WOW - the background on your beloved Nana was so powerful. Thank you for sharing her story, the pictures, and the part she played in developing your character, Annie O'Brien. What an amazing lady who made a big impact both in real life and in your new book! I look forward to reading it soon.
She was a great lady...I just wished that she had lived longer. As someone older, not in my teens, I would have known the questions to ask her, get some honest answers, hear more about her life and childhood.
Ah, thanks, Simi. I really appreciate it. I think it was my easiest to write because it was inspired by my childhood, people in my childhood, in my neighborhood...and by my Nana.
It makes me think of my dad. His mom died when he was 4, and his dad was never one to talk about feelings. Both my dad and his dad dealt with depression all their lives.
I think that losing a mother that young has lifelong repercussions, none good. I think of my grandpa at four years old, lost in a sea of 11 kids, his mother dead, and no one to talk to. He had brothers and sisters, but I don't think people were encouraged to share their emotions back then as we are now. It was always, "buck up," and, "don't cry," and "men don't cry," etc. Very hard for people and their grief.
Those of us who have parents who came up hard and who may have ourselves come up that way are blessed in ways we don't always appreciate. I never realized how poor we were until I was grown and trying to make my own way. I just thought how we lived was normal. We may not have had the best, but we had enough, and I rarely felt deprived of anything (except a pony. I really, really wanted a pony. Still do lol) I am fortunate to have learned to be flexible and to make do with what's available. I can make dinner out of a lot of nothing much. I can reuse things in creative ways that leave people wondering why they never did that. These are learned skills I absorbed by watching my mother, my grandmother, and my aunt make a living for their families. I consider it a blessing that I rarely feel despair creep in, although to be honest, it does some days. Instead, I choose to move through each day knowing that is enough. There are so many things beyond my control, but if I do what is in front of me, then I've done everything. I'm learning to let go of the worry over things I can't do anything about. It's a struggle but it is getting easier. I can't wait to read your book. It sounds wonderful.
I grew up with parents who were very conservative and saved their money. As my father told all his four children, "It's not IF you will have financial hardship, it's WHEN." He told us to save our money for the "when." And their parents grew up in the depression, so my grandparents handed down their lessons about saving money, never wasting anything, don't buy frivolous things, to my parents. Going out to dinner - to Bob's Big Boy in California - was a HUGE treat for our family. I appreciate the story of your childhood, Deidrah. The kids around me had very few extras so I assumed all was normal, too.
WOW - the background on your beloved Nana was so powerful. Thank you for sharing her story, the pictures, and the part she played in developing your character, Annie O'Brien. What an amazing lady who made a big impact both in real life and in your new book! I look forward to reading it soon.
She was a great lady...I just wished that she had lived longer. As someone older, not in my teens, I would have known the questions to ask her, get some honest answers, hear more about her life and childhood.
Wonderful book, full of courage, determination, family values, humor and love.
Ah, thanks, Simi. I really appreciate it. I think it was my easiest to write because it was inspired by my childhood, people in my childhood, in my neighborhood...and by my Nana.
It makes me think of my dad. His mom died when he was 4, and his dad was never one to talk about feelings. Both my dad and his dad dealt with depression all their lives.
I think that losing a mother that young has lifelong repercussions, none good. I think of my grandpa at four years old, lost in a sea of 11 kids, his mother dead, and no one to talk to. He had brothers and sisters, but I don't think people were encouraged to share their emotions back then as we are now. It was always, "buck up," and, "don't cry," and "men don't cry," etc. Very hard for people and their grief.
100%
Those of us who have parents who came up hard and who may have ourselves come up that way are blessed in ways we don't always appreciate. I never realized how poor we were until I was grown and trying to make my own way. I just thought how we lived was normal. We may not have had the best, but we had enough, and I rarely felt deprived of anything (except a pony. I really, really wanted a pony. Still do lol) I am fortunate to have learned to be flexible and to make do with what's available. I can make dinner out of a lot of nothing much. I can reuse things in creative ways that leave people wondering why they never did that. These are learned skills I absorbed by watching my mother, my grandmother, and my aunt make a living for their families. I consider it a blessing that I rarely feel despair creep in, although to be honest, it does some days. Instead, I choose to move through each day knowing that is enough. There are so many things beyond my control, but if I do what is in front of me, then I've done everything. I'm learning to let go of the worry over things I can't do anything about. It's a struggle but it is getting easier. I can't wait to read your book. It sounds wonderful.
I grew up with parents who were very conservative and saved their money. As my father told all his four children, "It's not IF you will have financial hardship, it's WHEN." He told us to save our money for the "when." And their parents grew up in the depression, so my grandparents handed down their lessons about saving money, never wasting anything, don't buy frivolous things, to my parents. Going out to dinner - to Bob's Big Boy in California - was a HUGE treat for our family. I appreciate the story of your childhood, Deidrah. The kids around me had very few extras so I assumed all was normal, too.
This book sounds amazing and I know I will love it, as I do all of your books.
I hope you like it! It's only on Amazon. Have a lovely summer, Lucille!!