they will be older, it will give you the opportunity to share more details throughout the times.
But, that's my opinion. It's up to you.
Thank you for sharing this interesting part of your life!
John
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2023
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I am at a word limit. I would have to add an additional letter. I think I will do that. Thank you for the support.
Comment from lyenochka
Loved your letter! What a great thing to chronicle your early married life for your granddaughters! You are so flexible to have endured all those moves and how mind-broadening to have lived in so many places! Thanks for sharing!
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2023
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Loved your letter! What a great thing to chronicle your early married life for your granddaughters! You are so flexible to have endured all those moves and how mind-broadening to have lived in so many places! Thanks for sharing!
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2023
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Thank you for your support.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
I like the idea of these stories being shared by your granddaughters, preferably when older. The rich and varied life that your family has experienced and the lessons learnt on the way will be invaluable in understanding and building confidence from their ancestry. Thanks for sharing. Debbie
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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I like the idea of these stories being shared by your granddaughters, preferably when older. The rich and varied life that your family has experienced and the lessons learnt on the way will be invaluable in understanding and building confidence from their ancestry. Thanks for sharing. Debbie
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
You are right, three and five are a bit young for geopolitical discourse.
Maybe a little more detail - did you learn any foreign languages, even rudimentary? Were your schools on base with American teachers? Did you practice for emergency rapid return to the States? Did you make any foreign friends? Did you ever see any of your American dependent friends again?
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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You are right, three and five are a bit young for geopolitical discourse.
Maybe a little more detail - did you learn any foreign languages, even rudimentary? Were your schools on base with American teachers? Did you practice for emergency rapid return to the States? Did you make any foreign friends? Did you ever see any of your American dependent friends again?
Best wishes.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the suggestions. Yes, I speak some German, but am fluent in Spanish. The bases hired American teachers. We were made to have plan for rapid return to the US even for our pets. Also, when the Russians moved we had alerts and US soldiers walked the school hallways. This will probably be a subject in a future letter. I need to keep it short and on topic.
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Barbara, I had no idea your husband was in the military for 23 years, and what an interesting life you were able to enjoy because of that. I'm sure it was not always a bed of roses, but, as you state, your family was on the front lines of history.
I love the line "grow where you're planted". What great advice for us all.
Really looking forward to reading these letters to your grandchildren and learning more about who you are.
Take care,
Pam
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Barbara, I had no idea your husband was in the military for 23 years, and what an interesting life you were able to enjoy because of that. I'm sure it was not always a bed of roses, but, as you state, your family was on the front lines of history.
I love the line "grow where you're planted". What great advice for us all.
Really looking forward to reading these letters to your grandchildren and learning more about who you are.
Take care,
Pam
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from BethShelby
I think your grandchildren will appreciate you sharing details of your life with them. Personally I wonder how you survived all those moves with a child or children. In a way I envy you for the opportunity you had to travel and see the world. Germany is a beautiuful country and it has some amazing castles, churches and gardens to visit. Still moving is such a pain. Tell the grandchildren funny incidences that happened during those years. This isn't long. If you need to write more break the letters into two parts.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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I think your grandchildren will appreciate you sharing details of your life with them. Personally I wonder how you survived all those moves with a child or children. In a way I envy you for the opportunity you had to travel and see the world. Germany is a beautiuful country and it has some amazing castles, churches and gardens to visit. Still moving is such a pain. Tell the grandchildren funny incidences that happened during those years. This isn't long. If you need to write more break the letters into two parts.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the support. To fit on what they have for me, it needs to be close to 100 words, this is over, but I can't cut it anymore. I might do longer letters also, on my own.
Comment from jessizero
This was an excellent piece of family history for your grandchildren to treasure. I wish I knew more about my grandparents' lives. Keep up the good work, and best wishes for the rest of this project.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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This was an excellent piece of family history for your grandchildren to treasure. I wish I knew more about my grandparents' lives. Keep up the good work, and best wishes for the rest of this project.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Ric Myworld
It appears your family witnessed some of the major happening in history that few of us who watched over television new outlets and other media. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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It appears your family witnessed some of the major happening in history that few of us who watched over television new outlets and other media. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Terry Broxson
Barbara, we never had kids, so I am not much help. But I do like the idea. Nevertheless, here are a couple of thoughts. It is interesting in this post you tell them to grow where you are planted, and yet you moved all over the world. I think I know what you mean. But you might want to explain how you keep growing even though you are moving around. I don't think you meant they should stay in one place.
One thing you will leave your grandkids are the books you have written. Consider giving them some of the back stories about why you wrote that book, the history of it, motivation, inspiration, and how you researched it. They will love small details. You are a novelist...show don't tell.
Maybe some of the reactions to your books, what gave you the most satisfaction, the biggest challenges, that sort of stuff.
I think they will be interested in the facts of your life but intrigued by the insights. Good luck with the project. It is in good hands. Terry.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Barbara, we never had kids, so I am not much help. But I do like the idea. Nevertheless, here are a couple of thoughts. It is interesting in this post you tell them to grow where you are planted, and yet you moved all over the world. I think I know what you mean. But you might want to explain how you keep growing even though you are moving around. I don't think you meant they should stay in one place.
One thing you will leave your grandkids are the books you have written. Consider giving them some of the back stories about why you wrote that book, the history of it, motivation, inspiration, and how you researched it. They will love small details. You are a novelist...show don't tell.
Maybe some of the reactions to your books, what gave you the most satisfaction, the biggest challenges, that sort of stuff.
I think they will be interested in the facts of your life but intrigued by the insights. Good luck with the project. It is in good hands. Terry.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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All of that will be separate. I'm attempting to stick to the prompts given and the word count. I could have gone on forever with some of things that happened in Germany. I'm really struggling with the next prompt. It on how things are different now, than when I grew up, so many to write about and so little words. Thank you for the support.
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Oh, I see, I had read that, but it didn't sink in. Where I grew up we didn't lock the door at night, we played outside until mom called us home for supper, she didn't use a cell phone. Good luck. Terry.
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I started it and have play outside until the streetlights came on, but don't have the part about the door not being locked. That would be important to my granddaughters, they are growing up in St. Louis.