“Dear Medora « Sydney of Oysterville

Posts Tagged ‘“Dear Medora’

If she ever asks you, just say “Yes!”

Monday, August 14th, 2023

Dayle Olson, Interviewer Extraordinaire

I am sitting here all puffed up and rosy after hearing myself on the KMUN program “River Writers” being interviewed by Dayle Olson. She is without a doubt THE best interviewer I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I say that because our half hour together (which was taped some time ago) was not only fun, but somehow made me sound pretty darned good. I hope you can catch it somehow. I think it’s the only time I’ve ever suggested that anyone listen to me! I give full marks to moderator Dayle Olson who seemed to ask just the right questions in just the right order and had the perfect commentary to carry us along!

“Dear Medora”

We talked about how I began writing, about my “favorite” book, Dear Medora c. 2007, WSU Press), about what I’m working on now and my plans for the near future. I was even given an opportunity to read one of my “Saints or Sinners?” stories, now running weekly in the Chinook Observer.

We taped the show about a month ago and, in addition to my writing experiences, Dayle asked me about the upcoming (September 6th!) History Forum that I am helping to organize. I was so very pleased to have an opportunity to talk about our plans — some of which are still evolving. Basically, it will be a First-Wednesday-of-the-Month (Sept. thru May) gathering of people interested in the history of Pacific County and SW Washington.

Oysterville Schoolhouse

We will devote each gathering to a general topic — “How We Got Here?” in September — have a few speakers to get us started, and then open it up for comments, questions, new information etc. There will be no charge (except a donation basket toward upkeep of the historic schoolhouse) and we’ll fine-tune as we go. I do hope some of the many folks who have responded to my blog over the years with history questions or information of their own will attend.

And, I hope you can find my half hour with Dayle Olson on the KMUN River Writer’s program! Perhaps Dayle will weigh in and tell us all how to find it now that it is archived and available for re-listening.

Tags: "Dear Medora, Summer in Oysterville
Posted in "Dear Medora", Books and Reading, The Writing Process | 2 Comments »

On being garrulous (i.e. to rattle on…)

Thursday, July 13th, 2023

Tillicum House – Home of KMUN and Coast Community Radio

Today I went to Astoria’s Tillicum House at the invitation of Dayle Olson, one of the co-producers of a KMUN program called “River Writers,” a Writer’s Guild 30-minute show hosted on alternate weeks by Dayle and by Marianne Monson. It airs monthly on second Mondays at 9 AM. and Dayle had kindly asked if I would agree to be taped for an August airing.

I had no idea what to expect. I’ve been on a number of Carol Newman’s “Arts Live and Local” shows which are usually a fifteen minute slot which just cover the nitty gritty of an upcoming book publication or a book launch at a local bookselling venue. But this was to be a half hour taping session which sounded a bit more ominous somehow.

Dayle Olson, My Hostess and Interviewer Today

As it turned out, the time went by almost before I could collect my wits. In fact, I’m not sure I managed to gather them in any sort of order that might make sense to listeners. I guess we’ll find out when it airs next month. Dayle is the consummate interviewer. Not only does she ask penetrating questions, but she sits across the way, head-phoned, microphoned, and totally professional appearing, with eyes that dance with merriment and appreciation. She made the whole experience such fun.

Dear Medora

We talked about my first (and favorite!) book, Dear Medora, and about my ghost books and, of course, about Mrs. Crouch, the resident ghost in my house. I told about my ongoing series, “Saints or Sinners? Characters of Pacific County” now running weekly in the Chinook Observer and I even a recently published one, “Klondike Kate” for the ‘listening audience.” Plus, Dayle kindly gave me time to put in a plug for the History Forum which will begin in September at the Oysterville Schoolhouse — for all those interested in local history and who might have stories of their own to tell!

In retrospect, of course, I have no idea whether I stuck with whatever point I wanted to make or even satisfactorily answered Dayle’s questions. I found myself just rattling on — a garrulous old woman enjoying herself immensely. Thanks, Dayle, for a fun half hour! It went by all too fast!

Tags: "Dear Medora, books
Posted in "Dear Medora", "Jailhouse Stories from Early Pacific County", "Washington's Cranberry Coast", Chinook Observer, Summer in Oysterville | 2 Comments »

“Judge not…”

Thursday, February 7th, 2019

Barge Hall, Central Washington University

It occurs to me that I was brought up with a lot of conflicting standards. Well, maybe not “a lot” but certainly with a few that have prevailed. Take “judge not that ye be not judged…” I’m sure I heard that at home as well as in Sunday School. On the other hand, my mother often corrected my grammar by saying, “you can tell a lot about a person by how they use the King’s English.”

It was understood (somehow) that the “King’s English” wasn’t an expression to be taken literally, but was meant as a pinnacle to which I should aspire. I think I did all right. I don’t remember any specific suggestions for toning down slang in my high school years though she could easily have done so. I’m quite sure that when my mother was a teen, my grandmother must have monitored her usage along those lines, although I have only indirect evidence.

In a postscript to a letter written to her oldest daughter, Medora on September 25, 1914 my grandmother said: Please don’t use that word “rotten.” It is as vulgar and unladylike as gosh or other of the Amy Saves expressions. I spent a lot of time when I was writing my Dear Medora book trying to run down the “Amy Saves” reference, but couldn’t find it. I think it was probably the title of a book or magazine serial popular with teens of the time.

All of those thoughts flew through my head this morning as I read of the false alarm concerning the shooter at Central Washington University. Once I had determined that everyone – including students I know from here – were safe, I scanned the reports to see what, exactly, had happened. What jumped off the page were the words of a student (unknown to me) who had been interviewed: It’s nerving, freaky. It’s just like spooked, like freaked to go to school tomorrow.

My knee-jerk reaction was, “as, I’ve long contended, not everyone should go to college.” and immediately those “judge not that ye be not judged” words came galloping to mind. My belief that we should be providing many alternative options to our young people hasn’t changed. I’m just sorry that these horrendous circumstances are what triggered my thought. Mostly, I’m thankful that everyone is safe and am clapping and cheering for the efficient way campus authorities handled things.

Tags: "Dear Medora
Posted in Rants and Raves | 1 Comment »

Times Change… or do they?

Saturday, June 30th, 2018

DIARY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1915 DIARY

Rose City Steamship

3125 Claremont Ave. Berkeley, Calif.

Do you realize Diary that I am in California, the land of our dreams? Those two weeks at home intervening between the eleventh and the twenty-sixth were very busy days. We packed, cleaned house, and did general overhauling…We left Saturday morning on the early train…arrived in Astoria about eleven; then followed a weary wait till three when the Rose City left. We had two large staterooms opening on deck. Only Sue was sick crossing the bar. Sunday morning was delightful, so calm and sunny. Just before lunch I got acquainted with…Clarence Hickock from Portland. We sat up on deck all afternoon and talked…

1912 – The Espy Children (Dale, Willard, Edwin, Mona, Suzita, Medora)

Monday morning we arrived. Grandpa, Eva, Ruth, Beulah, Uncle Sid and Uncle Bert met us. Clarence asked to call. Ha ha! San Francisco is the thriving bustling metropolis of old; the bay, the fog and wind are all the same. But as we rode through Oakland I could see the difference. Out here in Berkeley are many beautiful homes. Aunt Maud’s is very attractive, every little detail is so perfect, and the whole house is very artistic.

That 1915 summer vacation in California, long planned by the Espy family, was a coming-of-age trip for young Medora, my mother’s oldest sister. It was also to be her final visit to California. Little did she (or anyone) know that she would live only six months more, dying in her sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage on January 18, 1916, just two weeks after her seventeenth birthday. On June 30th1915, though, and for the next two months, she and her five brothers and sisters would have the most memorable time of their young lives.

Pan American Esposition, San Francisco 1915 (“The Fair”)

According to Medora’s diary, the most notable aspects of the trip for her were… boys! Although, the family was ostensibly there to visit relatives and Mama’s girlhood friends and to take in “The Fair,” Medora had her first experience of being sought-after by the opposite sex. And she developed her first serious crush! (July 21, 1915 – I simply couldn’t be so silly about a man eleven years older than myself but the members of the opposite sex when attractive surely do stir up strange feelings in me.)

Although Medora had been born in the Bay Area, the family had moved to Oysterville when she was three and she had been back only once five years later, in 1908. I find it interesting that despite all and, even with her limited experience, she noticed the changes that had taken place since her last visit – as did I only a few days ago. I wonder what she would make of dear old San Francisco now…

Tags: "Dear Medora
Posted in "Dear Medora" | No Comments »

From A Reliable Source

Thursday, April 26th, 2018

In The Meadow

We heard some disturbing – no, let’s say alarming – news yesterday about a killer dog on the rampage in Oysterville. Seriously. Apparently, it has run down and killed three deer in the area in the last week or so. One was witnessed by someone I know to be low-key, truthful, and not given to exaggeration.

“Have the incidents been reported?” was our first question. Our informant didn’t know.

“Whose dog was it?” we asked. Not one that is known in the area.

“Was there anyone out and about? As in a frantic owner who had let the dog off its leash?” No one in sight.

Outside Our Door

Apparently, the kill that was witnessed occurred out on the bayfront. The deer was running north and the dog – “medium-sized tan” – was flat out behind. Took the deer down, killed it, and walked away from it. At least that’s what we were told.

So… this is third-hand information. I don’t think it’s “fake news” but I don’t really know. I’m wary these days. Unless I’ve witnessed something myself, I’m not sure of the truth of the story. From my perspective, that’s not a comfortable position to be in. I certainly don’t want to discount such an ominous bit of information. In my mind, a dog that would chase and kill a deer might well go after a child or maybe even a little old lady. Maybe.

Living Yard Art

On the other hand, I don’t want to start disbelieving what someone I’ve know most of my life is saying. This whole disconnect from the truth thing has me a bit rattled. I don’t know how many of our country’s recent leader-appointees have lied under oath or parsed their words in order to ‘untether’ themselves from reality. More than a few. I certainly don’t want to think that the prevarication epidemic has spread clear to in Oysterville.

As I say… it’s more than disturbing.

Tags: "Dear Medora, Springtime in Oysterville
Posted in Rants and Raves, Springtime in Oysterville | 1 Comment »

Adelaide’s – where the action is!

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

Adelaide’s by Jean Stamper

We often stop in at Adelaide’s for an afternoon coffee break. Sometimes it’s a dedicated trip for that purpose; sometimes we are ‘in the neighborhood’ doing errands in Ocean Park – maybe picking up a prescription at the pharmacy or getting a few needed items at Jack’s. But no matter when we stop in, our visit always seems enriched by more than coffee!

A few weeks ago, for instance, there was a new display by the counter featuring a greeting card by our Oysterville neighbor, Jean Stamper. Adelaide’s carries a number of Jean’s cards – in fact, there’s a whole rack full – but this one is of Adelaide’s itself. And, like its subject, it is charming. Well worth a special display we thought.

Garden Tour Brochure/Ticket

Yesterday we dropped in with a dual purpose in mind. Coffee, of course, and to pick up our tickets for this Saturday’s “Music in the Gardens 2014” Peninsula Garden Tour. The ‘tickets’ turn out to be a lovely brochure, complete with map and description of each of the ten gardens on display. Although we have talked to some of the musicians who will be playing, and we know a few of the folks whose gardens are listed, the majority of names are new to us. We are looking forward to hearing the music, meeting the gardeners and, perhaps, learning a few new tricks that we can apply to our own place.

As I was giving Katie my coffee order – “the usual” – I was suddenly aware that Nyel was being embraced by an attractive woman who looked only vaguely familiar. Nyel re- introduced me to Kay Planting Porter (we had met once before years ago at Pauly’s Bistro) and she, in turn, introduced us to her family – her husband Ken, their two daughters ages 14 and 20, and Kay’s two sisters.

Kay and Nyel had worked with at PCC in Seattle thirty-five years ago and had subsequently traveled to Europe together. For eighteen years now, she and Ken and girls have lived in Austin, Texas, but they often vacation in the northwest and especially the Peninsula where Kay and her sisters came as children. Such a familiar story and one I never tire of hearing from Peninsula visitors!

“Dear Medora”

They were sitting at “the big table” and asked us to join them. An hour or so went by in nothing flat. At one point Kay snuck off to the book section and bought a copy of Dear Medora. As I autographed it, I suggested that they come over to “Medora’s house” for a quick tour – to make the book more meaningful! And the rest of the day floated by in a flurry of laughter and conversation and snippets of history.

It was a lovely and unexpected way to spend a summer afternoon. And, over and over we all sang the praises of Adelaide’s where like-minded people are sure to meet! It’s definitely where it’s happening on the North End!

Tags: "Dear Medora, gardening
Posted in Books and Reading, Friendship, From the Past, Garden Notes | 2 Comments »

Happy Birthday, Dear Medora!

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

Medora, 1916

My Aunt Medora died on January 19. 1916 – just thirteen days after her seventeenth birthday. It’s hard for me to realize that today marks the 115^th anniversary of her birth.

Like all those who die before their time, she will forever remain young. I can’t help wondering, though, what sort of adult she would have become. Would she have married? Would she have had a flock of children – cousins, somewhat older than I, for me to admire and look up to? Would she have been a doting aunt as was her younger sister Mona, the only one of my mother’s two sisters still alive when I was born?

In her letters and diaries, Medora spoke often of her hopes and dreams for the future. An August entry in her 1914 diary:

Medora, 1914

No, Dorothy and I haven’t quarreled, but I realize at last that she is not immoral but unmoral. I have half worshipped her all year but now, well, now I just don’t. I still love her, but she is no longer my ideal. I want to be good – no strong, for I know we are in the world for some purpose. Why not make the best of my opportunities. Each individual counts; even I count. I am looking forward to a home and children. Therefore I must educate myself to the best of my ability. My education will be valuable to my posterity. A girl is not useless; I am glad I am a woman. I don’t want to be married till I am twenty-five but oh! I will certainly adopt two youngsters if I am an old maid. These poor little motherless tots and then hundreds of old maids worrying and fussing because they have been cheated out of so much. Absurd! I don’t want to become famous, but I want to help my children to become honorable and useful citizens. So as they will inherit my traits, anything I don’t want my posterity to think, do, or say, I must overcome first. It is wonderful that I have it in me to help the world, to make it a little better. If I had continued to do everything with what will Dorothy say always in mind, I should have become worldly. This next year I am planning to study. Mother and Father will be so pleased if I really work hard. I shall not give up all social duties, but some. I want to attend church regularly, for though I believe in being broad-minded, we must serve our God faithfully on the day that He put aside for that purpose. I think Holland Huston, Ruth Connell and Mama are the ones who are stimulating my present views….

The following year, on October 13, 1915, she wrote again about her future but, this time, in a letter to her mother who was suffering some ongoing health problems: I firmly believe we are put in the world for some purpose and you have been faithful to yours and I shall live mine in single blessedness while I am making you and Papa comfortable. I’m sure I had no such thoughts when I was sweet sixteen.

Dear Medora CMYK On her final birthday, January 3, 1916, she wrote: My seventeenth birthday. Why I am really becoming a young lady! I shall live this year cheerfully without any sentimental attachment awaiting my prince, and preparing for him. If in all the long years he never comes, I have lots to do for others.

As it is, Medora will always remain ‘barely seventeen.’ I dearly wish she had lived a long life – long enough for me to know her in person. She’s been an inspiration, even so. Happy Birthday, Dear Medora!

Tags: "Dear Medora
Posted in "Dear Medora" | 7 Comments »

They flat out didn’t get it!

Monday, September 30th, 2013

The Book

Doncha just hate it when you read a book and then see the movie and it’s wrong, wrong, wrong! Like what was the director thinking, anyway?

Case in point, we finally saw “One for the Money” the other night. What a total bust. Hadn’t ANYONE connected with that production read any of Janet Evonovich’s Stephanie Plumb series?

Re-issue Based on the Movie

I love Stephanie Plumb. She is quirky, outrageous and above all funny. So is the cast of supporting characters – at least in the book. Next to Stephanie, Grandma Mazur is probably my second favorite and there is no way that Debbie Reynolds comes close. Too put together, too young, too not a grandmotherly type. And don’t get me started on Morelli or Ranger! Or Lula.

Dear Medora

Once again, I vowed that if I ever get a movie offer (yeah, like that’s going to happen), no matter for how much money, I will turn it down flat. It does occur to me, however, that in the case of Dear Medora (which I think would make a lovely film), my contract with the publisher might give them final say, not me. Oh well. I’m not likely to lose sleep over that remote eventuality!

But back to the situation at hand. Another book series that has been translated into film – in this case a TV series – is Craig Johnson’s Longmire. We have thoroughly enjoyed those books but when we heard the author talk about the casting for the TV version our enthusiasm waned a bit. Johnson was speaking at a book signing in Portland just before the series aired last year, and we never have been able to wrap our head around his rationalization for Lou Diamond Phillips playing the part of Henry Standing Bear, also known as The Cheyenne Nation. No way.

The Book

The only film version of any book that I think really worked was “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. After all, what wasn’t to believe about Gregory Peck as Atticus? Maybe all those books by Jane Austen also worked in their film versions. I’m not really sure. I never could get through the books – BORING! – but I did love seeing them come to life on the screen. I’m a sucker for period pieces…

But back to “One for the Money.” Bottom line, the Stephanie Plumb books are laugh-out-loud funny. I can’t imagine why Director Julie Ann Robinson didn’t get that. When I Googled the film just now, I was somewhat gratified to read: The film was universally panned by critics and flopped at the box office, not even recouping its $40 million budget (which does not include marketing costs.)

And as for Longmire – the first two episodes are now at the top of our Netflix queue. Stay tuned…

Tags: "Dear Medora
Posted in "Dear Medora", Rants and Raves | No Comments »

Another Family Tree, Another Branch

Sunday, August 18th, 2013

Andrews Family at the Oysterville Store

Yesterday at the Oysterville Store it was “old home week” for an hour or so. One branch of the Andrews family met another branch for the first time ever and I’m happy to report that I was instrumental in getting them together.

Bert and Minnie Andrews, of course, were the ones who built the present Oysterville Store back in 1918. They were not the first of the family in town, though. Bert’s grandmother and his uncles Sam and Tom had been here since the turn of the century at least.

Yesterday’s gathering came about because of a phone call I received some months ago from a woman in Aloha, Oregon who identified herself as Donna Godsel. I can’t remember how she came across my name, but she was interested in getting a specific item from the Oysterville Store – an item that former owners Jean and John Smith carried, but Greg does not.

Amazingly, I was able to help her locate what she wanted, and in the process learned that she was the granddaughter of Sam Andrews who was Bert Andrews’ uncle. I found that she was very interested in Oysterville history, had been here years before, and was planning to come again in the summer with her brother and her son. Yesterday turned out to be the day.

I suggested that we meet at the Oysterville Store because Donna was bringing “photographs and postcards” and I knew Greg would be interested. He is always on the lookout for Oysterville history, especially if it relates to the Andrews and the store.

There were five in ‘their party’ plus Nyel and myself and Greg and customers somewhere in the periphery. Greg made coffee. I thought Charlotte Jacobs should be there so Greg made a phone call and went to fetch her. She is a grandchild of Bert and Minnie but, until yesterday the two family branches had never met and didn’t really know anything about each other. It was Old Home Week for sure!

Oysterville Sewing Bee, 1907 — “Mary Sam” is lower left with son Vernon

We were there for about an hour, gathered around their photo albums in the ‘back-behind’ of the store. Greg is a saint! I don’t know that we were in any way good for business, but he was gracious and interested and asked only that we keep an eye out for photographs that will make good reproductions of historic postcards. Donna and I concluded that we would have to do this again – perhaps at our house where we could really spread out and compare photos, jot down dates, use the scanner, etc.

Later, as I walked homeward with Charlotte, I had one of those “aha moments.” Donna’s grandmother, Mary Christenson Andrews (married to Sam Andrews, uncle of Bert, see above) was the woman our family always referred to as “Mary Sam” to distinguish her from another Mary in town. Donna’s father was Vernon. My aunt Medora (who was fifteen at the time) referred to them in a diary entry in July 1914:

After lunch I went up to Mary Sam’s and sewed up those two aprons and made some doll clothes for Sue and Mona. Came back at 2:45 and was glad to get home. She makes me sick. I get so tired of having her complain about Edwin doing this or that to Vernon.

I must remember to point that out to Donna…

Tags: "Dear Medora, Family, Summer in Oysterville
Posted in Community History, Family, Friendship | No Comments »

June Thoughts

Thursday, June 6th, 2013

Medora 1916 The issue of the Chinook Observer just out is one I look forward to every year. It’s the one that shows all the local high school graduation photographs. This year, for the first time, there were none of “my kids” pictured; the first graders of my retirement year graduated last year. (How could that be? What happened to all those Junes since 2001?)

Even so, there are familiar faces – “kids” I’ve known in the community, sons and daughters of friends, young men and women whose Senior Project presentations I judged not so many days ago. Some of these young people are already beginning to take their places in the work force of the community.

Medora in Portland circa 1915 Inexplicably, when I think of past Junes, my thoughts fly swiftly past my son Charlie’s graduation. Nor do I linger upon my own grand exit from high school. Instead, it’s a diary entry written almost a hundred years ago by my Aunt Medora that comes to mind:

June 6, 1915
… Oh I had such a wonderful time last night. Why? Oh can’t you guess? Two dances with Alec and he wanted to take me for a ride during the 5th and 6th dances. I certainly had the most wonderful evening. I am so glad I gave Harry Stevens a bid for the prom or I wouldn’t have gone to this wonderful dance. I can hardly realize that I, an Oystervillian, am considered by the newspapers a subdebutante.

Medora Espy was ‘sweet sixteen’ and a junior at Portland Academy when she wrote these buoyant words. Although she was already giving some thought to her future (perhaps a librarian or a teacher…), the thought of graduation was still a hazy one. And, as it turned out, she didn’t live to see that landmark day arrive.

Still, through that diary entry, Medora’s words seem to forever capture the wonder, the anticipation, the excitement of being on the cusp of adulthood. (Did we all enjoy that time of our lives enough? Do our current graduates even have a glimmer?) Meanwhile… Congratulations, graduates, and may all your Junes be filled with promise and anticipation!

Tags: "Dear Medora, Springtime in Oysterville
Posted in "Dear Medora", Community Spirit, From the Past | 1 Comment »