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I’m hooked on genealogy and have been for a number of years. I put it away for a long time but last year, after watching Who Do You Think You Are? on Friday nights, I dug out my disorganized notes and records, joined ancestry.com and started searching.
Genealogy is addictive. I struggle between writing fiction and wanting to devote all my time to writing my family history--at least, a few personal family stories like the one below.
Me and Grandma
I was closer to Grandma than her other grandkids. Maybe because we lived right across the pasture and I saw her every day. When I was little, I stayed with Grandma while Mama worked. I watched her wring the necks of chickens, slam them to the ground and laugh while they flopped to death. There was something a little scary, yet fascinating about watching my old Grandma, long grey hair knotted at the base of her neck, killing chickens.
When I got older, I’d still hang out with Grandma. I thought she could teach me something school books, and my own mom, couldn’t.
Being at Grandma’s house always felt right.
But this story isn’t 100% true. I wasn’t any closer to Grandma than the other grandkids; I did live across the pasture. And I did stay with her when I was little while my mom worked but once I started calling my panties 'drawers' and the front porch a 'gallery', Mom put me in a kindergarten. I did watch Grandma (I really called her Mamaw) wring the necks of chickens, and she did twist her long hair in a knot. She laughed too. Yes, she fascinated me, so is the story a lie?
John Henry Roach is 18 years old. Mattie Mae Smith is 16 years old. Too handsome and beautiful to be wringing the necks of chickens.
8 comments:
I was never interested in genealogy when I was younger. I've gotten more interested as I've gotten older.
We're covered, Jess. We now have license to add a little here, subtract a bit there and call it "Creative Memoir." Aren't we fortunate? Of course, I don't have any family members left to call me down when I may add or subtract!
Genealogy digging is not for me. I get frazzled--more than I already am! Good job,girlfriend.
Genealogy is very addictive (and spelled weird). I just got hooked and hope to write some family stories too.
Genealogy is a huge interest. Yet I think about it too much..
i actually checked up my last name a while ago... its Bates... apparently it comes from Bateman, which, with an northern English accent, sounds like "Boatman".... so from what I've read, my grea great great somebody was a ferryman! lol
Even if the story wasn't totally true, I love the expression you used about 'living right across the pasture...' There is such romanticism there that creates such a compelling scene.
Rhia from Five Minute Piece for Inspiration (around #800 on A to Z Challenge).
I hear you about genealogy and getting all caught up in it. I LOVED your story about you and your grandma. I never got to witness my mom breaking a chicken's neck, but was told she did. However, I did see my uncle whack the head off of a chicken and it ran around--- just like the saying, running around like a chicken with your head cut off!
What great memories! I love the chicken details. So real. I actually did my G post on a story about my grandma who was born in 1910. She loved genealogy more than almost anything, so I'm trying to share her stories.
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