by MarianBeaman | Jun 8, 2013 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Lists, Mennonite Lore, Romance, Uncategorized
The year 1967 was historic: It was the year of the world’s first heart transplant. There were race riots in Detroit. Polaroid cameras were all the rage as was Twiggy. The average annual income was $ 7300.00 while a house cost about twice that much. Gas was a mere 33...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 5, 2013 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
The dusty, brown Pennsylvania Railroad train clatters along the tracks behind the woods as we approach Grandma’s house. Mame Goss, Grandma’s cousin, sits close to the bay window with a bag of hats. I notice her merry eyes and smile lines, but Mother comments on her...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 1, 2013 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Our family has fertile, Lancaster County land in lots and parcels, scattered hither and yon: behind our house there is a small garden of beans, sugar peas, and cucumbers, embroidered with roses and peonies. Then there is a field of four acres in Rheems which Daddy...
by MarianBeaman | May 29, 2013 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Tomato Girl, Part I Lancaster County, early June 1953 – and I’m in the tomato patch with Mother and Daddy. Actually, it’s not a tomato patch, it’s over 9 acres of farm land not far from Elizabethtown in Bainbridge where we are about to plant a new tomato crop. Years...
by MarianBeaman | May 25, 2013 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Lists, Tips, Uncategorized
For years I have kept a ratty ole pin cushion from Grandma Longenecker in my sewing cabinet. It looks pitiful, but I’ll never throw it away because it came from my Grandma. Pierced through its dusty middle with some of her pins and holding one of my...
by MarianBeaman | May 22, 2013 | Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
I’ve told my students if they ever see me in a bank behind the teller’s window—RUN! Math has never been my strong suit, but I can spell well. In fourth grade, I always win the spelling bees on Friday. In fact, my winning is so predictable that my friend Wayne tells me...
