Thinking About Writing A Memoir

Thinking about writing a memoir.

At 83 years it's harder than it would have been at 70 years  

because I have added more stacks

 of things to think about.

I don't know what to write about. 

Especially when I list things I regret.

Now I don't have a way to apologize. 

I bet talking my words onto a page would be faster. 

                              

Today I read something that said, "who would want to read what you write in your memoir?"

 That’s a good question.

For instance I was reading yesterday about studying things in your book to see how the author wrote it. Take in the words that they say are the interesting words. 

Delete.  Delete.  Delete. 

Read over and over. 
Go over your sentences carefully.

Make them more interesting with words of interest.  

I don’t put down many interesting words any more -

Could I have used them up ?

I’m really glad that I found 
DRAGON on my computer

to remind me 

I could talk my thoughts onto the paper

I wouldn’t have to write. 

Ah, ha. 

That would be good 

because my hands sometimes hurt.

Its easier to talk the memories

than to type them.

 It's worthwhile to look for things to make the work easier.

St. Peter's Catholic Church - Charlotte, NC

St. Peter's - Charlotte, NC

Not surprising that St. Peters Catholic Church, the large place where we went on Sundays has been dwarfed by progress. Thankful for my memories.

When ever I go to Charlotte, NC I stop by St. Peter’s Catholic Church. It is the church of my childhood and connects me to my Lonergan ancestors. 

I did not learn their story until I was 55 years beyond my Baptism at St. Peters. They were Irish immigrants and stone cutters. They gave their tithe to build St. Peter’s on land James Lonergran sold to the Church. 

Four Lonergan men from Tipperary raised the original brick walls with their own hands. One of the men, Edward Lonergan, was my four great grandfather. In 1850 most of the small band of Catholics in Charlotte lived in the shadow of the modest spire of this small red brick church. 

I step off the sidewalk of South Tryon Street, up the few brick steps and into the vestibule. I feel at home in the colored light which fills the santuary. I recognize the warm earthy hues cast by the stained glass windows as the light shines through them. The centered figures of saints on the glass still stand serenely in arched niches surrounded by geometric patterned panels. 

These windows had fascinated me when, as a child, I lay on the hard oak pew next to Daddy and waited impatiently for Mass to end. I absorbed the glowing colors and simple shapes and they formed the aesthetic that guides my eyes and hands today when I compose bits of colored paper and fabric into abstract compositions that suggest backlit stained glass windows. 

These comfortable mysterious spaces speak to me of the sacred -- the sweet fragrance of beeswax candles -- pungent incense -- the echoes of Latin chants. 

Back on the sidewalk the sight of the near-by new pride of Charlotte, a behemoth sports arena and tall buildings which loom over the city like menacing towers, yanks me back to the present - into the presence of progress. 

First Posted on 11.8.2003 at 12:59 AM

Diggle Family 2

Looking back for the story of the Diggle I have some memories to build on.

12/10/2016

Tiers of Memories

Working with memories is like weaving or making collages - especially when I try to connect my memories with stories I might have heard when I was a child.

When I read this letter it reminded me of day I was visiting my grandmother, my father's mother, at her home. We were sitting in the "music room" when something sparked her to remember a trip to New York many year before with her husband. The most vivid memory I have of that conversation is her description of going to a Broadway theater to see "The Merry Widow." As she talked about her dress and a new fashionable hat her eyes were sparkling and she was smiling as she remember the evening.  I never forgot that afternoon.

In 1975 I went to Vienna with my friend Marie. One evening we went to the ornate Vienna Opera House to see "The Merry Widow" and the memories of the conversation with my grandmother flowed over me and I felt very connected to her although in real life I was not that close to her. It was a good feeling.

Finding this letter my aunt had given me was a "gift". So glad I wrote about it -so that I did not lose the memories of her again - - and that I connected to those days of WWI - - knowing more now about that time gives her letter more life for me.

5/13/2016

Messages from the Past - 

Do you believe in "messages" from the past? I do. Its the mysterious part of working with history.

I have been writing this blog since 2005. From time to time I stroll back through old blog posts looking for a connection, a story, or something sweet to remember. 

I had forgotten about this letter my Grandmother Diggle wrote in 1918 and was startled when I read it last night. It is such is a strong connection to what I am absorbed with today. In fact the letter and what I later learned about her younger brother who died in France in 1918 may explain my fascination with WWI.  

Maybe there is something lurking here that I will be interested to find. Or perhaps "they" have something to tell me.

So - - - - I am pulling it back to the front so that I can think more about it as I wait to see what happens.

2/19/2008

Letter from the Past - Part 1

I love old letters, whether I know the people of not. The handwriting brings you close to the person who wrote it and often there is a story hidden in an old letter. I have several storytelling programs built around old letters.


A few weeks ago an old letter fell out of some files I was moving. I recognized my grandmother's strong cursive handwriting before I picked it up. The paper is yellowed, the creases where its folded threaten to tear. The envelope is addressed to her mother, Mrs. J. W. Cobb, at 703 South Church Street in Charlotte and the postmark - 

the letter bears a purple three cent stamp and is postmarked April 30, 1918. Mailed from Madison Square Station in New York City. It is written on hotel stationery - Hotel McAlpin, Broadway and 34th Street, New York City.

On a first read the letter doesn't say much but as I thought about it I wondered if there was a story in it. I often tell people to use old documents to make a story. So, what about trying it.

First I will share the letter with you - then I will add bits and pieces as I discover them to flesh out th story.

THE LETTER

Tuesday, April 29th
Dear Mama,
This won't be much of a letter because I am pretty tired, But I just want to tell you that think I am going to have "some trip." We arrived OK this morning, and I hadn't slept much on the train. I went to bed after a hot bath and slept until about one thirty. Sam spent the day at the office, so I crossed over to Macy's and spent quite a while looking 

II
around and shopping. Had dinner with Sam and then Uncle Fred and Florence came over to the hotel and took us out. We went to Vaudenville and then to a little place - a favorite of Uncle Fred's and had some beer and sandwiches. Believe me, it certainly tasted good. Florence is such a sweet girl. She has Friday evening off and she is coming to take me over to her house.

III
Cousin Nell called me this afternoon. She will be here about nine tomorrow morning and we will spend the day together.

Hope your finger is getting better and that the boys are not too much trouble. Won't write any more now as it is late. Everything here stirred up over Liberty Bonds. Hope to see the returned heroes from France before I leave.

IV
Tell Grandma not to worry about Uncle Fred. He looks grand and says he never felt better in his life.

Kiss the boys and tell them to be good. Much love to you all. Will save some news until I see you.

Lovingly,
Louise


First - Lets' consider the cast of characters:

Louise Cobb Diggle - the letter writer- my father's mother. At this time Louise was 32 years old, they had been married nine years and in that time she had given birth to six children and was now two months pregnant with her seventh child, who would be a daughter, Loretto. No doubt she needed a break.

Sam Diggle - her husband, father of all her children, was 31 years old.

Mrs. J. W. Cobb - Louise's mother, sister of Uncle Fred, was 59 years old. Her son Walter, Jr., 31, was in the Army and overseas in France along with his younger brother, Fritz, 23. Fritz was who was named for her brother, Fred - the Unlce Fred in Louise's letter

Uncle Fred Grose - Mrs. Cobb's younger brother who was 55 and had lived in New York City for some time.

Florence - his daughter
Cousin Nell - not sure who she is.

"the boys" - Lewis Diggle, age 7, Jack Diggle, Age 6 and Robert Diggle, age 4 - Robert is my father. The other children left behind in Charlotte were Mary Cobb, Catherine and year old Betty.

Grandma- Mrs. Samuel Grose - Louise's 83 year old grandmother and Mrs. Cobb's widowed mother.

One afternoon when I was about thirteen I was visiting Nanny at 826 Central Avenue, the house she and Sam build to house this large family. She reminisced about a wonderful trip they had made to New York. I listened vaguely, as a kid 13 would, but I do recall her saying that she had a new hat, a new Easter hat, with a wide brim.

Hoping for a new slice of history.

The BeeHive Hairdo

You have to learn don't you?
Unfortunately some of my learning was not easy.
(this story was filmed for Stories in Time, my weekly show on MMCTV.)

NEW A Bird Wearing Red

A Red Bird
Collage
E. Schoettler



Wearing RED -
                 gives me courage

Even a bird
                 needs that - -

http://www.bettersaidthandone.com/2020/02/10/womens-festival-spotlight-ellouise-schoettler/?fbclid=IwAR0Lhg8cQJWAUjGaoOkj2RusZEziC-MVmEgWLztBSnD5Z0_fBc7cTY4b5Lk

A FIRST - ON MARCH 13, 14

Founder Jessica Piscitelli Robinson had a fantastic idea - and she has brought it to life -

17 other female storytellers, at the Women’s Storytelling Festival in the City of Fairfax, March 13 and 14, 2020. Details here

MARCH 14 - I am thrilled to be one of the tellers for the first ever Women's Storytelling
Festival...Women’s Festival Spotlight – Ellouise Schoettler

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Jessica Piscitelli Robinson

Jessica asked each of us to send a short bio - so I did.

 Maryland spoken word artist Ellouise Schoettler is known for seeking stories of unknown women – then bringing them to life with “heart and humor” for audiences of all ages. Ellouise says she appreciates and applauds Jessica Piscitelli Robinson for her idea and leadership to have this festival which features women and their stories.

Ellouise, a professional storyteller for more than three decades, grew up surrounded by her aunts who were memorable North Carolina talkers. When they went to the local grocery store they returned telling epic tales of what happened on their journey. Says Ellouise, “They taught me to find women’s stories from everyday life experience.”  

For the past six years, Ellouise has focused on finding and telling stories of the true history of unknown nurses from Johns Hopkins Hospital who served in the U. S. Army in France during World War One. 

“I love these women,” she says. “It is a privilege to bring their stories out of the shadows of history, especially during WWI Centennial years. 

Recent favorite venues for Ellouise’s WWI stories include the DC Capital Fringe, the WWI National Museum and Memorial, Memorial of Women in the Military at Arlington Cemetery, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and the Olde Mecklenburg County Historical Society and more.

Watch videos of Ellouise’s storytelling performances here.

“Of course,” says Ellouise, “a career highlight will always be my times on stage in Jonesborough, Tennessee – on the National Storytelling Festival Exchange Place Stage and as Teller-in-Residence.”

Since 2006, Ellouise has hosted cable storytelling shows on Channel 16 (MMCTV.org) Montgomery County, MD.
Stories in Time: Ellouise tells a new story.
Monday: 9:15 PM
Tuesday: 9:45 PM
Find out more about Ellouise at ellouiseschoettler.com

Come see Ellouise perform, along with 17 other female storytellers, at the Women’s Storytelling Festival in the City of Fairfax, March 13 and 14, 2020. Details here.

Comfort Book

Re: Artist, Romare Beardeny

Collage by Ellouise Schoettler

Brought this out to look over after I came upon
an article about Romare Bearden - a fantastic collagist.

I met his work in the early 1970s. First in his exhibit at the National Gallery downtown. I took lots of time to become familiar with how he created his magic scenes. I was also drawn to it because seeing the colors and objects cut from magazines reminded me of the hours I had spent making paper dolls cutting
clothes and objects from Sears catalogs and funnies from the newspapers.

Several months later when I was visiting my parents in Charlotte, NC.  I went to the Mint Museum just to wander through the exhibits and check it out.

 "Hello there." I said surprised to see more of Bearden's work in Charlotte. Even more surprised to learn that he too had lived in Charlotte. In the museum "shop" I bought a book with decent color pictures and some fine articles written by Bearden himself. I still have that book and often re-read it. Its like feasting on "comfort food."

EVIL above

I was startled
the first time t
heard the Dragon's roar
and
felt the heat from  his flames.

When he kept on
and on
things changed - -
I got used to his noises and
hardly felt the fire from his flashes.

That's what  happened
when
I stopped watching.

Keeping My Eyes Open

                             
                               Keeping my eyes open.                 Collage by Ellouise Schoettler
                             
                               Don't stop watching!
                               Keep listening....
                             
                 

Pictures and Memories

 

Capturing some of our history - - on an abacus Jim made for collaged boxes.

                             Ellouise  and Jim leaving Assumption Catholic Church, Charlotte, N.C.  December 30, 1955.






















Ellouise and Jim cutting the cake on their 25th anniversary.

                                                  December 2005 - party celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary.

                                   Many memories of our life together.
                   

Birthdays

November is a "birthday" month for Jim and me.... since 1956.



Baby Gretchen, November 10, Karen, November 27, Jimmy, November 3, and Robin, November 5.

We celebrated every year - from baby activities, group cakes, fire engines, ponies, and anything else that worked with the schedules or required a trip to get there or telephone calls.

Gretchen left us when she was three and we brought cookies
to
Arlington Cemetery
where she had been for so long until Jim came to join her.

Flowers for Gretchen on her 50th B-Day.  

  And, there is space waiting for me in our forever home.

    

 

Catherine Diggle Brown - a Memory

An African folk tale, The Cow Tail Switch is a golden nugget for me. In the story five sons find their father’s bones in the jungle where he was killed by a wild animal when he was hunting. They conjure him back to life. The story ends with the wisdom, “no one is truly dead as long as people tell his story.”  Ellouise Schoettler

11/02/2007 

First version written in 2007.

My aunt, Catherine Diggle Brown is very much on my mind these days. Koki is gone, buried in Wilmington, NC, next to her husband Jim Brown but she is not forgotten.

In 2007 Koki's son George walked into my Halloween program smiling and holding up a gift for me. He was carrying one of Koki's quilts, the one she had given to me just before she died. When she offered it to me the last time I saw her I just could not take it - it was too much a final good-bye.

"Is this the right one?" he asked. "Oh, yes. That's it." I had snuggled down under it several times when I spent the night in the cozy guest room in her apartment in Charlotte.

The quilt is made with a simple design. Nine rectangles across, 12 rectangles down - 108 rectangles - sewed together at random. I remember when she made it. Someone gave her a box of drapery fabric samples, pre-cut into rectangles.

Koki believed in recycling. She studied about those pieces for awhile and then decided to piece them together for quilt. Vivid colors, flower prints, stripes, patterns, solid colors, paisleys - colors of the late 70s - pinks, turquoise, blues, yellows and golds. Full of life and joy - just as she was.After she organized and stitched them together she added black stitching  
The scalloped black lines make those colors work together. Its machine stitched except for the hemming. I love seeing Koki's hand in her tiny, neat stitches around the edging. Those hand stitches keep me in touch with her.

Later, at home, I spread it on the bed - mostly on my side. And slipped in under it. 

My Jim does not mind. He loved her too.

We are both glad that she is with us.

********************************************************
This piece added November 2019

Koki died in 2001. I wrote this blog in 2007. Jim died in 2012. 
I still sleep in the warmth of Koki's quilt.

About Catherine Diggle Brown  - from Find a Grave

Catherine Diggle Brown, 84, of Charlotte, died peacefully March 4, 2001, at Greenville Memorial Medical Center, following a period of declining health. She was attended by her children. 

Mrs. Brown was born April 24,1916, in Charlotte, daughter of Samuel Lewis and Mary Louise Cobb Diggle of Central Avenue. She attended Central High School in Charlotte, and graduated from Sacred Heart College in Belmont, N.C. 

In 1942, she was accepted into the Women's Army Auxiliary Forces. She was the 42nd woman from North Carolina to be allowed to enlist in the Army in World War II. She was promoted twice, and was commanding a training company in Ft. Des Moines, Iowa, where she was honorably discharged following a service related disability, at the rank of Captain. She was a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Disabled American Veterans. After World War II, Miss Diggle married James A. Brown Jr., who served from 1950 to 1962 as Assistant Administrator of Greenville General Hospital, and from 1962 to 1970 as Administrator of Gaston Memorial Hospital. 

Mrs. Brown is survived by their three children, James Arthur Brown III of Cary, N.C., George Conril Brown of Washington, D.C., and Catherine Elizabeth Holmgreen of Greenville; three grandchildren, Amanda Leigh, David Joseph and Elizabeth Styron Gault; a brother, Samuel Lewis Diggle Jr. of Charlotte; and sisters, Mrs. Carl Lowery of Charlotte, and Mrs. Carl Duncan of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. 

Mrs. Brown was a member of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in Charlotte. 

A visitation from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by a Rosary will be held Thursday, March 8, 2001, at Harry and Bryant in Charlotte. Mrs. Brown will be buried with her late husband in Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, N.C.

Collecting Short Memories

Collecting short memories that I think I will want to use some where.

Memories smell good. 

In her book "The Total Memory Make-over" Marilu Henner talks about using your five senses to bring back bits of your past.  

Thinking of that I remembered this blog post from 2007.  

October 2007:  North Carolina candy apples photographed one October in Mount Airy, NC. 

Karen and I were on our way to Charlotte. When we saw the highway sign for the turn to Mt. Airy we decided to take the detour and visit this town which was used as Mayberry in the Andy Griffith Show.  We rode into town on a beautiful October day and found a Fall Fair filling the main street. There were stalls selling crafts, food stuffs, and Christmas gifts. We stopped to listen to an old-timer playing a rousing fiddle tune. At one stall a couple was dipping apples into hot candy syrup and dropping them onto metal trays to "set". 

It smelled spicy and sweet and filled my head with memories of being "home".