This week’s Friday Fictioneers is based on the story of my grandparents, whom I never met. My father is the youngest in this story.
Thank you Rochelle for leading our group. Find more stories from the Fictioneers here.
Biography: 100 words
Copyright – Jan Wayne Field
A Journey by Boat
Melchior, a carpenter, couldn’t have known his fate the day he walked into the church of St. Francis. He saw a smile in her eyes and heard his mother tongue of German Swiss once again. It was here that he met Elizabeth, a stranger in this foreign land, but a neighbor who had lived only twenty miles away in their native Switzerland. Six months later, in this same church, they married.
Their twelve children taught them English. Seven left to fight in the war. Melchior played the accordion with his youngest, Michael, while Blackie the dog howled at their feet.
Wow… 🙂
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Thank you!
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Your welcome… 🙂
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Like, but I want more, more!
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Ah, thanks Brenda! There is lots more to tell!
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This is lovely Amy, there have been a few beautiful stories of the immigrants who came to your country. Well done.
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Thank you, Summer. I look forward to reading these stories! It made me want to learn more about my history. Thanks for reading.
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Now I want more… a good thing. 🙂
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Thank you, Dawn! I think I could write a whole book on this one one.
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Oh that was so beautifully done 🙂
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Oh, thank you Helen! That’s sweet of you to say.
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Wonderful stuff – worth expanding
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. I’d need a few more details. I realize there’s so much there I don’t know about.
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Persevere
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I will do my best!
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Good
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Loved this, would have loved to read more. Great writing.
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Thanks, J.D. I appreciate that very much.
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I’m with everyone else…. Keep going.
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Thanks, Audra. Maybe, maybe…
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It’s a great legacy of an immigrant family. Well written stuff, Amy.
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Thanks, David. I never knew this story until just yesterday and now I see there’s even so much more!
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Dear Amy.
Blackie was a music critic. A nice history. Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I think Blackie didn’t know how to distinguish good from bad from what I understand. He liked the sound of his own howl. Maybe he thought he was participating! My dad mentioned my grandpa never got upset with the dog for howling, so he howled a lot. Thanks.
Amy
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Dear Amy,
This reminds me of the history that lies behind every black and white photograph of generations past. Very well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Our younger daughter likes to collect photos of people that she doesn’t know but just likes. Each one of them has a story behind it and it’s fun to ponder on what that story might be.
janet
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It sounds like your younger daughter just may be a writer. I wonder where she gets that? Ah, that’s a great way to expand on a character, to see an actual photograph. Thanks for sharing.
Amy
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Dear Doug,
I think this is very true of every old photograph. There’s a story to be told and so much history there. What a nice compliment. Thank you!
Amy
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A beautiful, fast slice of life!
Sounds like a great intro to a longer story.
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Thanks, Guapo! I think this could be potentially expanded into volumes with so many lives. I can’t imagine, personally. Plus, she had lost three children in childbirth. I didn’t have enough space for that. Thanks for the kind words.
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A full and meaningful life. Isn’t that the American Dream? What richness you have shared here. Most excellent, Amy.
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Oh, thank you, Honie! I do believe they achieved the American Dream, although they had to live differently than most with so many mouths to feed. But, of course, that was more common back then. I think they had like 4-5 kids in a bedroom because they lived in a small house. Wow!!
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Very sweet, Amy. Thanks for sharing a piece of your family’s history!
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Thanks, Cathy. You’re most welcome! My pleasure. As always, thanks for reading.
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Hi Amy,
Your story intrigued me. I wasn’t sure how much interpretation to put into that part about the dog howling, but it was just vague and suggestive enough for my imagination to run wild. Don’t know if that’s how you intended it, but I like how you let the reader finish the story in words that don’t count against the hundred. Very creative. Ron
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Thank you, Ron, for your most thoughtful comments. I so enjoy your comments every week. I did want to end it this way with kind of an open-ended picture, with life continuing past the children who left for war. Even though it was a lot quieter and they had more space, there was still five at home, and things had changed. Thanks! Amy
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a wonderful and heartfealt story of immigration and hope… I’m so glad it went well… especially like the passage about their children teaching them english… it rings so true…
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Ah, thanks Bjorn. It think it was pretty tough at times, but their family was very close. My grandpa went to night school too, but learned English most from his kids. I imagine the chatter was non-stop!
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It’s amazing to me that we have such similiar history. 🙂 I liked your story, the dog Blackie gave it a feel of home.
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Thanks, Jackie. I guess Blackie was part of the trio! 🙂
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It sounds like this story needs to be written and already have people waiting for it.
Count me in.
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Thanks, Michelle! I should do it soon as there aren’t many living relatives left. It’s a thought. Thanks for suggesting it.
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I’m reminded of the Rod Stewart song, “Every Picture Tells a Story, Don’t It?” Thanks for sharing your family story with us. My ancestors came from southern Germany as well.
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As it does every week with FF. Indeed, it does! Have you ever been back to visit your relatives there? I still relatives . in Switzerland, but still haven’t made the journey. I met them over here once. That was fun!
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Amy,
A touching story told from your heart and those are my absolute favorites. 12 kids my god! Travel all the way across the world to find the love of your life who lived not far from your hometown. It is a great love story…6 months later… today people would call you crazy for acting so fast. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this!
Tom
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Tom,
Thank you so much. I know, 12 kids! Y’gads!! She actually lost her first three in childbirth as well. I agree it was a wonderful love story, which is why I wanted to tell it. I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Amy
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A lovely story of the American dream, complete down to the dog at their feet. Very nice,Amy!
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Thank you, Perry!
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wonderful!
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Thank you! I appreciate that, Jim. – Amy
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Wow. A whole saga in 100 words. Sounds like an outline for a novel.
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Thanks, Stephen. Maybe. You never know.
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sweet and nostalic. Immigrants are the backbones of my countries
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Thanks! They certainly played a huge role. Thanks for reading. – Amy
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Beautiful! And many happy endings in store for your family, I bet 🙂
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Thanks, Eena! Some happy endings and lots of relatives that followed!
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Incredible how you are able to create such a fascinating history with only 100 words, Amy! Very cool!
🙂
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Thanks, Robert! I thought it was a pretty cool story myself, so had to share.
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