| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bramble |
Posted - Feb 07 2005 : 09:45:19 AM
The farm log posting made me remember some letters that were in my family since the civil war and that we always treasured because of their sweetness. They were from my greatgrandmother's 15 yr. old brother who went off with a Massachussetts regiment to fight in the civil war. He went against his parents wishes but wrote home with determination, commitment and the hope that his parents would come to understand his choice and forgive him his disobedience. As the time in the letters progress,he is both resolved to the cause but you begin to hear his age creep in as he tells his mother"You ask after the food , are we eating well. The food Mother is not good, not good at all. I long to smell the bread cooling on your windowsill or appropriate one of your rhubarbs (pies?) that I so often blamed on Jamie. Forgive me, I long to be in your debt again from that heavenly
scented place known as your kitchen. Just to be home with all of you would be heaven. Your loving son, Albert
Kind of a timeless valentine,don't you think?
with a happy heart |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Feb 08 2005 : 10:01:04 AM
JP, Thank you for your kind and encouraging words... Your daughter sounds like a strong and good young woman. My daughter will be graduating from college this spring. I remember the conflicts I had with my mother at this age but we are very close and I did "return". It must be a step that mothers and daughters must take at some time.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Feb 08 2005 : 12:16:18 AM
Meadowlark, my daughter is now married and is a wonderful wife and stay-at-home mom. So things work out as they are meant to if we hang in there and love each other and pray. Even though I was opposed to my daughter going to Israel, she was an adult and I had to let her go. My mother had to do the same with me. It is hard to see independent children "fly away" but they fly back, too!
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Feb 07 2005 : 2:19:55 PM
Bramble I am loving this so... That letter is eternal in its message. So simple and so elegant and straight to the heart of hearts! War letters and love letters from our ancestors would be an excellent topic of interest on the forum and in the magazine. I am sure we all have something that would be of interest and enjoyment for others to share. I have the letters my Dad wrote home to his parents and siblings while serving in the Navy in WWII, they are very poignant and have so much to say relevant to today. I also have my grandmother and grandfathers love letters written in the early 20's. The American language then was so expressive and correct, the penmanship was exquisite. Please post more of those, they are special! Like Jp, I am grappling with the flight and independance of a headstrong daughter.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| terese |
Posted - Feb 07 2005 : 1:30:39 PM
In the era of Istant message and abbreviation. What a wonderful story. I'm sure our soldiers far away are now appreciating the simple memories of home..Timeless for sure.
Thank you for that lovely letter.
beginnings |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Feb 07 2005 : 1:23:36 PM
Bramble, how I enjoyed reading your post! Weren't even the youngest of folks back then well versed in the written word? I wish we had not lost that wonderful way of using language.
I would love for you to post more of those letters for us to read. It would even be a great segment for the MJF magazine for you to share your civil war letters!
It made my heart ache, because when my daughter graduated from college in 2001 she went, alone, to Israel to do mission work. I was so opposed to her going. And she basically said the same thing as your ancestor did to his parents all those many years ago. She said, I have to go Mom, forgive me my disobedience.
Thank you for giving me insight into the fact that we have to let people go sometimes, and this has been true throughout the ages.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
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