The WWII letters of a Soldier and his Sweetheart

What a lovely read! I enjoyed this very public view of a great love. With awe, respect, and admiration, author Matthew Tessnear has edited a family treasure of wartime love. These are not famous people, they are salt of the earth, everyday folks, whose love grew through simple letters that held their world together as war widened the gap between them.

How endearing to see the sweet sentiments shared and the value of writing every day they could. The war effort had Lois working long hours. The army had Harry all over the place. The letters also bridged family members, generations, and friendships as any gathering or local news was shared.

If you have such a family treasure, protect it, through the letters we can see the people who were once vague memories or just a name and a set of dates.

The post Reviewing Wherever You May Be by Matthew Tessnear appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

In my recent travels, I keep seeing reminders of the messages in my new novel Christmas Letters. They pop up and make me smile in the middle of a busy day. My story premise is of a farm family, their military service, community, farm, and the letters they leave behind to enlighten the next generation.

I was in Memory Lane Antique Shop on Rte 44 in Coventry CT when I spied this milk bottle.

Stone Acres is the multi-generational farm owned by the family of Rob Simmons, who wrote the forward for my book. Rob’s family found a suitcase full of WWII letters just before I called to ask about writing the forward. The coincidence is profound!

On another outing a friend and I stopped for lunch at Arrowhead Winery in Franklin CT. We saw this painted rock just outside the door of this dairy barn converted to a winery. The vibrant colors caught my eye. The message about Veterans is such a strong thread in Christmas Letters. Remember to thank the Veterans you meet!

I am so pleased to add Christmas Letters to my family of books. In each book you will find my country living voice, respect for those who work the land, positivity, and hope.

Christmas Letters available at www.amazon.com/dp/BOCCMPC7W 

Look for me at a few of my upcoming events

Aug 17 Willimantic 3^rd Thursday Street Fest  Main St 5-9

Aug 19  Hartford County 4-H Fair – Four Town Fairgrounds Egypt Rd. Somers in the red barn near the horse ring all day

Aug 25 Friday afternoon- evening Find the donkeys and you will find me. I will have my books set up for a while before I start announcing the evening demos

Sept 2 (raindate Sept 3) The Festival at he Vineyard at Hillyland, 75 Murphy Hill rod Scotland CT 11-5

The post Reminders are Everywhere appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

    Everyone has experienced a moment that pulled at their heart strings and exposed emotions raw and so close they overflowed, usually with tears. It might have been a departure for a trip, a loved one leaving for military service and the great unknown expanse of time before seeing them again. Think back to WWII. How many of our elders boarded trains to go to war? How many had reunions at such a train station, finally home.  Our WWII Veteran’s have incredible stories to tell if you will just ask, before it’s too late. Collect those family stories to preserve for future generations. Be sure to record the details, notes, video, audio, photographs. Don’t stop their story once it starts, just let the memories flow, like an engine picking up speed. When the words slow to stop then ask questions, get last names, place names, people who were there – you may have another families story there too! What were the sounds and smells at the scene of the story?  What emotions were close at hand, fear, elation, pride, homesickness?

    Summer camp, do you remember that moment when your parents drove away and left you there the first time. Your heart was caught somewhere between excited and sheer panic. 2 weeks, that is an eternity in a child’s lifetime. Remember those days when summer seemed to be forever? What would camp be like? You didn’t know anyone, how would you survive/ What was out there in the woods beyond the tent or cabin?  Heart strings sure got pulled at summer camp, and many a parent drove away dabbing tears of separation sadness. Two sides to every story. When you get a chance jot down your memories and then ask your parent to do the same, I wonder if the stories will match? Whose memory pulls hardest on the heart strings now?

        Meeting your child or grandchild for the first time, might be the number one thing that pulls at heart strings. That very first time their hand is in yours, they have you. Forever those strings will be there to be pulled over and over again as they grow through their milestone moments. Remember how you felt? Stop take a minute and write it down. I know when my first grandchild was born there was such elation at meeting her and such heartbreak the first time I drove away, living many states apart meant I would miss the day to day changes a tiny infant makes. I know those children will always have direct access to my heart strings!

   Want to have that heart string pulled good and hard, witness the birth of an animal. Then  you can watch their attempts at first steps. That will do it for sure. Here a Dutch Belted cow “Linda” encourages her daughter Beth to stand for the first time. The cow belonged to my son, his 4-H project. He was very interested in rare breeds such as the Dutch Belted dairy cow.  Linda’s due date happened to coincide with a short vacation and he was worried he was not home. She was in good hands, I wasn’t worried, until I saw how it was wearing on him. As we drove home he wished for a heifer ( a girl) and wished she would be red, the more rare color in the breed. I laughed and said the odds of a heifer are 50/50, not bad but a red one, I couldn’t calculate the odds. Linda waited until we were home, I am sure she waited for my son. Then as if by magic she lay down and made wishes come true! That day I could really feel the tug on the heart strings watching this birth. Be sure to keep these family stories to share someday. I am glad I wrote this one here today, that son is now all grown up. I will ask him for his memories from that day and save those too.

     The fifth and final item to pull on your heart strings today and create a family story…

…finding a picture of a favorite pet that has gone on to greener pastures. Hagrid the sheep was as kind a soul as you would ever find. He played a key figure in several years annual Christmas Pageants. He didn’t mind going to church and standing up front eating hay on Christmas Eve. His best friend always went with him. The little goat Ivy and her big wooly friend, those memories will always tug at my heart strings.

What tugs at yours? Leave a comment of how your heart strings go pulled.

Check out another log of mine on family stories.

https://www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/5-questions-to-ask-collectors-for-a-family-story/

https://www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/3-prompts-to-collect-a-family-story/

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 Who in your family has a story that needs to be collected before it’s too late?

How did they serve our nation? Where were they sent in the service? What branch of the military were they in?

My father; the late Herman F. Marshall, a member of the U.S. Army, during WWII. He was stationed in Alaska to build the Al-Can Highway. I believe this photo may have been taken in Texas on his way home. His favorite memory of that trip was bumping a General from a flight, injured personnel, going home, had priority status. His ear drums had burst on a short flight in Alaska, he suffered temporary hearing loss and was discharged. He was sent home, the year was 1946.

For all those who served in the military there are unique stories, some bound to become family classics.

Here are 5 tips for collecting the family stories.

1.) Be prepared, note pad, pictures, recording device

2.) Have a few specific questions for the particulars of their service

3.) Who was their best friend during their service time?

4.) What memory is the strongest from the time of service?

5.) What was the funniest thing that happened during your service years?

Follow the strongest memory question with the funny question to lighten the atmosphere. Some memories of service are very painful to recall. Our understanding, appreciation and respect to these difficult memories may allow a family member to finally share a tough event they endured. Respect any Veteran’s wish to not continue a story, leave the door open, suggest at some time they write it down so that someday you will understand.

Show gratitude for any story pieces you collect. Fill in the descriptions by searching for images from the event and time. Google Images and Pinterest are great places to start.

Good Luck collecting a family story this holiday weekend.

THANK-YOU TO ALL WHO SERVED!

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