My dad's family, (Fitzgeralds), were flatlanders....my grandfather was the town doctor during the Depression years- upon his death, my grandmother and uncle opened a boarding house. Many teachers lived there, (it's where my mom met my dad), and skiers who came up.
I was born there, moved away until I was 12 and then moved back.
Small town living is both a blessing and a curse....no secrets ! Everyone eventually knows everything that happens .. but there is beauty in that too.
I look back with nostalgia at the times then.
I too, even now, look suspiciously at *new* people that come there, even though they need it for their economy.
I dream of moving back there, but at this point in my life is not a good option for me.
In a small town, I had a conversation with a woman who was a local (loco?).. and she made a statement about outsiders (thinking I would not notice that I WAS an outsider) ..
To paraphrase: 'they aren't bad people, but why do they have to say how to run our town.'
{{it must be pointed out that her town was failing and the only thing keeping it alive were the high percentage of 'outsiders'}}
me: don't you think if someone moves here and starts or buys a business they should get to have some say in the direction of the town...
Thanks for the column on Mr. Goodspeed’s writing, and for the insights on the motivations for writing.
Back in 1998, I heard Norman Mailer lecture at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. One thing he said has stuck with me. In fact, the quote is written on a card on my desk next to my laptop. It reads:
Thank you for sharing Mr. Goodspeed's sweet, fulfilling journey to authorship. He terms it as an evolution, and it is wonderful if life affords us that chance to evolve, much like your cousin has, into a resistor. I thought it was funny that the "true" North Creek-er feels that a returnee is the "worst" category of residents. Mr. Goodspeed's return and forced respite afforded his blossoming into an author about a person that changed his life, all those years ago.
I appreciate very much your examples of women carrying out important tasks as part of the resistance. Courage is taking the risks to fight the good fight. You, Will and many other men and women do that every day.
1) Mr. Tingley, I am going to ask you for a favor. Think about the voice* you write in when you are writing about a person or a volunteer organization. The softness and compassion. How could that voice be used in writing about pos_tfnKKK or hmpy trmPedo... Not using compassion for those two, but the victims of their crimes and policies (which are aligned).
* I enjoy all your writing, but this is a thought
You mentioned that SAIL could be defunded under the future administration, something that is likely... and you know pos_tfnKKK who ‘loves’ ny21 will do nothing, as she has done nothing for 10+ years.
I know it would be work, but the people these organizations serve will be in trouble. They are not directly political organizations... but they are in that they are doing what needs to be done because government has failed us.
It irks me when people complain about these ‘hand out organizations’ when you know, if not them, someone in their family are receiving the help.
2) few people are one-dimensional, but there are some who have the uncanny ability to be very good at many things... as if they have a magical talent that they can shift from one area to another
3) I’m reading “Healing Wounds,” by Diane Carlson Evans.. it is a lot of things.. nurses of Vietnam, a defender of the accomplishments of women, how you change government and people’s way of thinking.
What is good and bad of late.. are the number of books calling attention to the achievements of women (the bad? how much of that has long been covered up)
The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos; Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II.. to name a couple more
Thanks for this book review and tribute to this local author, and availability locally. Your last spotlight on Chris Mele, and his novel “Goodville’s Secrets,” was a great tip! I’m buying more copies for Xmas gifts. Mele’s humorous and historical writing style is much like Michael Connolly and Nelson DeMille’s - with a wink and a nod to readers as if we are part of the scene with the main character. I look forward to reading Mr. Goodspeed’s book too.
I am a writer. I have always been a writer (or for as long as I can remember)...as have many (most) of us. Somehow, the term writer came to elicit an old decaying mansion situated on the coast of Maine where the 'writer' is squirreled away in an attic, writing by candle or lamp light as the ocean waves crash against massive boulders. Or: we picture a writer as someone struggling to find the exact, perfect word for their story. My first published 'piece' was a poem in my college handbook. Since that time, almost 50 years ago, I have written for work newsletters, a newspaper, arts magazine(s), theater programs, etc. My reward was not so much monetary but human response. One day, as I was checking my teenage daughter in for an appointment, the (newly hired receptionist said: "Are you the Claudia MacDonald who is a poet?" I was so pleased my poetry had touched her heart. Another time I received a call from a friend in Puerto Rico who told me she saw an article I had written which was picked up by the Associated Press and printed by numerous newspapers. I also received my first 'hate' letter while writing for a local newspaper. I had interviewed Dr. Ruth (who was absolutely delightful) and written an article for the newspaper I was, at the time, working for.
Alas, some poor soul addressed his letter to me as "To My Dear Friend In Christ" and signed off as "You will burn in hell!". I was upset by said letter, showed it to my editor and was told, "Now you know, Claudia, you are a real writer!" And so it goes.
Great story!
My dad's family, (Fitzgeralds), were flatlanders....my grandfather was the town doctor during the Depression years- upon his death, my grandmother and uncle opened a boarding house. Many teachers lived there, (it's where my mom met my dad), and skiers who came up.
I was born there, moved away until I was 12 and then moved back.
Small town living is both a blessing and a curse....no secrets ! Everyone eventually knows everything that happens .. but there is beauty in that too.
I look back with nostalgia at the times then.
I too, even now, look suspiciously at *new* people that come there, even though they need it for their economy.
I dream of moving back there, but at this point in my life is not a good option for me.
Thanks for sharing this story !
And I used the wrong word - they were NOT flatlanders lol. They were one of the original families there.
In a small town, I had a conversation with a woman who was a local (loco?).. and she made a statement about outsiders (thinking I would not notice that I WAS an outsider) ..
To paraphrase: 'they aren't bad people, but why do they have to say how to run our town.'
{{it must be pointed out that her town was failing and the only thing keeping it alive were the high percentage of 'outsiders'}}
me: don't you think if someone moves here and starts or buys a business they should get to have some say in the direction of the town...
Her: I don't htink you understand...
Thanks for the column on Mr. Goodspeed’s writing, and for the insights on the motivations for writing.
Back in 1998, I heard Norman Mailer lecture at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. One thing he said has stuck with me. In fact, the quote is written on a card on my desk next to my laptop. It reads:
“Write, even when you don’t feel like writing!”.
Dear Ken,
Thank you for sharing Mr. Goodspeed's sweet, fulfilling journey to authorship. He terms it as an evolution, and it is wonderful if life affords us that chance to evolve, much like your cousin has, into a resistor. I thought it was funny that the "true" North Creek-er feels that a returnee is the "worst" category of residents. Mr. Goodspeed's return and forced respite afforded his blossoming into an author about a person that changed his life, all those years ago.
I appreciate very much your examples of women carrying out important tasks as part of the resistance. Courage is taking the risks to fight the good fight. You, Will and many other men and women do that every day.
Very interesting!
1) Mr. Tingley, I am going to ask you for a favor. Think about the voice* you write in when you are writing about a person or a volunteer organization. The softness and compassion. How could that voice be used in writing about pos_tfnKKK or hmpy trmPedo... Not using compassion for those two, but the victims of their crimes and policies (which are aligned).
* I enjoy all your writing, but this is a thought
You mentioned that SAIL could be defunded under the future administration, something that is likely... and you know pos_tfnKKK who ‘loves’ ny21 will do nothing, as she has done nothing for 10+ years.
I know it would be work, but the people these organizations serve will be in trouble. They are not directly political organizations... but they are in that they are doing what needs to be done because government has failed us.
It irks me when people complain about these ‘hand out organizations’ when you know, if not them, someone in their family are receiving the help.
2) few people are one-dimensional, but there are some who have the uncanny ability to be very good at many things... as if they have a magical talent that they can shift from one area to another
3) I’m reading “Healing Wounds,” by Diane Carlson Evans.. it is a lot of things.. nurses of Vietnam, a defender of the accomplishments of women, how you change government and people’s way of thinking.
What is good and bad of late.. are the number of books calling attention to the achievements of women (the bad? how much of that has long been covered up)
The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos; Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II.. to name a couple more
Just to clarify SAIL said if gets some money from Dept. of Education which might be at risk.
My thought is... with the hmpy administration...everything is at risk
And when I say everything, I mean safety nets.. that would help the non-rich...
I agree.
Flatlander for 36 years and counting. Parents were flatlanders for 25 years. The curse.
Sterling and Sue are community gems.
Absolutely!!!!
Thanks for this book review and tribute to this local author, and availability locally. Your last spotlight on Chris Mele, and his novel “Goodville’s Secrets,” was a great tip! I’m buying more copies for Xmas gifts. Mele’s humorous and historical writing style is much like Michael Connolly and Nelson DeMille’s - with a wink and a nod to readers as if we are part of the scene with the main character. I look forward to reading Mr. Goodspeed’s book too.
I think that was Will that recommended that one.
Wonderful stories, Ken. Thank you for the gentleness you offered today. Such a nice respite.
I am a writer. I have always been a writer (or for as long as I can remember)...as have many (most) of us. Somehow, the term writer came to elicit an old decaying mansion situated on the coast of Maine where the 'writer' is squirreled away in an attic, writing by candle or lamp light as the ocean waves crash against massive boulders. Or: we picture a writer as someone struggling to find the exact, perfect word for their story. My first published 'piece' was a poem in my college handbook. Since that time, almost 50 years ago, I have written for work newsletters, a newspaper, arts magazine(s), theater programs, etc. My reward was not so much monetary but human response. One day, as I was checking my teenage daughter in for an appointment, the (newly hired receptionist said: "Are you the Claudia MacDonald who is a poet?" I was so pleased my poetry had touched her heart. Another time I received a call from a friend in Puerto Rico who told me she saw an article I had written which was picked up by the Associated Press and printed by numerous newspapers. I also received my first 'hate' letter while writing for a local newspaper. I had interviewed Dr. Ruth (who was absolutely delightful) and written an article for the newspaper I was, at the time, working for.
Alas, some poor soul addressed his letter to me as "To My Dear Friend In Christ" and signed off as "You will burn in hell!". I was upset by said letter, showed it to my editor and was told, "Now you know, Claudia, you are a real writer!" And so it goes.
A nice inspirational story! Thank you!