A-Z Challenge

#AprilA2Z Old Days – Meet My Grandparents Part II #genealogy

Good morning, kittens & dawgs! I interrupt the regular program to bring you this special announcement…. I preëmpt all routine posts to bring you my contributions to this month’s largest blogging event. Don’t worry, normal posting will resume next month like clockwork (I hope). Meanwhile, I invite you to stick around to enjoy the #AprilA2Z fun!

 

How are things with you? Life is good. In Meet my grandparents part I, you met my maternal grandparents. Today, I want to tell you what I know about my other set of grandparents in the Old Days – Meet My Grandparents Part II!

The history on my dad’s side is a bit sketchy at best. I didn’t spend a lot of time with my paternal grandparents as I did my other set of grandparents.  Although, Dolly is younger than my daddy I felt this song was right for this morning’s music choice. Let me start by introducing to you my grandmother….

Nancy Roberts

 

ROBERTS Nancy "Nannie"BC
Grandma is the sweetheart to the far right in this vintage photo. I don’t know who the others are, but in time I will gather their names. Photographed circa 1924

My paternal grandfather is a bit of a mystery, but grandma named Daddy’s biological father years ago. Long story short (maybe another time), Grandma never married. Meet…

Arther Lester

LESTER Ida&ArtherBC
The woman in the photo is Arther Lester’s wife (not my grandma). I borrowed this photo from a relative on Facebook or Ancestry.

In my young years, Grandma lived with old man Lige Estep. This is another story in itself and I doubt I’ll ever learn everything to give the story justice, but Lige is Grandma’s step-father.

 

ROBERTS Ligie Estep, Nannie, & daddy BC
Pictured left to right: Lige Estep, Grandma, Daddy, and an unknown woman with a little girl. Kneeling in front is Dee Roberts (Daddy’s brother) and an unknown boy.  I suspect it’s the mid-50s judging Daddy’s youthful appearance.

Grandma was a kind person full of laughs. I don’t think I ever saw her mad in all of my life. I recollect fondly of her with a cup of coffee in her hand and always laughing about something someone shared. In many ways, I see this very quality in my daddy. Of course, I have seen my daddy mad, but this post isn’t about him. lol

ROBERTS grandma 1980BCGrandma died from cancer in September 1980. She was 72 years old. Her story has interested me for years and I want to write a fiction novel loosely based on her life. I penned a snippet a year ago, but I have yet to finish penning my inspirations. I guess I time to get off my duff and do something about it!

What is your favorite, old days memory? Do you draw inspiration in your writings from old family members? Have you recorded digitally (audio or video) any of their old stories?

Follow me while I visit some out-of-this-world bloggers taking part in the outstanding A2Z blogging event!

Save

Save

Save

11 Comments

    • Cathy Kennedy

      Yeah, she had to be tough as nails to raise not only my daddy, but his siblings without a husband. I don’t know how much help old man Lige was, but he was sure scary.

  • lexacain

    What an unusual and eventful life – especially considering the time period. You should definitely write something about her. You could even write a collection of short stories if a novel seems too daunting. Have a great weekend!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      A collection of stories sounds like a marvelous idea. Perhaps that’s what I’ll do after this challenge is behind me for the year. Thanks for the tip!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      I agree. My heartaches for what she must have endured during her day. It had to be painful to live in such a small community with the gossip. Thanks for the encouragement, Laura!

  • kimberleycooperblog

    Hi Cathy, I read your snippet and I’d definitely like to see more. I think you can write that piece with a lot of emotion, basing it even loosely on the story of a family member. My old days memory isn’t that old – the mid 1960s, and seeing my Grandad on TV, when I was about 5, after getting an award from the Queen. I don’t even know what the award was, and sadly he is gone now, and his daughter, my Mum. He never made a big thing about it.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      Thanks for the encouragement, Kimberley. What an exciting tid-bit regarding your dad. It would be so cool to know more. Do you have other family members alive to ask about this event? Maybe, the TV station has a record of why he was getting the award. I appreciate you sharing that with me.

      • kimberleycooperblog

        Hi Cathy, we tried to get the BBC to send us a copy of the recording but as it was so long ago they couldn’t say if they even had it still. There are a couple of uncles still around who might know more, I must get around to investigating this more before it sadly gets too late.

  • XmasDolly

    Oh my goodness, I am so lovin’ your pictures. Thank you so much for sharing, and Dolly Pardon my favorite singing story teller for sure. Of course I especially love her Christmas songs, but this song I never heard believe it or not and I love it. Thanks for introducing it to me and have a fabulous weekend my friend! HUGS

  • Julia

    I have many fond memories of stories my grandpa used to tell me. It was interesting to read the story about your family.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      Grandparents are good at sharing interesting stories. DH recorded (audio) his dad telling about his life as a youngster and early years of marriage. I’m so glad that he did. Although his dad has a fairly good memory for 92, it’s not as good as it use to be. DH’s paternal grandmother had an incredible memory. She was amazing! The way she brought life to her stories was nothing short of mesmerizing.

error: Please contact me for permission to download. Thank-you!!

Discover more from Curious as a Cathy

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading