[lit-ideas] Re: The Present as History
- From: "Veronica Caley" <molleo1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 16:55:11 -0400
Ursula,
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother.
Sincerely,
Veronica Caley
----- Original Message -----
From: Ursula Stange
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2011 10:39 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: The Present as History
My mother, who died just three weeks ago at the age of 84, used to tell
stories of being a child in the war. One of our favourites was about how the
children in the neighbourhood competed for bomb fragments littering the street
after a raid. One day she grabbed a bucket and ran into the street to fetch a
big piece of a shell which had landed near her house. Very proud of herself,
she scooped it up in the bucket and ran for home. By the time she got there,
she told us, the shell fragment had burned through the bottom of her pail.
She added that the most prized pieces were ones that had bits of identification
on them so that you could tell which enemy had dropped them. They were traded
like baseball cards. I'll give you two Russians for one American...
Best to all,
Ursula
On 11-08-06 10:06 AM, Veronica Caley wrote:
Thank you for the encouragement. Actually, I do describe things quite
well. But almost always verbally. Well, not always. I subscribe to the essays
of a retired Episcopalian priest. When I have something to say about it,
he prints my response along with that of others. But Montaigne was a
restrained, controlled gentleman. I think things through but say what I think.
Sometimes, not usually, unkind. Except when I am responding to his political
critiques. Or when I write a letter to the editor in response to some one
peddling his religion. You know, we ought all to fall in line or the most dire
circumstances will result. Or, the most dire circumstances have already
arrived and the reason for this is lack of faith of the likes of people like
me. Or a politician, of which we have all too many, who tell us that Jesus
told us that our job is to enrich ourselves and the already rich.
So, lazy me, I sit here and enjoy the wonderful descriptions of things by
you and the likes of Geary. And people from elsewhere who tell us about
something from "over there." One of my all time favorite songs. Including the
satirical one concocted by the Brits about American soldiers. And my regret:
that I have a wonderful Scot friend, 88 years old, lacking a computer. So I
can't share many of your posts with her, which she would love, as she has a
wonderful sense of humor.
Veronica Caley
Milford, MI
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Ritchie"
<ritchierd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2011 3:47 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: The Present as History
On Aug 5, 2011, at 10:29 PM, Veronica Caley wrote:
David,
I wish there were a Montaigne to describe what it feels like on the
ground while these armaments are on the way. One can hear them, but there is
nothing to be done but wait for them to hit. I experienced it, as probably
have other people on this list (aerial bombing) but sadly, I lack Montaigne's
great skill in describing almost anything. It might help people to identify
with the people that will be hit, the animals which are livelihoods destroyed.
As things now stand, it seems like just one great video game.
Veronica Caley
Milford, MI
My mother experienced this in the Blitz and said how curious it was to
emerge from cover and find, humans being curious, spinning pieces of metal. She
reached for them, innocently, and found them hot to touch. You say you cannot
describe anything. Let me encourage you to try.
David Ritchie,
Portland,
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