Home » Friday Fictioneers » Tell Me a Story, Mémère – Friday Fictioneers

Tell Me a Story, Mémère – Friday Fictioneers

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Good Wednesday-Friday Fictioneers Day, my Peeps!  This lovely photo by Fatima Fakir Deria brought to mind my beloved late grandmother, Noëlla, who also happened to be my godmother.  She was definitely my hero and how she managed to do what she did always amazed me.  So many stories told, and quite matter-of-factly.  She just did what she had to do.  I am very proud to say I inherited that from her.

How about you join in this week in telling a 100-word story based on this photo?  Rochelle will be more than happy to accept any newcomer!  She’s welcoming like that.  Click on the blue frog and add your link!

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Tell Me a Story, Mémère

It was a perfect day to accompany her grandmother outside  for a stroll.

“How about we sit here in the shade, Mémère?”

“Looks like the perfect spot, Suzie.”

“Please, tell me some of your stories of how you managed to survive with six kids, living in the woods, with barely nothing.”

“Aren’t you tired of hearing them?”

“Not even close.  I want to record you so I can write them into a book.  Would you like that?”

“Silly girl, I’m just ordinary.”

“Au contraire, Mémère.  You are my hero.  You were way ahead of your time.”

“Hmmm… Where to start….”

***

Sadly, I never got around to recording her stories.  She died in 2009, at age 92, three months’ shy of her 93rd birthday

115 thoughts on “Tell Me a Story, Mémère – Friday Fictioneers”

  3. Did she really survive in the woods with barely anything? Sounds like the opening to a fairytale. Sadly, many of us don’t think to ask about the stories until it’s too late, myself included. What an amazing sounding lady she was. Lovely tale Dale

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I was lucky enough to get my late Mother to talk about her past when she was near the end of her life. Sharing our stories is so important even when the versions differ! Your story actually evoked lovely memories.

    Liked by 1 person

    • So very glad it did. And though I heard so many of the stories, I so wish I had jotted them down with her present.

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  13. I did a Story Corp interview with my mother when she was 90. It was amazing. I learned a lot of things in 45 minutes that I’d never heard before. Story Corp sends one copy to the Library of Congress and another to a local museam. I made CDs for the rest of my family. Mom’s been gone over 5 years now, but I can play the CD and hear her sweet voice.

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  16. Q,

    But you ARE recording her, in the strolls and quiet conversations. In the simple moments, you introduce us to Memere. Who she was, the life she lived, and the imprint it left on so many.
    You’ve hit on the gift every writer is bestowed, and that is the ability to be a guide for the reader. To take us on a journey back in time, to people and places and things that shaped and inspired all the many people, places and things that came after.
    In 100 words, you gave us a stroll with Memere. Quelle merveille!

    Peace and love

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Beautiful Dale. Aural story tellers are I fear a dying breed and it is a shame that you didn’t record them. I have some regrets like that myself. I’ll bet though many of the stories have stayed with you and you will have told them to your children. How wonderful to be able to say your grandmother was your hero. Loved this story and also the photo – she looks like she is thinking of the stories to tell you.

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    • Thank you, Irene. I am so mad at myself. You always think you have time and next thing you know, it’s too late. They at least got to know her a bit, they were 10 and 11 when she passed but still.
      She definitely was.
      I was trying to find one of her and I have so many photos to go through, I still would not have posted!!

      Liked by 1 person

    • So true. The songs that were sung… as the older ones die off, more and more verses are lost too! We joke around that we are down to the chorus in many…
      She truly was.

      Like

  22. Your grandmother sounds like an amazing woman. I can visualize her when you say you are like her. I think whenever you write her stories they will valuable to you, as well as to your sons, their wives and your future grandchildren.

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    • She truly was, Ina. I must have inherited her strength to push forward. The woman lost all three of her sons, (16, 32, 54) all to accidents, and still had a zest for life and a song to sing.

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  23. What an amazing and strong woman she would have been. 🙂
    Grand parents have so many stories to tell but so many are left unsaid.
    Your story reminded me of a well spent time with my grandma.

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  26. I am the family “historian.” About five years ago I sat down with my parents and asked them questions my sisters and I had thought of: Where were you born? Did you like your parents? Where did you meet? Why did you dislike your sister? (This was never answered.) Miles of questions. They answered them, I typed them up and had them review and correct the answers. It was delightful. As you can see, your story reminds me of those times, sitting in the backyard in Denver, CO, listening to birds and the sounds of my parents’ voices. Thank you.

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  28. Mémère. Humble and humbling. Sweet tea in one hand, strong coffee in the other. One has no choice but to survive, your right, your right, your right. Many a physiologist stands on the mountain top looking down on the women of the village stirring the rice pot over the fire in the valley below. And wonders what drives them to keep going. Sagacious Mémère -wisdom through living and surviving, and they come through intact, happy and content. These new Millenniums haven’t a clue.

    Happy Easter and shtufffs.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Was going down my list and somehow my response to you has done “distappeared”.
      She definitely survived, and thrived.
      And yes, when one looks down and sees what’s going on, one knows it’s the women-folk who have kept it all together.
      I like to hope the Milleniums will learn but feel, like you, they have no friggen idea.
      Hope you are enjoying your Easter getaway!

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  29. Awwwe, that was such a sweet slice of your life and memories Dale. Such a great pity that you couldn’t record her memories. I used to keep telling myself that one day, I would record my grandmother’s stories of her migration from Burma as a child, and then from Pakistan to India as a mother of three children. But sadly, I kept putting it off, and now, her memory is almost all gone.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, Anurag.
      If it’s not death, it’s sickness. We should so not put off such things. Maybe You can still get some memories from her. After all, it’s the old memories that stay the longest…

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Oh yes, how I can relate, and how I wish I had recorded all the stories my grandmother and parents told. But back when I was young, I was bored, same old stories. Later, when I had learned to listen, it was too late… Memories is all we have. Great reminder to value these stories, Dale. And to write them down.

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  36. Beautifully told. And a nice memory jogger.
    I remember sitting down with a tape recorder and asking my grandmother to realate some of her stories. She huffed and dried up on me! Their memories were so good. I can remember some of the tales but there were so many and so enthralling. I love hearing older peoples stories. 🙂

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    • Thank you.
      Lucky you… what do you mean, she dried up on you?
      It is indeed lovely to hear other people’s stories. I love it.

      Like

  39. Makes me regret not nagging them for more stories from their childhood. I’ll make sure not to spare my mum that! A warm happy tale with a great message Dale.

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  40. I was never really that close with any of my grandparents, with two of them having passed away before I was born, and one overseas most of my life. However they do have stories of the most amazing courage and grit, thats for sure!

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  42. I found you! 😊 I was trying to comment at lunch today, and searching in the Inlinx link for your smiling face on my iPhone. Too much for my grandma eyes. Anyway, I loved your tender story and the lesson to record our family stories before it’s too late.

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    • Woo hoo! I admit it wasn’t fair to put a picture of my grandmother (not even the one in the story! I realised it after that I’m in my father’s mother’s arms… LOL Shhh… don’t tell anyone…) Anyway. I am so very glad you enjoyed my story, Jan

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