June 12, 2008
History Alive
Written by Shana in Jaunty Post
I just got back from a trip to see my grandparents in Michigan. They’re almost 90, and they live in a retirement home. It’s not a place I would mind living. They’ve got a computer lab, exercise classes, a pool, a store, a beauty salon—pretty nice place to hang your hat (or bonnet).
The thing I love about seeing my grandparents is all the stories that they tell. My grandmother tells story after story about what life was like when she was a girl. For a history lover like me, it can’t get any better.
My grandparents didn’t grow up during the Regency period, my favorite time to write about, but I think what we forget nowadays is how slowly things changed fifty, sixty, and seventy years ago. Life in the early twentieth century wasn’t so different from life in the early nineteenth century.
Take eating. My grandparents eat breakfast, dinner, and supper—just like they did in the Regency period. There wasn’t really anything called lunch in the early 1800s. People might have a small bite midday, but luncheon/nuncheon wasn’t a formal meal. Most people probably weren’t even hungry come noon as they didn’t eat breakfast until about 10.
Ever wonder why old people want to eat so early? It’s historical. In the Regency period, dinner was served between 3 and 5 p.m. in the country, between 6-7 if the family were keeping town hours (then nuncheon would have been more necessary). Dinner is the big meal of the day. It’s when you pull out all the stops. My grandparents eat a big dinner early and then have a light supper later. Supper, just like in Regency times, is relatively light.
Needless to say, Ultimate Sportsfan and I were a little thrown off by this schedule. We were also thrown off by how long dinner could last. My grandparents would spend an hour or more eating. When USF and I eat a midday meal, we pretty much scarf it down. I have 25 minutes for lunch. He has longer, but he likes to use that time to make phone calls or read the paper online. Who has time to linger over a meal?
But in the Regency, dinners could last for hours and hours and have dozens of courses. Obviously, there wasn’t the sense of hurry we have now.
And maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s educational to slow down once in a while, get the feel for what life was really like years ago. It’s an experience no book alone can give you.
So what about you? Have you learned anything from your grandparenst?
P.S. I have a contest on my website right now. Enter to win a copy of the Rita nominated BLACKTHRONE’S BRIDE.
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Helen Says:
How wonderful Shana I spent a lot of time with my grandparents when I was young and treasured every moment with them I loved the stories they would tell us all. They lived through the depression here in Australia my grandfather was a plumber and my granthmother a tailoress money was tight and Nana would take in sewing Pop would do odd jobs Nana was great at making food go a long way.I lost Pop when I was 16 he was 68 but Nana was 3 days short of her 93rd birthday but my children remember her so well and the fun they had with her as well.
Beautiful photo Shana thanks for sharing.
Have Fun
Helen
Margo Maguire Says:
It’s so great that you come up here and visit them, Shana. I’m sure they love it.
My grandfather died 2 weeks before my wedding at age 99. He was a feisty old guy - many stories about his life, including lumberjacking in northern Michigan in the early 1900s.
RobynDeHart Says:
What a great picture and I agree with Margo, they must really love your visits and getting to know your husband. Sadly I lost three of my grandparents when I was a little girl so my memories of them are very scarce. But my mother’s mom, Momo as we called her, was with us until she was in her 80’s and passed away just 2 years ago. So I have lots of memories with her. I think I’ll always regret not being able to be there when she left us, but evidently she thought I was there and I suppose that’s what matters most. She had so many great stories and crazy sayings like if you drop a dishtowel on the floor it means you’re going to have company - things like that.
Fedora Says:
I’m so glad you got to spend some time with your grandparents, Shana! Mine have been gone for years now
I’m trying to make sure my kids get to spend regular time with their grandparents–it’s special for all of them!
Rainy Says:
Shana,
Take advantage of any story your grandparents can tell you and get every bit of information you can from them. What we forget is they were young like we were and some things that might seem insignificant to them could shed so much light on their times and their lives.
My grandparents came from Sicily and I used to stay with them from Mon-Fri in the North End of Boston. I learned to speak Italian, but forgot it when I didn’t stay with them and got older (and they came to live with us, too). Their English wasn’t that good, but my mother could have translated anything. I am so sorry that I didn’t get to know them better while I had the chance.
And, the other reason older people eat a smaller meal for supper is that they just cannot digest a big meal too late. Especially if they go to bed early.
Cindy Kirk Says:
Sadly, I wasn’t close to either of my sets of grandparents.
It’s so great that you went to see them and can listen to their stories and memories.
Emily McKay Says:
Thanks for the great post, Shana. I too just got back from a visit with my grandma (90) and my aunt (81). It was a great visit for all of us. They got to meet my new son and got to see my daughter again.
This trip I really appreciated how wonderful it is that I got to know my grandma and Aunt as an adult. My relationship with both of them is different now than when I was child–less one sided, I guess.
I couldn’t begin to list all the things I’ve learned from them. I’ve always loved listening to their stories. Those are some of my best memories from childhood. I half believe that that’s why I became a writer. Listening to the stories my family would tell just sitting around the kitchen table is how I feel in love with storytelling.
Mary Says:
Shana,
You look kind of like Nicole Kidman in your picture. And your grandparents look so nice.
I adored my Grandma. She told great stories. And she always made me feel like my mere exisence was a reason to love me, lol.
Shana Says:
Mary, believe it or not, I get told I look like Nicole Kidman a couple times a year. I don’t see it, but I won’t complain!
Ingeborg Says:
Shana, they will enjoyed it a lot!!!
My grandma is 88… She’s the light of my life (besides my boys
) and I love her enormously…
Since I’m from Belgium, I could listen for hours to her stories about World War 2. She was right in the middle of it.. Smuggling butter to sell so they had food. My grandfather was in one of the camps.. She was mostly on her own all the time with 2 little kids to take care of.
And I learned to command those around me from her
My aunts always say I’m the only one she listens too and isn’t intimidated by her 
Shana Says:
My grandma tells stories about WWII as well. She was here in America, but my grandfather was in the Navy.