This is a story well told and compelling!! I’m looking forward to reading the rest! Here’s to chance encounters on the London Writers Salon! :). This makes me wish I could do such a project for my mom - sadly she has dementia and her memory is extremely bad. She and my late father didn’t like talking about their past before they got married.
But once in California they did create a story worthy life which I do hope to tell someday soon - as they built a sailing yacht and took my sister and I around the world on it!
And also nice that you’re living abroad too! (I’m in the Netherlands).
Hi Audrey, thank you so much for the kind encouragement. I'm sorry to hear your mom's memories are fading. It's interesting how many people don't talk about their past. My mom recently commented that in the time, she didn't think her life was even remotely interesting. Now she wishes she had kept a journal, or otherwise documented some of the milestones. There is a lesson in there for all of us, I think.
Mum and I were both uncertain at the outset of this project; she worried her memories were a bit jumbled, and I worried I wouldn't be able to do her story justice. Over the last several months we have found a way to work together, write about what she remembers, and do the best we can.
I'm so pleased we decided to release the chapters on Substack, as memory is an iterative thing. New memories pop up from time to time, and this way we have a chance to go back and build on past chapters as new information emerges. It's been a very rewarding process.
How fortunate you are to have these conversation with your mother. It's wonderful you can hear her story and pass it on to others. I also love your photos. Thank you so far!
Compelling. I'm looking forward to reading more of the story you and your mother are crafting as it progresses. I find myself wishing I'd taken the time to really talk to Mum about her childhood and life thereafter. I have bits and pieces, but no real narrative. This will be a gift to you and your sibs, and well as your other readers.
Thanks Nancy. I'm glad we are doing it this project. I too, had snippets of stories, but nothing that was anchored to a timeline. This has been a very iterative process, I'm quite sure the story will never be "complete" as new memories come to mind. Mom and I were talking last night, and it came up again that by publishing the story here on Substack, we can keep adding to it and amending it as new information comes up. There is no "final draft", it can continue to be a work in progress until we decide otherwise.
This is a story well told and compelling!! I’m looking forward to reading the rest! Here’s to chance encounters on the London Writers Salon! :). This makes me wish I could do such a project for my mom - sadly she has dementia and her memory is extremely bad. She and my late father didn’t like talking about their past before they got married.
But once in California they did create a story worthy life which I do hope to tell someday soon - as they built a sailing yacht and took my sister and I around the world on it!
And also nice that you’re living abroad too! (I’m in the Netherlands).
Hi Audrey, thank you so much for the kind encouragement. I'm sorry to hear your mom's memories are fading. It's interesting how many people don't talk about their past. My mom recently commented that in the time, she didn't think her life was even remotely interesting. Now she wishes she had kept a journal, or otherwise documented some of the milestones. There is a lesson in there for all of us, I think.
Mum and I were both uncertain at the outset of this project; she worried her memories were a bit jumbled, and I worried I wouldn't be able to do her story justice. Over the last several months we have found a way to work together, write about what she remembers, and do the best we can.
I'm so pleased we decided to release the chapters on Substack, as memory is an iterative thing. New memories pop up from time to time, and this way we have a chance to go back and build on past chapters as new information emerges. It's been a very rewarding process.
I’m also curious what brought you to Porto?
Very compelling - I look forward to reading more.
Thanks Audrey!
How fortunate you are to have these conversation with your mother. It's wonderful you can hear her story and pass it on to others. I also love your photos. Thank you so far!
Thank you! It has been a very good experience working with my mom on this project. I hope she will say the same! :D
Compelling. I'm looking forward to reading more of the story you and your mother are crafting as it progresses. I find myself wishing I'd taken the time to really talk to Mum about her childhood and life thereafter. I have bits and pieces, but no real narrative. This will be a gift to you and your sibs, and well as your other readers.
Thanks Nancy. I'm glad we are doing it this project. I too, had snippets of stories, but nothing that was anchored to a timeline. This has been a very iterative process, I'm quite sure the story will never be "complete" as new memories come to mind. Mom and I were talking last night, and it came up again that by publishing the story here on Substack, we can keep adding to it and amending it as new information comes up. There is no "final draft", it can continue to be a work in progress until we decide otherwise.