The Hobbit Hole IV – The Road Goes Ever On…

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

The Road Goes Ever On…

• First thread: New Zealander builds Hobbit hole
• Second thread: The New Hobbit Hole
• Third thread: The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads! (Congratulations, we filled it up!)

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

[Ramius]

For how many years were those oral family stories the only touch with the past? And how many of our legends today grew from those?

All of them... that's why IMHO, oral histories just don't cut it. You gotta write stuff down, and pass it on that way. Oral histories end up being a generational whisper-game that gets the right stuff wrong and the wrong stuff right.

This, also IMHO, is why there is so little of value that remains of the histories of American Indians. Far too many generations without a written language took their toll on permanance and accuracy.

[Wneighbor]

I am confident that will change. I will wait to see this. If you didn't live so dadgummed far away I would certainly be a stand-in Granny for all your offspring!

[Ramius]

hehehe... that can be arranged. We have airplanes now.

Woohoo! On-call Babysitter! :-)

[Wneighbor]

This, also IMHO, is why there is so little of value that remains of the histories of American Indians.

LOL. A lot of the stories I am trying to write cover this part. Grama's mother was native American. The histories were passed from firstborn female to firstborn female. :-) I am the first-born, of the first-born, of the firstborn, or the first-born of the one who was "Christianized" and married a Scotsman. I was told by my great Grama for my entire life that the history goes with me - I must remember it.

[SuziQ]

They will just have to take our word for it, which sounds empty when words are so hard coming.

Our oldest was only 18 months old when my Daddy died, so none of my kids ever really knew him. They only know what I've told them, and what Mama has told them. But I think I've shared enough stories that they've gotten a good picture of the fine man he was. Mama was a part of their lives until 5 yrs. ago when the Alzheimer's symptoms began. She used to come up at least once a year and spend two or three weeks with us. Now they only see her when we all go down which is only every other year.

SSQ's parents were alive until 1998 and 2000, respectively, but they never were a big part of the kids lives, again because we lived so far away. That's one of the reasons we loved going to Perdido Key every year. They got a chance to see them for a week. Grandaddy taught our older 2 boys to play poker and loved playing with them.

The best thing we can do is share with our kids what our parents were to us, especially the good things, so it will help the kids to know them and have a better idea of why we are like we are.

[Wneighbor]

wow! You would let me?

You know, my oldest granddaughter lives not so far from you. Well, that's compared to me. She lives in Portland.

[Samwise]

The new place looks great, Hair. But I need a key to the family portrait. I don't recognize everyone.

[Samwise]

Thanks for the memories, Ksen.

[SuziQ]

lots of folks think 5 is just way too young. But, hey, she wanted assurance and that's what our Jesus is for.

I don't know why they'd think 5 was too young to learn about the saving love of Christ. After all, it was HE who talked about having faith like little children.

[Wneighbor]

The best thing we can do is share with our kids what our parents were to us, especially the good things, so it will help the kids to know them and have a better idea of why we are like we are.

Bingo!!!! dingdingdingding - you get the prize.

You know, my grandfather taught me to play poker. When I was really little. Lessons included facial expressions and mannerisms.

[Ramius]

wow! You would let me?

Of course! Sure... we gotta talk first about this thing you have for leather and Harley's... but beyond that I'm sure you'd be a great influence! :-)

You've got plenty of time, before that becomes an issue though... at least at this rate...

[Samwise]

Those pictures are inspiring!

[Wneighbor]

I don't know why they'd think 5 was too young to learn about the saving love of Christ. After all, it was HE who talked about having faith like little children.

Well, I didn't think that. And I certainly know that GRAMA wouldn't have thought that!!! And now I have the most wonderful memory with Abby from that horrible time.

[Ramius]

G'nite all!!! I gotta bug out.

Have some shopping to do.

[HairOfTheDog]

We have some good stuff in that regard. I am pleased and cherish the 'book'. Great stories.... How better to hear about Grandma than her own story she wrote about her parents when she was in high school? - Or the letter mom wrote to them on their 50th Anniversary. Good stuff.... Have to finish it. And find someone who will want to know it.

[g'nad]

Well... we went to the hatchery today to replace our losses... we were lucky because they actually had a few guineas in stock (almost never happens). We got three three-week-old barred rocks to put with the veteran guineas, five keeks and three Road Island Reds (RIR)... the disparity in ages brings new challenges in raising and assimilatin', but we got it handled... some pics if yer interested...

The FNGs...

theboy with a new RIR

[Wneighbor]

Yeah, I had to promise my s-i-l that I wouldnt' take my grandkids for rides too. But, they all have Harley apparel. And the two oldest have lovely photos with them on various bikes of mine. :-)

Kid's like pictures on motorcycles Ramius.

They also think it's cool to have a granny that rides one!

[Wneighbor]

Night.

Good shopping.

[ecurbh]

they never were a big part of the kids lives, again because we lived so far away.

I never got very close to my granparents for the same reason - they were in PA and MA, and we were in AZ. However, we had a great aunt and uncle in Tucson that we saw several times a year, and were like surrogate grandparents to us. I hadn't seen my grandmother in MA for 5 years until my trip last month.

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome Samwise! There is no real key to the family portrait, our roles and names and faces change and grow..... What's most important is that you can find yourself in there somewhere on any given day!