As time goes by ...

[Big Man]

On Monday, March 20th, my aunt celebrated her 98th birthday. :eusa_clap We've always been a close family, and I credit the majority of the "understanding" I have of life in the 20's, 30's and 40's from her. As a young boy, I spent a tremendous amount of time at my grandmother's house with my grandmother and my aunt (she was never married and lived at home all her life). During my early school years, she would come and pick me up every Friday after school and take me home to my grandmother's. On Sunday, my parents would come up after church for Sunday dinner, and that evening would take me home "screaming and crying".

My aunt Hazel was a school teacher. She graduated high school in 1925, and began teaching in 1928. She taught 3rd grade for 47 years at the same school and in the same room. After my grandmother died (at 101 years of age) she continued to live alone at the old home place for about 10 years, but for the past 15 years or so she has lived with my dad in his home.

We gave her a small birthday party, and the highlight was seeing her blow out the candles on her birthday cake and hearing her remark, "I can't believe I'm 98 years old."

This got me to thinking how time really does "go by". My aunt was born in 1908. She was 4 years old when the Titanic went down. She was 10 years old (almost 11) when WW I ended. She was a working adult during the 1930's. It stagers the mind to think of just how much "history" she has been witness to over the years.

While the majority of us in this forum enjoy the nostalgia of the 20's, 30's, and 40's, I often times feel that we (myself included) do not fully grasp just how far removed these times really are, and that the people who lived then are becoming few and far between.

Here are two photos of my aunt, one in about 1936 and one taken on 20 March 2006. As the song from Casablanca reminds us, time really does go by ...

 

[binkmeisterRick]

Happy birthday, Auntie! That's great! My great uncle (whom I have fond memories of) passed away about two years ago. He was 105. He had his witts till the end, too. My father's side is known for their longevity. My grandparents were in their 90's when they passed away. They were shy of their 70th anniversary when Grandma passed.

I, too, find it hard to fathom just how much history they've witnessed. Of all the times where so much changed so dramatically over such a short period of time, I think those who lived the course of the 1900s experienced the greatest and most diverse number of things. Folks, record these stories while you can. Talk, no listen, to those elders for all they have to share. They're a treasure which is slowly fading away.

bink

 

[Big Man]

... Folks, record these stories while you can. Talk, no listen, to those elders for all they have to share. They're a treasure which is slowly fading away.

bink

Well said, and my point, exactly. I am so very thankful that I had the opportunity to hear, and the forethought to remember, all the "old stories" told to me by my grandmother, my aunt, and others. Now that my aunt's memory is not as clear, I will relate some of those old stories to her. It gives her great pleasure to hear them, and she will always remark, "You remember everything, I can't remember anything anymore."

If you have the opportunity, listen to, and learn from, the older generations. History is so much more than just dates and facts.

 

[Feraud]

Congratulations to your aunt on her 98th birthday! What an accomplishment.

 

[binkmeisterRick]

If I had never listened, I would've never known that my stoic grandfather courted my grandmother on a Harley Davidson with sidecar, or that he, of ALL people, spent a night in jail for speeding while driving it. (It was pay the fine or a night in jail. After his brothers agreed to bring him books to read, my grandfather opted for the night in jail!)

One of my favourite stories from my late great uncle was when he was 13. He had gone down to the local hardware store and bought himself a black powder revolver. While showing it off to his brothers in the house, the thing went off, putting a hole in the floor and filling the room with gun smoke. He and his brothers frantically opened the windows to let out the smoke and smell before father came home. Had he found out, there would've been hell to pay -- from a minister, no doubt!lol

 

[Big Man]

If I had never listened, I would've never known that my stoic grandfather courted my grandmother on a Harley Davidson with sidecar, or that he, of ALL people, spent a night in jail for speeding while driving it. (It was pay the fine or a night in jail. After his brothers agreed to bring him books to read, my grandfather opted for the night in jail!)

One of my favourite stories from my late great uncle was when he was 13. He had gone down to the local hardware store and bought himself a black powder revolver. While showing it off to his brothers in the house, the thing went off, putting a hole in the floor and filling the room with gun smoke. He and his brothers frantically opened the windows to let out the smoke and smell before father came home. Had he found out, there would've been hell to pay -- from a minister, no doubt!lol

Great story. Maybe we should modify this thread to "interesting stories I was told". One of the funny stories I remember being told was about my dad. He was 13 or 14 years old at the time, and he and several of his friends had found an old corn-cob pipe. They somehow got their hands on some tobacco and smoked the pipe. Before dad came back in the house, he took a big handful of pine needles and chewed on them to hide the tobacco smell. My grandmother, who did not approve of smoking, gave him a whipping. Much later in life he asked her, "How did you know I'd been smoking." She replied, "I didn't know, but I sure did know that nobody's breath naturally smells like pine needles, so you must have been up to something you shouldn't have been!"

My grandmother was a wise woman!

 

["Doc" Devereux]

I come from an old family. Many of my antecedants were the sort of people that books are written about, and quite a few have had exactly that happen. I've thus had the great privilege of knowing some astonishing people, some of whom are my heroes to this day. I've heard some great stories: what is was like to have the first car in town, what it was like to know Douglas Bader and David Stirling, what it meant to be allowed to vote, how it felt to be on the beaches of Dunkirk and, later, Normandy, what it really meant to be afraid of invasion, and what 'building a road' really means. There are other stories I've never heard, and never will because those gentlemen have stepped away from the bar now: what the Burma Railway was really like, the sights from the second Allied vehicle to enter Dachau, Mad Mitch's time in Aden and SAS operations in Malaya. I had the great good fortune to grow up among these people, hear the stories they were willing to tell to a small boy with big ears, and to try to understand why there were some things they didn't want to remember or talk about.

But among all these tales of ordinary life and derring-do, what these fine people wanted me to learn was the meaning of a few simple-sounding words: honour, grace, duty and courage. Bink's right on the money when he says to listen to the tales that our elders tell, but I'd add that we should learn what we can from them - the memories and the people. I'm now in the position of having a nephew who looks up to me and listens to my own meager tales as I used to listen to those men who gave me their time. It scares the living daylights out of me, but I figure the best thing I can do is try to pass along those same ideals that were explained to me.

 

[binkmeisterRick]

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]I'm now in the position of having a nephew who looks up to me and listens to my own meager tales as I used to listen to those men who gave me their time. It scares the living daylights out of me, but I figure the best thing I can do is try to pass along those same ideals that were explained to me.[/QUOTE]

My late great uncle was the oldest of five brothers (my late grandfather one of them) and he also lived the longest. I think it's because he was such a trouble maker that God needed the extra time to get heaven ready for him! But even though he had some of the craziest stories and schemes, and though I learned he had his imperfections, too, what I took from him was what pretty much what you described: honour, grace, duty and courage. You can do the same for your nephew (and others who look up to you) by letting them realize that you, too, are not perfect, that you have had failures as well as successes. What matters is how you handle what life throws at you. This is what will define your character and how others perceive you. If your nephew gleans this and takes it to heart, then you've done more than a good job.

 

[Naama]

I know, this comes late, but send her my best wishes
Wow 98...... It must be so strange to see so many things happen and changing....... My grandmother on my mothers side never really talks about the old days that much..... my grandmother on my fathers side, I can't talk to her as she speaks a different language (yes, literaly) and both my grandfathers are dead......... (never got the opportunity to meet them) Only my granduncle likes to tell some storys, but it's almost always about war or his childhood (he has quite funny stories). I envy everyone who doesn't has as strange relatives as I have

Naama

 

[RedPop4]

An amazing woman. Great stories guys.

May I suggest that you get a good tape recorder, and go have a few conversations with her. You might make an outline, or a chronology or whatever and have it with you to keep the conversation directed.

This would be a great keepsake for yourself, and your children and their children.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I always knew that "my elders" had a lot to share- now that I am older I wish I had spent more time with so many that have passed away- lucky for me I did wake up and start cherishing many of them in time- but you always grow thru others and it would have been great to have listened to more as I did not really make an attempt until I finished college-of couse that has been decades ago now ... BTW, this was a nice post.

 

[Big Man]

My dear aunt, who I have often written about in this forum, quietly passed away Sunday morning, 1 October 2006. She was a wonderful lady, and I feel that I am a much better person from having known her.

 

[scotrace]

A long life

A long life, and touched many people.

Please accept my sympathy on your loss.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

All the best to you and your family. I'm so happy for you that you had so many good years with her and so many memories to cherish. But condolences too, it's never easy.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've just read thru your earlier posts, and you're so lucky to have had a lady like your aunt in your life for so long. Deepest condolences for your loss.

 

[deanglen]

My condolences to you, Big man. 1Cor 15: 19-22.
He has risen!
He has risen indeed!
Amen!


dean

 

[Honey Doll]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. She sounded like a remarkable woman.

Honey Doll

 

[Big Man]

It's been five years ago today that my dear aunt Hazel passed away. It's hard to believe that time has passed by so fast. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of my aunt and all she did for me and the rest of the family.

Yesterday, I started reading my little granddaughter the book "The Adventures of Mabel". The book I was reading from belonged to my aunt Hazel, who was given the book in 1916. I recall how many times my aunt used to read to me when I was a child. It seems like it was just yesterday.

Time really does pass by so fast. Make the most of it while you have the chance.

 

[scotrace]

It does indeed. I think a large part of what "Heaven" is, is to be remembered well by those you leave behind. Your aunt has certainly gained a heavenly reward in this and many other ways.

 

[Miss sofia]

Amen to that!

To be be remembered with love and to remember them with love, that's what it's all about.

Strange as i was having this very same chat with my son last night. I miss my grandparents every day, but pretty much every little mundane kitchen utensil i have belonged in their house, and every time i stir a saucepan or put a pie in the oven i think of them.