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A Joyful Noise

nancy Drew

#TBT A portrait of my Great Aunt Eleanor, drawn from memorabilia

May 7, 2015 by Melodye Shore

I know very little about my Great Aunt Eleanor, but these artifacts sure paint an interesting portrait!

Eleanor (“Nelly”) was born in Nottingham, England in 1887. She–along with many of my maternal grandmother’s family members–emigrated to West Brookfield, Massachusetts in 1916.  Years later, Nana told us stories later about the WWI German submarines that chased their ship across the ocean, but at the time of their passage, the United States hadn’t yet entered “The War to End All Wars.”

People described Nelly as “high-spirited” and “adventuresome.” She and her husband, Allen T. Godfrey, were nothing if not enterprising. That’s what I heard tell.

When I steered my Nancy Drew roadster down bumpy roads, I found evidence of that.

GoldenRuleLunchroom

GoldenRuleLunchroom_abt1927_ReedNewOwner

The Golden Rule Lunchroom, about 1927 (via West Brookfield, MA Archives)

Whoa, Nelly!

She died the year before I was born, which makes me wistful in this remembering. I think we might’ve shared some things in common. And oh, the family secrets we could spill, over afternoon tea!

Allen and Nelly Godfrey_Sept1946

Allen and Nelly Godfrey, 1946

Although she fashioned herself a writer, Nelly didn’t leave to future generations any poems, journals or books. She did, however, enter lots of contests, many of which she won. “Duz Does It All” was my great aunt’s award-winning slogan for a laundry detergent company.

war-time-cleaning-duz

Wartime was hard for everyone, with more than enough hardship to go around. Gasoline and groceries were rationed, and money was scarce. Few people owned automobiles in the small town where she lived. But there were whispers down the lane about a certain relative who very much enjoyed rumbling through the streets of West Brookfield,  honking and waving to pedestrians from the driver’s seat of a shiny new Ford. It wasn’t common, back then, for women to slide behind the wheel. But Nelly being who she was, I suspect she felt entitled, being the Grand Prize Winner and all.

I’m picturing all this in my mind’s eye this morning, and oh, what a happy portrait it paints!

1947 Ford Ad-04-2

1947 Ford, via OldCarAdvertising.com

Posted in: CAN I GET A WITNESS, family, genealogy, memoir, nancy Drew, Throwback Thursday Tagged: Du Does everything, family archives, nancy drew, throwback thursday, west brookfield massachusetts

#TBT City of Refuge, woman of courage

March 12, 2015 by Melodye Shore

Eveline and May Eden City at harvest Shown here, my sweet Nana, harvesting corn in hardscrabble soil for the Pentecostal preacher who convinced members of his congregation to sell all their earthly possessions and follow him to a “City of Refuge” in the high desert. She was 50 years old, or close to it. Even so, she slept in a tent with my pre-teen mother, winter and summer; endured harsh conditions that shape-shifted with each passing season. But if you look closely, you’ll see my maternal grandmother’s personality, writ large. True to form, her shoulders are squared and she’s bearing her burdens with a smile.

I visited the City of Refuge during one of my “Nancy Drew” adventures. This and other discoveries–and the ways in which they intersect with my own story– are included in my memoir, CAN I GET A WITNESS?

Posted in: CAN I GET A WITNESS, family, memoir, nancy Drew Tagged: can i get a witness, city of refuge, family, memoir, nana, nancy drew, throwback thursday

The Impact of Truth on Story

August 9, 2010 by Melodye Shore

Random thoughts on a Monday, or Two Examples of How Writing Truth Can Sometimes Prove More Challenging Than Fiction:

1) I’m working on an essay about bullying for a YA anthology. Maybe some of you are, as well? Even if my work isn’t selected for inclusion in the publication, it’s a dark story I kept secret for a very long time–one that makes me feel lighter for its retelling.

When I read the first segment of my story to a friend, she said “Wow,” which made me exceedingly glad. Who among us doesn’t want to tug on our readers’ emotional cord? Assuming you’re going about it honestly, that is. But when she asked, quite innocently, “Did that really happen,” well. My heart plummeted. In truth, I felt anguished by that question. At least initially. I realize that some situations are too horrible to even imagine, and to even contemplate the fact that some human beings are capable of such cruelty…well, it’s almost incomprehensible, isn’t it? And yet, there is a dark underbelly to human nature — ours and others’ — and powerful stories often reside in the intersection of those shadows.

2) I’ve uncovered another situation in which truth is stranger (and arguably less believable) than fiction. Turns out, the scandal I mentioned in this post received national attention at the time of its initial unfolding. This is important for at least two reasons: 1) I’ve got documentation that the rumors were true; and 2) I need to dig through the legal archives, to follow that part of my family story to its ultimate conclusion. Or beginning, depending on how you look at things.

So…I’m fueling my roadster for a trip to El Lay this week. And I’m girding my loins, because no matter how gratifying it is to solve these Nancy Drew mysteries, there’s usually an element of sadness and surprise. Also, I’m not one who likes to dwell in shadows, and yet here I am, delving into darkness once again. I’m not afraid, mind you, as I know the Light is with and within me, guiding me forward and protecting me always. Still, if it’s not to much to ask, I’d appreciate your keeping me in your thoughts.

P.S. Imagine that one of your main characters is named Eva, and that her preacher-husband calls her Eve. Now place her — and the beginnings of their relationship — in a city of refuge called Eden City. Do you suppose some editors might suggest you scale back the irony, so as to make the story more believable? It’s certainly possible. And yet…it’s the truth. Yet another reason I’m taking such care in documenting every possible element of my memoir.

Posted in: CAN I GET A WITNESS, family, memoir, nancy Drew Tagged: can i get a witness, city of refuge, eden city, memoir, nana, nancy drew

Reframing and Window Frames

May 26, 2010 by Melodye Shore

There were rumors of a religious enclave in the high desert–a “city of refuge” built to protect its residents from the invading “army from the North.” Goliath with an A-bomb. It would also serve as a spiritual sanctuary for Gospel-abiding followers of Christ. Or so their preacher said.

I knew nothing of this place until about three weeks ago. Suddenly a relative (and a former resident of this religious enclave) spoke openly of it. He was willing to share pictures and personal anecdotes, but at the last minute, that opportunity was snatched away by someone who wanted control over the story–my story.

Undeterred, I climbed into my Nancy Drew roadster and headed to the hinterlands, with a trusted friend riding shotgun. A week later, I’m still trying to absorb the full significance of my/our discoveries.

If you twist the lens just right– and tune your ears just so–you might be made to believe you’re entering the Garden of Eden.

But on the other side of the stucco archway, beyond the stone fences…truth becomes evident. The hardscrabble earth is almost barren, pockmarked by chapparal and the occasional cactus. And along a thin stream of water, sparse outcroppings of sycamore and cottonwood trees. (By adjusting the lens again, I still managed to find beauty.)

The remains of a one-time “bomb shelter” is tucked into a distant hillside. There’s room inside for people, plus food, water, and other supplies.

This next photograph speaks to the residents’ Grapes of Wrath-like existence. My mother is clinging to the rusted farm truck, and the petite woman in the dark-colored dress? That’s my beloved Nana, tending a field of corn. Corn!! Smack-dab in the middle of the hard-packed, sun-baked desert! Miracle or hard labor? You decide.

Through a glass darkly…So many questions came to mind as we passed through the hollowed-out remains of my relatives’ hopes and dreams.

Strewn across the desert floor, we saw the bleached architectural bones of a livestock pen. The current owner of the property, so generous with his time, offered me the window frame in the center of this photograph.

Someone else might have passed it by without so much as a sidelong glance. Justifiably so. It’s rough-hewn and unremarkable–about 2 feet by 3 feet of paint-chipped lumber, held together with rusted nails. But it’s borne witness to my family’s secrets, so I think it’s beautiful.

So…How can I repurpose this window frame for my own home, in a way that enhances its beauty and honors its significance? I’d love to hear your creative ideas!

P.S. You know that saying, “You can’t push the river”? It applies so much to this situation. At times, I’ve fretted about being a turtle-slow writer. But in truth, my memoir wouldn’t have been complete without this fresh discovery.

Posted in: CAN I GET A WITNESS, memoir, nancy Drew Tagged: city of refuge, eden city, memoir, window frame

There and back again

May 19, 2010 by Melodye Shore

Here’s a picture of my Nancy Drew roadster, parked yesterday in the middle of “The Promised Land.”

Each aspect of this story, a stretch of the imagination. Every claim, now proven, more outlandish than I expected.

To be fair, we found beauty in this hardscrabble environment, and we were greeted by fascinating people with generous hearts. But on the whole, the area felt desolate and inhospitable–not at all an oasis. In no way could I ever picture this as a sanctuary of any kind.

Please forgive me if I don’t comment on your blog entries today…I’m still processing yesterday’s discoveries. But if you wanna see something really cool (no exaggeration!), check out the LiveCam images of Mama Phoebe’s adorable new hatchlings! ♥♥♥

Posted in: CAN I GET A WITNESS, eden city, memoir, nancy Drew Tagged: city of refuge, eden city, nancy drew, promised land, roadster

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