Friday, September 20, 2013

Historically Speaking...


Tina here... I thought I'd have you put your thinking caps on while we take a look at History. Before you get scared, I promise there will not be a test. At least I don't think so. 

History speaks.

In millions of ways with a million voices.




From early on, stories of history have been passed down from generation to generation. We write it, draw it, take pictures of it, sing about it and more. History may not always speak in an audible voice, but it is loud enough to hear.

Listen. Can you hear it?

It plays a part in the story of my life. Each detail of my story is woven together and then added to your story and to other stories to form the tapestry of time. Of course not everyone sees the stitches that make my story. My birthday, when I got my first tooth or graduation date. The day I was married or had children does not make world news, although the gifts might be fun if they did. But that doesn't mean my story  isn't important.

Sometimes when history speaks it is only important to me, or my family, or perhaps my city or state.

There are times when History speaks that almost the whole world is listening. You have only to see the date or hear a name or a place and you get a vision of the event.

As an example.

If I said June 17, 1961 would that mean anything to you? Perhaps not, but now that you know it I expect a birthday card.

But what if I said December 7, 1941 or A day that will live in infamy?




For many you could see bombs dropping on Pearl Harbor and the start of America's march into WWII.
  
How about The Cold War? The Arms Race? What time in history would that point to?

If I said George Washington or 1776 or Paul Revere you might think of the US Revolutionary War. Just as Abraham Lincoln, Robert E Lee, US Grant and Gettysburg might conjure up a vision of US Civil War for some.
 



What about "The shot heard around the world?"
That might be hard to pin down. Depending on where you live or your age, there were several shots from several places around the world. For most it's the first line in Ralph Emerson Waldo's Concord Hymn that refers to the start of the US Revolutionary War for others it sounded around WWI and still for some at other points in history.

Was the British Invasion of the 1960's a war?

What about August 16, 1977 or June 11, 1979?  If you're an Elvis or Duke Fan you know exactly.

 





What about August 31, 1997 or Sept. 14, 1982?

December 26, 2004 or March 11, 2011?

What happened on Nov. 9, 1965 that caused a spike in births 9 months later? It happened in 1992 as well?

What if I said poodle skirts, bouffant dos, or loafers? Flappers and tommy guns? Pyramids and Pharaohs and papyrus?

How about Candlewicking? Now before your eyes glaze over, candlewicking is a form of needlework where the seamstress uses candlewick to form the design out of knots and twists and special stitches. It dates back to the 1900 if not earlier.



Of course I can't cover every point of history we'd be here forever.

As a writer, history plays a major role in several of my novels. I can choose to follow history precisely, or rewrite for speculative fiction or make it up altogether like Orwell did on his radio show October 30, 1938 when he talked about the invasion from outer space and War of the Worlds.

Granted, some of the things history says can be distorted so you have to listen carefully.



In my latest novel, Then There Was Grace, I take a look at a time in recent history. September 11, 2001. Most only have to hear Sept. 11th to know what I'm talking about and from there you can tell me exactly where you were when the terrorists attacked. I was still in bed and my husband called to say 'watch the news.' I was stuck to the news for hours, afraid to move for fear I'd miss something. It reminded me of a day in 1979 when the hostages were taken and my soon to be husband's ship was called back out to the Indian Ocean and my wedding day was set back.

Back to my story; I had so many questions about Sept. 11th and what brought to that point and how and why did we react the way we did. I wrote Then There Was Grace as a way to deal with my own fears and sorrow from the day.

Then There Was Grace is a story about a man, Adam, who is ready to divorce his wife, Grace, when she is killed in a terror attack, leaving him to raise their twin 3 year-old daughters, Faith and Hope, and deal with his guilt and regret. During his journey to through grief he learns a lot about Grace and just how wonderful she really was. He also learns about God's grace and forgiveness.

I am offering a copy of Then There Was Grace to one commenter today, so please leave a comment. Tell me something about how History has spoken to you. Or tell me, 'Where you were on Sept 11th?'

14 comments:

  1. There have been some wonderful dates to remember in our history but the sad ones that we remember...very hard days! I was at home on Sept. 11 and the horror on the television was nearly too much to absorb, just unbelieveable. Then There Was Grace sounds like a wonderful book. I can't wait to read those heartfelt and emotional pages. Thank you for the opportunity.

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    1. Hi Melanie,

      It is amazing how the hardest day stick with us, and the best ones. I was still in bed and hubby called to say watch the news we'd had a terrorist attack. I thought he was kidding. Then I turned on the TV and sat for I don't know how long. And you're right there was so much to absorb. I just cried.

      thank you so much for sharing

      blessings
      Tina

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  2. Wow, Tina, what a fabulous post. You took a lot of time pulling all those great images together.

    Where was I on Sept. 11? I was home taking care of my baby who was incredibly ill (like the kind of sick that they medical community thought he wouldn't survive). My mom knew that I wouldn't have been watching the news so she called me to let me know about the horrifying event that caught the world's attention. I remember holding my baby and crying for the pain others. (BTW, my baby is now 12)

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    1. Hi Cherie,

      So the day was already stressful for you just thinking about your baby. How wonderful in a way that you can tie the event with a wonderful outcome as well. I had something similar. I had found my son had cancer. And had to fly out shortly thereafter, once the planes were cleared, to be with him when
      he went through chemo. We were sitting in the doctors office waiting to begin when the doctor called us into his office, and I'm thinking, oh no has it gotten worse? The doctor said he wasn't going to give the Chemo because the cancer had disappeared.

      Thank you for sharing, you reminded me of a blessing as well.

      blessings
      Tina

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  3. Hi Tina

    So many dates in history were pivotal events that make us who we are today. I'm preparing to write a novella about 1963. Kennedy was killed, the Beatles had arrived, the civil rights movement was about to explode. I remember it (yes, I was there) as the time when culture shifted. My husband and I were playing golf on Sep 11, 2001, and the TV was on in the clubhouse. At the time we didn't know who would be targeted next and since we live near a huge AF base, we decided the golf course was the safest place to be.

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    1. Hi Elaine,

      I suppose golfing takes the mind off things as well. Di you have a good round that day? I don't quite remember when Kennedy was killed. I was in my dippy doos crying to my mama I suppose. ;-) I've seen it enough and heard about so much, it almost gives on the idea they were there at times. But isn't that what history does. It's supposed to paint a picture of the life and time then.

      Thank you for stopping in

      blessings

      Tina

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  4. Oh, Tina! What a touching post you have written. Everyone has a story and history is certainly, wonderfully woven into the fabric of the stories of our life. As you so eloquently detailed, not all events in our history will be noted by those around us. However, they do leave their impression on our lives and make us who we are. Each of our experiences helps tell our story. May we always remember to share the stories of our life with others and live so that when our life is over, we may enjoy our Happily Ever After!

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    1. Hey Britney,

      We should remember. I sometimes think we make a bigger spectacle out of somethings things than warranted, but it is important to have those milestones. Although it is sad to have milestones that are far to distorted to measured as history anymore, because they retain little of the true history. Makes one wonder how history will remember them. Of course I always wonder if I'll even leave much of a mark. How much would history and the future change without you in it? Hmmm

      Boggles the mind.

      thanks for sharing

      blessings

      Tina

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  5. I was accompanist for the 6th grade chorus at the local grammar school and I thought surely they'd send the kids home early on 9/11, but I never heard anything from the school so I went. The kids were still at recess when I arrived, and when I entered the classroom, the music teacher stood in the empty room, hands covering her face, and whispered, "The kids don't know yet. We have to pull this off." When the class dismissed, I was walking down the empty corridor when the principal's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Boys and girls, you need to listen very carefully to what I'm about to say..." That's when the tears hit!

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    1. Sadie and Sophie,

      nice to see your names. That is an awesome story. There you were trying to protect the hearts of the children. One wonders why they didn't send them home, but then... many of their parents were at work and if not, even if they could go home, they would have been hit by the news on TV. Makes me think of the president sitting in class and not wanting to show to much emotion. It must have been hard for you and the teachers.

      blessings

      Tina

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  6. Hi, Tina!

    Thanks for the interesting post! When I study history, I am constantly reminded that our country was founded on religious freedom, I wonder why we, as a nation, we failed in not doing what was necessary, through the years, to insure that we maintained all the forms of religious freedom that we once had?

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of your book - it looks like a wonderfully, emotional, book & I would love to read it!

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. Very sad to say but dates most remembered have something sad tied to it. Thanks for a chance to win this book.
    Blessings
    joeym11@frontier.com

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  8. Hello Tina. I was young but remember about the talk by grown-ups about Pearl Harbor. Then my oldest brother went to serve in WW ll, along with cousins and many close friends. Some never made it back. One of my sisters was dating the guy she would marry and he also had 3 brothers serving. 2 never made it home. We moved to Houston from a small TX. town so my daddy could work in the Shipyard. People pulled together back then instead of all of the protesting and dividing people are doing today. Everyone pulled together and did anything they could do to help our soldiers at war. Even our women. I was about 10 when my brother came home. I was watching the parade taking place in Dallas for Pres. Kennedy when he was asassinated. On 9=11-2001 I was up and didn't have my radio on as I usually did, and so got a call from my daughter from work. She said to turn my YV on that America had been attacked. It was a sad day with watching TV. But, people pulled together and also went to churches and prayed together. People flew our flag on their homes and cars for a long time. Then after awhile people forgot and look at our nation now. In horrible shape where it is almost a crime to gather and pray. And, things are already being changed in our kids History. Parents need to teach the kids our true history. I would sure love to win your book. Thanks for a chance. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  9. So many awesome memories and thoughts. Congratulations to Sadie and Sophie the winners of my book. My thanks to everyone for visiting.

    Blessings
    Tina

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