British welders on a break, 1942

[fishman]

Not uncommon apparently. My Grandmother was British and turned shell casings on a lathe as a teenager as part of the war effort. She mentioned it in passing to my Dad but otherwise never spoke a word about the war or its impact on her life. She ended up marrying my Grandfather who was an American soldier and immigrated to the U. S. right after the war. Now that I am older, there are a lot of things I wished I could have asked her.

 

[ovrszd]

Not uncommon apparently. My Grandmother was British and turned shell casings on a lathe as a teenager as part of the war effort. She mentioned it in passing to my Dad but otherwise never spoke a word about the war or its impact on her life. She ended up marrying my Grandfather who was an American soldier and immigrated to the U. S. right after the war. Now that I am older, there are a lot of things I wished I could have asked her.

My Mother died two years ago at 94. For several years we've had Thanksgiving Dinner in my shop inviting all the nearby relatives. After eating I would start talking to Mom about her life as a child, WWII, etc. Once I would get her started she would tell stories most of the afternoon. Everyone would listen. Got some mouth open, wide eyed stares from the younger generations. I've got hundreds of pictures she hoarded during her lifetime. The last few years I got her to write on the back of each one who was in it. Out of all those pictures there were about a dozen that she didn't know. Priceless information can be gleaned from our older generation.

 

[oosik]

Thank you for that story OVRSZD. It gives me a very good feeling to see how some folks treat their elders. So far I think my own great grands kids(2) aren't scared of my tales, but they sure get wide eyed at some the stories I can tell about my early years in Alaska. Back when men were men and gold was king.

 

[ovrszd]

Thank you for that story OVRSZD. It gives me a very good feeling to see how some folks treat their elders. So far I think my own great grands kids(2) aren't scared of my tales, but they sure get wide eyed at some the stories I can tell about my early years in Alaska. Back when men were men and gold was king.

You are very welcome. Hopefully ours will treat us the same.

What would really get my Grandkids, her Great-Grandkids was when she talked about food. Especially home butchering. She described in great detail the processes involved in catching the blood, stripping the skull of it's edibles and stuffing the intestine linings with ground meat.

 

[oosik]

That's better than Halloween ghost and goblin stories. Especially since you know, for sure, great grandma's stories are true.

 

[Furu]

My Mother died two years ago at 94. For several years we've had Thanksgiving Dinner in my shop inviting all the nearby relatives. After eating I would start talking to Mom about her life as a child, WWII, etc. Once I would get her started she would tell stories most of the afternoon. Everyone would listen. Got some mouth open, wide eyed stares from the younger generations. I've got hundreds of pictures she hoarded during her lifetime. The last few years I got her to write on the back of each one who was in it. Out of all those pictures there were about a dozen that she didn't know. Priceless information can be gleaned from our older generation.

My mother and yours were of the near same age, born 1920. She was always going to write a history of the family from her side but never did. She got a computer in 2001 for just that purpose but never did it. AD came along and robbed her of her mind and there went all the stories. Her great aunt worked the "underground railway" back in the day. Her parents died when she was 2 and she got passed form relative to relative all who would die and she would be passed again. Her first husband died in the Ardennes forest and is buried in the Maastricht cemetery. When I was stationed over in Europe I brought her over on a trip so she could visit his grave. A very touching time even though it was almost 40 years later.
Lots of history in that generation that is going away fast.
If you have a relative in your family from that generation get the stories down on paper or voice recordings, they are worth it.

 

[ovrszd]

My mother and yours were of the near same age, born 1920. She was always going to write a history of the family from her side but never did. She got a computer in 2001 for just that purpose but never did it. AD came along and robbed her of her mind and there went all the stories. Her great aunt worked the "underground railway" back in the day. Her parents died when she was 2 and she got passed form relative to relative all who would die and she would be passed again. Her first husband died in the Ardennes forest and is buried in the Maastricht cemetery. When I was stationed over in Europe I brought her over on a trip so she could visit his grave. A very touching time even though it was almost 40 years later.
Lots of history in that generation that is going away fast.
If you have a relative in your family from that generation get the stories down on paper or voice recordings, they are worth it.

Jewels in your Crown my friend!!!!

 

[lol64]

thank you Prokop, that book had passed me by... bought & downloaded & will start to read when I've finished my chores!