Posts Tagged ‘the writing process’

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The Hardest Part…

Thursday, September 28th, 2023

Bethenia Owens-Adair — Teacher or Doctor?

I really am having so much fun researching these “Saints or Sinners” stories!  And, every once in a while, a reader tells me how much they are enjoying them and that makes it even better.  And then just today, when I called Pete Heckes with a question about the name of the slough near the Moby Dick — it’s “Paul’s Slough” — he straightened me out on few errors in my story about Peter Jordan — you know, the guy who was so badly hurt when he and a buddy overloaded the cannon they had in Oysterville in the olden days.  Blew it to smithereens. And very nearly themselves along with it.

Well, we got to talking, and when all was said and done, I never used the Paul’s Slough information as I intended and I turned in my story without it.  Oh well.  If I ever find a publisher for these gems, I hope I remember to fine tune a few things!

But finding the details of the stories isn’t the hardest part.  It’s finding the illustrations — preferably photographs of the characters I’m writing about.  When you get back to stories before 1900, it gets harder.  Today, I was looking for a picture of a man who died in 1877.  “Fat chance!” thought I!  After all, he’d come west in the 1830s and just how many photographers do you think might have been doing studio portraits around here over the next 40 years?

John Edmunds or John Pickernell?

However — wonder of wonders! — I found one!  Or at least it purports to be the very man I was looking for — on the Find a Grave site which, besides photographs, contains a storehouse of wonderful information.  Is it all true?  I think as true as any information that comes to us over the years.  The people I’ve met who gather information for Find a Grave seem diligent to a fault.

And while I’m at it, if you are a “Saints or Sinners” reader and have additional information for me, don’t be shy.  If I use the information and find that publisher, I promise I’ll give you full credit!

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Posted in Community History, The Writing Process | No Comments »

Sometimes it’s hard to choose…

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

To read?  Or to write?  To have a day — or even better two days in a row — to do one or the other is my idea of heaven, especially if I have the leisure to spend just enjoying myself.  No deadlines.  No necessary research.  No over-riding “reason” to do one or the other.

Today I chose to write.  There will be deadlines involved soon, but I have ten days or so to blather on, delete, explore new avenues, and let my thoughts take me where they will.  Luxury to the max!  So… I spent time on two totally disparate themes.  One was “cops and robbers” and the other was “unexpected public music.”  Both (or neither) may turn into columns for the paper.

I had fun with both of them but one is too long and the other… perhaps too bland.  I’m not sure.  So, I’ve put them both on the back burner for now, am going to treat myself to my favorite all-time pasta dish — Sandy Stonebreaker’s chicken tetrazzini accompanied by sautéed snap peas with a lemon zest garni.  And then… I’ll read a Donna Leon book on my Kindle —  Give Unto Others, the 31st in her Guido Brunetti series that came out last year.  Somehow I missed it.

Dobby, Sydney, Tucker

And one more bit of perfection on this day — Tucker and I went over to  Dobby Wiegardt’s so we could have our pictures taken together!  Tucker took a selfie of the three of us.  Great picture except I look like I’m standing in a hole.  A deep one!  However, I think it will serve its purpose.  I’ll let you be the judge when you see it its proper context in the paper next week!

 

 

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A Most Hopeless, Most Interesting Task!

Monday, September 18th, 2023

Ruth Dixon

I’m trying to clean out, consolidate and, in general, make sense of my files.  However, I’ve  all but given up after just two days.  The problem is, I saved these “gems” because they are just that and I’m just not ruthless enough to pitch and toss.  Just now, for instance I ran across a note from historian and journalist Ruth Dixon (1906- 2001) to my Uncle Willard, probably written to him when he was collecting information for his book, Oysterville, Roads to Grandpa’s Village.

Copied from the diary of Patterson Fletcher Luark, a pioneer of the vicinity of Westport:

Wednesday, Feb. 11,1863:
Went to lighthouse with team.  Found 7 or 8 men here from Bruceport pretending (?) to hunt for the body of Captain Wells; he and a stranger from Oregon in crossing from Bruceport on the 15th instant were both lost off Tokes Point.

From James A Gibbs Pacific Graveyard: Willapa Bay Light Station shows two lights. The shorter tower, proving too low and threatened by erosion, a higher tower was bult at right.

Friday, April 3, 1863:
The bodies of Capt. Wells and Cline, lost on the 15th of February off Tokes Point were found yesterday and today.
(Mr. Luark refers to giving Mrs. Wells a ride to his house for a visit, or returning her home.  They seemed to be very good friends.)

This is just a few of the tidbits I have, but not knowing just what you lack, and what you have, this will give you some idea.

Our history is so lacy — full of holes, it is a great feeling to be able to smooth it out a bit.

Thank] you for writing.

And, yes, please do send me a copy of Isaac’s letter.  [Isaac Clark, ss ]  Quite a few members of the family (mostly Wilsons) are collecting data, and I enjoy helping, and sharing.

The information about the July 4, 1872 boat race will be so welcome.

Signed [Ruth Dixon]

 

 

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“Full Disclosure” …as they say.

Sunday, August 27th, 2023

After dinner last night, I put my feet up “for just a minute” fully intending to write my blog before bedtime.  End of story, almost.  I did surface long enough to turn off the lights (most of them) and go to bed, never giving a single thought to the blog title I had written earlier in the day.  It was a great title (I thought) and would immediately trigger whatever pearls of wisdom I had decided to share with my stalwart readers.

This morning, when I finally got back to my computer, there were those provocative words, “Full Disclosure.”  Unfortunately they didn’t provoke a single thought.  Damn!  But that’s the way it is these days now that I’m on the shady side of 87!  I don’t like to think that “I am losing it.”  Rather, I look at these little memory lapses as flashes of brilliance that were so amazing, they burned themselves out before I could fully grasp them.

And, if truth were told, I think I’ve always had those momentary blank spots — probably we all have them.  The difference now is undoubtedly one of frequency and duration.  Or maybe it’s that I’m now overly fond of some of my brilliant thoughts and losing the ability to share them is more annoying than it used to be.  Who knows?

I remember saying to Nyel (back in plummier days) when he was trying to remember something “important” to tell me just before bedtime — “If you think of it, don’t wake me up.  Tell me in the morning…”  I can’t remember now whether he did or didn’t.  I guess whatever it was, wasn’t all that crucial.  A lot like whatever I was going to “fully disclose.”

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Posted in The Writing Process, Up Close and Personal | 1 Comment »

Gobsmacked doesn’t quite express it!

Wednesday, April 12th, 2023

Flintlock Pistol typical of available ordnance in 1789 when the 2nd amendment was written – capable of holding one shot at a time.

That Cate is taking a much-deserved break from her “Coast Chronicles” column in the Observer did not come as a total surprise today.  After writing every single week for fifteen (!) years, it seems that a little down time is more than her due, and even though I miss reading the local news that often doesn’t make the paper in other ways, I was fine with her absence.

What I was NOT fine with — in fact it took me three (count ’em 1-2-3) tries to read the article by Sen. Jeff Wilson — was the mish-mash published in Cate’s usual “spot.”   First I was stopped dead in my tracks (you might say) by the illustrations of the AR-15-style rifles that dominated the top of Page A-5.  I felt personally assaulted and insulted by the images.  Why does my hometown paper need to show these as if promoting them?  Plus I have NO (read: zero, zip, nada) idea what the caption was about — receiver extension? rear takedown pin? buttstock? — and could care even less.

After those two dead stops, I finally gave my attention to Senator Jeff Wilson’s words.  At first reading, I was simply confused.  Several more tries and I realized that the man is arguing against himself.  On the one hand he says that we have seen a “breakdown of our social order” and cites “homelessness,” “weakened abilities of law enforcement agencies” and the erasure of “our drug laws from the books.”

Yep.  I agree.  Society has changed.  But THEN he wants to go back to the letter of the law of our 2nd amendment and… what?  Apply that to a totally different society?  And that will fix everything?  I don’t know about you, but I cannot wrap my head around that concept.

Muskets, like flintlock pistols, were the typical firearms when the 2nd amendment was written. They, also, could hold a single round at a time, and a skilled shooter could hope to get off three or possibly four rounds in a minute of firing.

Or… maybe I can IF we swap out every current-day gun with a weapon manufactured before 1789 when the 2nd amendment was written.  Then maybe we’d have a more even playing field in this “changed” society of ours.

Egad, Cate!  I’m sure you can use a break after all these years, but for Heaven’s sake don’t make it too long.  My old brain can’t take much more boggling like today’s!

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Posted in Chinook Observer, From the Past, Rants and Raves | 1 Comment »

Now you see it… Or hear it… And finally…

Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Willard Espy, Raconteur Extraordinaire

So after all my F’n’B (Fuss and Bother) about the Shoalwater Bay Yacht Club Sign at the Taylor Hotel building in Ocean Park… it has totally disappeared.  Gone!  I did a drive-by today to check it out and … not a trace.  But their website is still up and running, so stay tuned…

I wondered why no one else was commenting but I guess between no sign and my writing about it on April Fool’s Day, there must have been a bit of confusion and consternation.  I imagine it will all come clear eventually.

In happier news, at least for me, I am beginning to get weigh-ins regarding my “Saints or Sinner” stories in the paper.  Two people — both from Oregon! —  have been in touch with me.  One, a former Ocean Park resident with a great story (and an artifact!) about someone now buried in the Ocean Park Cemetery. and the other a “musician/bard” who is interested in talking about a collaboration — my stories put to his music, perhaps?

It’s early days yet as to follow-ups on either idea, but I love it that people are taking notice and getting in touch with me.  And in a positive way!  Whether or not their ideas will fit into my scheme of things seems immaterial at this point.  What pleases me is that there are other folks out there who see the point of conveying our history through story-telling of one kind or another!

Which brings to mind Mary Garvey and Andrew Emlen and all the other local musicians who are keeping our history alive through song.  In fact, folk music might be one of the best ways of all to document our everyday events and to insure that some of the important ones, anyway, will live on.

Larry Murante, Documenter in Song

Along those lines… I wonder how many people “out there” know about the Reverend Josiah Crouch and his family who lived in this very house more than a hundred years ago — and all through Larry Murante’s song, “Mrs. Crouch.”  (Google Larry Murante and Mrs. Crouch if you haven’t heard it…)

 

 

 

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Posted in Community History, Mrs. Crouch, Springtime in Oysterville | 1 Comment »

Kuzzin Kris and Cuzzin Ralph Weigh In

Monday, April 3rd, 2023

The Red House in Oysterville where Kris spent many a happy summer!

Why was I not surprised?  Interestingly (but not at all surprisingly), the only folks to weigh in on Saturday’s Daybook entry concerning the Shoalwater Bay Yacht Club were Kuzzin Kris and Cuzzin Ralph. Perhaps they, both being connected to the history of Oysterville through kinship and historical caring, are the only ones who really “got” my concerns.

Kris, bless her heart, expressed outrage: The Very Idea! Sheesh. I am so disappointed in the establishment that hacked together this slur on the original Oysterville Yacht Club! And she went on to suggest that the local paper publish something about this heresy and then said: other old time peninsulites will agree fully and completely.  As I have often told her, she leads a rich fantasy life!!!

R.H. Espy, Co-founder of Oysterville and brother to Cuzzin Ralph’s ancestor,  William “Kentuck” Espy

Ralph, on the other hand was rather matter-of-fact and forthright as usual:   I just have to put in my two cents even though I’m a complete goddamn outsider to the local politics. This seems to be part of almost “gentrification” of the Long Beach Peninsula area. First there was the exclusive garden club, with outrageous prices for the tours that precluded many of the long established local people.  Now this group of young whippersnapper outsiders trying to horn in on the traditions without giving proper credit to the past.   I think it is just a gimmick to push their restaurant/bakery trade but the sailing part will fall flat on its ass!

I truly do love my relatives!  And I do believe that blood is thicker than water.  And it is also patently clear (to me at least) that the history of the area matters most to those with deep roots here.

Sad.  But true.

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Wow! Really? Karl Marlantes??

Sunday, March 26th, 2023

Karl Marlantes,

If you read Deep River, you know who Karl Marlantes is.  If you didn’t,  stop reading this and get back to it AFTER you’ve read (preferably) Deep River (2019) which is about our area or, perhaps, Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War (2010) which is the recipient of many awards and was on the NYT Best Seller List for 17 weeks.

Today I had the very great pleasure of meeting the author and of actually sharing the Speaker’s Podium with him at the Pacific County Historical Society’s Annual Meeting.  What an honor and pleasure!

Actually… “sharing” probably gives the wrong impression.  The publicity said “Featuring” Karl Marlantes and Sydney Stevens.  And there wasn’t actually a podium.   Just a stool — which was too high for me to hoist my tush onto!   And we didn’t “share” either.  I went first (standing) —  sorta like a warm-up band; Karl went second, sitting comfortably (or so it seemed) and felt like the main attraction, at least to me.

I loved Deep River and felt (unabashedly) like a groupie when I went up and introduced myself to him before the luncheon.  And then, during his talk about his writing process when he referenced several of the points I had made in my own talk earlier… I, of course, fell in love!

Seriously, the whole afternoon was a pleasure!  It was an SRO crowd but, amazingly, I knew a goodly number of the folks there.  I felt that my stories were well received and that they dovetailed well with Mr. Marlantes remarks — never mind that we had never met or conferred.

Next Year….Oysterville Schoolhouse?

“And next year,” says PCHS Prez Steve Rogers, “the  Annual Meeting” will be in Oysterville!”  Stay tuned.

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Snow, Rain, Sun Flurries — it’s March!

Saturday, March 25th, 2023

Well, if the 24th of this month means we’re heading out of it, I hardly think it’s very lamb-like.  I guess with all this climate change biz, you poets had better get busy creating new words to live by.  The old standbys aren’t working any more.

Like many proverbs for the month of March, ” In like a lion, Out like a lamb” can be traced back to Thomas Fuller’s 1732 compendium, Gnomologia; Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British.

Thomas Fuller (1654-1734) was a British physician, preacher and intellectual.  In addition to his compilation of proverbs, he published two medical books and famously said, “Be you never so high, the law is above you.”

I do believe we’ve lost sight of more than the lamb and the lion, Dr. Fuller!  I wonder how you would improve your Gnomologia if you could have a stab at it today?

 

 

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On Being Politically Correct… Or Not

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023

Gathering Oysters In “The Olden Days”

I guess it’s a given these days that historical research is automatically on a collision course with political correctness.  As I see it, though, you can’t have it both ways.  If you are trying for historical accuracy, I don’t see any way to be PC in “reporting” what you find out.  Even though my present project is mostly focussed on re-telling some of the wonderful stories about our past, I’m pretty sure I’ll run up against a sticky wicket or two.

Loggers

And then I wonder if I will get any blowback from those who would sooner erase our history than face up to the facts of how we were — of what we said or of how we behaved.  I don’t really expect that all my readers will enjoy my stories with historical perspective in mind or will rejoice that change is gradually taking place.

I thought about that a lot today as I was writing about “Old Cripple Johnson” — a beloved Oysterville character of my mother’s childhood.  His given name was George and he was crippled and there were extenuating circumstances.  Will modern readers “get” that he was beloved by the entire community and the feeling was reciprocal?

Clamming In The Days When Commercial Diggers Averaged 500 lbs. per tide

Perhaps it will help that I’m telling stories often through the eyes of people who witnessed the experience.  In my mind, using their words (no matter how non-PC they have become) gives us in the here-and-now an opportunity to understand a different point of view — one developed within a context almost completely unexperienced by most of us.

Still… I think about all that as I look for 150-year-old “facts”  to corroborate the stories I am telling or re-telling.  There is no doubt that sensibilities were different in the 1800s than they are today.  Can I honor the past without offending the present?  I hope so.

I love the old stories just as I love these old photographs.  I do so hope my readers will love them, too.  And I hope they’ll give me some feedback along the way.  (You’ll see a story each week in the Observer. So far there have been three.)

 

 

 

 

 

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