Of Hardy Histories November 26, 2007
Posted by Jen in : Bits and Pieces, Journal , trackbackYou know, I never used to be interested in history. It was just stuff, old fashioned nonsense that didn’t matter anymore. But I’m beginning to be intrigued by change, now that I’m becoming something of a relic myself.
Yesterday, I stood shivering in the porch of a village church, waiting to go and play some Bach. Yes, I know, some would say I’m Bach-ing every day. Anyway. In this church porch was a man we’ll call ‘Lance’, for that is indeed his name. Now Lance is proper old, with snowy hair, stooped shoulders and a Sunday-best suit. As a boy, he used to attend the service in that chilly church every week.
He smiled and whispered to us:
‘My mother entertained us during sermons by making rabbits out of her handkerchief. And my grandmother’s hat, bearing in mind this was Edwardian times, was too big to fit through the doors but she always refused to take it off.’
I wonder how it must feel to go back to a place that I’d visited in Edwardian times, a place that looks and smells and feels the same. It has made me feel sort of insignificant, an inconsequential speck in the story of time. Perhaps I’ll start carrying a handkerchief and being a little more dignified. Or perhaps not. Times have, sadly, changed.
I seem to have spent the first half of my life not really understanding what’s important but quite glad that I’ve discovered the bits that are. Just need to figure out how to put the missing bits into action now before my history is all wrong.
Comments»
So did his grandmother stay outside? Or do some kind of complicated bendy manoeuvre to get through the door?
Love the cartoon.
The expanse of Lance’s history is so vast too isn’t it. His generation have seen astounding changes. Fascinating stuff.
And don’t worry Jen, you’re history in the making:-)
I was a rather strange child for I’ve always loved stories like these, and I befriended various elderly people in our village in order to hear these stories.
JJx
Zinnia - I forgot to ask! I like the thought of your ‘bendy manoeuvres’ though. I showed the cartoon to my Bouncing Czech friend and she told me I was boring with stupid, clever sense of humour. So I’m double glad you liked it too
Lane - it’s amazing, isn’t it? Almost enough to tempt one to write an inter-generational saga…
JJ - It’s a shame they can’t make history real like that in school, isn’t it? It’s nice to be slightly in love with stories like that, don’t you think? They SO make the world a nicer place.
I loved this post Jen - It made me think of Saturday afternoons sitting with my Gran listening to her talk about meeting my Grandfather and him going off to war.
I have no idea why they don’t use tales like that in school - It would be a hell of a lot better than what general moved what number of troops on whatever date
C x
Blimey I’ve got snowy hair and stooping shoulders and a sunday best suit but I didn’t think I was that old not for a sheep anyway!!
Lovely little story and yes it does make the world seem a better place.
Oh dear I may have just given away my identity but hopefully nobody will notice.
Carol, it’s only now that I wish I’d listened to my grandmother’s stories while she was still alive… ‘Real’ history is so much more entertaining than textbook history, isn’t it?
Sheepish - A sheep in a hat would be a pleasant and cheering sight. Or a sheep in a suit, come to that. Have fixed your identity. Shhh. No one noticed a thing. Baaaaaaaa.