Comments on: Summertime: A Single Metaphor Mini-Memoir

By: shirleyhs

shirleyhs — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:59:41 +0000

I loved the magic moment in class discussions when students would stop referring to me or my questions but just start talking to each other about the subject at hand. Same thing happens when people make perceptive, helpful blog comments.

Thanks, Betty, Karin, Cynthia and Sonya!

By: shirleyhs

shirleyhs — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:59:41 +0000

Thanks, Betty, Karin, Cynthia and Sonya!

By: Karin

Karin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:29:31 +0000

Cynthia, I enjoyed reading your excerpt from Crazy Quilt posted on your website. Collecting stories–what a great way to heal! I've thought about collecting my grandma's stories, and one of the pushes for me to do this is my belief that the second generation has the ability to collect these stories in a way that the first generation can't. Grandparents are more likely to be honest with their grandkids than they are with their own children. Did you find this? And did that cause any jealousy or upheaval between you and your mom?

By: Karin

Karin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:16:08 +0000

Betty Auchard reminds me a bit of my own grandmother, who, after serving as a missionary in India for 42 years with her husband, and raising 6 children there, came back to the States and had to learn to cook and clean. Then a few years later, my grandpa died; thus at age 70 my grandmother learned to drive. (Though having driven for her during that summer that my grandpa was dying, I can tell you that she was always a dedicated backseat driver!)

By: Gutsy Writer

Gutsy Writer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:50:26 +0000

I can taste the cherries. I'm catching up with “Writer's Digest,” and a memoir called, “Dancing in my Nightgown: The Rhythms of Widowhood,” by Betty Auchard. I met her last weekend and she's 79, and absolutely funny and charming. She spoke about how she had to learn how to put gas in her car, after her husband passed away, 12 years ago–and learn so many other skills.

By: shirleyhs

shirleyhs — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:21:05 +0000

Thanks, Cynthia. As a memoir writer yourself, you know a lot about what it takes to tell an honest, beautiful story. “Truth and Beauty” sounds like a good one! Thanks for the comment. Hope to read your memoir soon and maybe review it here. I am making a sub-genre list of all Mennonite memoirs. Would love your help.

By: Cynthia Yoder

Cynthia Yoder — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:57:49 +0000

Hi Shirley,
Nice to see what you're doing here! My favorite recent memoir read is “Truth and Beauty” by Ann Patchett. It's a memoir of a friendship between Patchett and Lucy Grealy, who was the well-known author of “Autobiography of a Face.” It's a beautifully written exploration of friendship that is tested through really difficult circumstances. It's an honest, thought-provoking, and just superbly told story!
Cynthia

By: shirleyhs

shirleyhs — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:10:15 +0000

You can't have any because you are still sick, Betty? I hope not. Is Paraguay too dry to produce cherries?

By: Betty

Betty — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:38:04 +0000

Agh!! I just want some of those cherries!! My favorite fruit and I can´t have any! But it was a good metaphor. Got my mouth watering..