Winter

Winter

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Amelia Earhart.

Today in the news was a story about Amelia Earhart. I started thinking about that, so of course, I had to tell you a story.
When I was in fifth grade, I had dreams of being a writer. Heck, my whole life I have dreamed of being a writer. We were going to have to do a report on someone famous. You got extra points if you knew that person. I went home and asked my Mom if she knew anyone famous. She didn't. Then I asked if we had anyone famous in our family that she knew of, she thought for a moment and then said, " Nope, sorry, no one famous that she could think of."
Then as she thought a minute she said, " Your Aunt Kay was related to Amelia Earhart." In Fifth grade I had no idea who that was, and my Mom who wouldn't spell words for you if you couldn't spell it made you look it up in the dictionary. She also told me I had to go look in the Encyclopedia to find out just who Amelia Earhart was and why she was famous.

I came back into the kitchen so excited because of it and it really did make me wonder about where she went and was she still alive. She told me to call my aunt. I got out my note book and my pencil and called my aunt on the phone. She told me that she didn't know much about her but her grandmother was her cousin and I needed to ask her.
I got off the phone and told my Mom and my Mom always eager for me to get out of my shy ways took matters in her own hands and called my Aunt's Mom. She set up a meeting for me to go out there and speak to my Aunt's Grandmother. For the life of me I can't remember her name, because the few times I had met her she was just Grandmother.

The Dixon's lived what I thought was a long way from us. In a very different part of town. Not really town, a small farming community. My Aunt's Grandmother lived in a tiny stone house. I always thought it looked like fairy's or gnomes might live there. We went inside and she was in bed. She was older than even my great grandmother. She was a tiny little lady, not much bigger than me.
I pulled up a chair and sat down beside her and like a  reporter I had seen on T.V. I got ready to ask her questions. I asked her how was she related to Amelia Earhart, and she told me that they were cousins and that she always made her mad. Her little dark eyes just flashed when she said that. It was the first time I realized that older people, were the same as me in the inside.
She said, " Yes, she was always watching those airplanes and she never did her work. We always had to do it for her. She just hung around those people that flew those airplanes. I always knew she would come to no good." She talked about what they did as children and how they lived and how mad her grandmother would be at Amelia. Then she talked about moving to California and then that was it, she was tired and started drifting to sleep.

I got up and took my notes and went home and gathered what information I could and wrote my report. The teacher called me up to his desk after he read my report and questioned me about it. I don't know if he believed me but he sure asked me lots of questions. So today as I was reading that newspaper article I was thinking about that one and only interview I ever did. I am glad I sat there in that stone house and collected memories. Sometimes we forget that famous people have families and even though history likes to change things the people were really just people after all.
It was on my mind today. I just thought I would share that tiny bit of history. History that passes on into time.

~Kim~

12 comments:

Nellie said...

This is a wonderful story, Kim!

Thank you so much for following along with my little blog. I am recovering. It is the house that needs so much attention! My husband has been tremendous help. He was able to think back through the years and resurrect his cake-baking "gift." When we catered, he learned to read/follow recipes for cakes, and he baked both the wedding cake and the groom's cake. I did the frosting, trimming, etc.

TexWisGirl said...

that was really neat - a peek inside someone's 'normal' family life - and distractions. :)

Nancy said...

Kim, that was a very interesting post today...I loved reading about your report and the story about Amelia Earhart....

Your pictures today are just awesome.....

Kim said...

Wow, that would have been such an interesting conversation. I've always been kind of fascinated by Amelia's story.
P.S. Happy Spring Friend!

annie said...

Your photos are wonderful.

You are a writer. You told that very eloquently. I was enthralled.

Kessie said...

I'm glad you write this down. I've tried to tell this story to other people and I couldn't remember it. What was the story about her in the news? Did they find her airplane?

Jacque. said...

Thank you for sharing another story!

Debbie said...

Good morning! What an interesting post! I can see why this story sticks with you soo vividly. It's was a lot to discover as a kid. That "famous" people lead ordinary lives too. My mom was the same way about spelling words. "Look it up" was always her answer. And of course I can remember mumbling, "If I could spell it, I COULD look it up." Of course the ones I looked up that way I never forgot how to spell, haha. Have a wonderful day Kirm! HUGS

Empty Nester said...

I'm going to have to share this post with DoodleBug. Third graders around here have to do a biography book report where they dress up as the subject and give a talk as the person. DoodleBug chose Amelia Earhart and has loved her ever since! My mother was the same way about spelling words! LOL

I got the seeds and can't wait to plant them! First, I have to get myself out to the garden area and clear it out. I'm going to go ahead and start the seeds inside though. I don't want the birds to eat them before they grow!

dr momi said...

So interesting! And your Mom did good keeping up your curiosity for learning!

Patrice said...

Cool story. What kind of flowers are the pink ones in the 3rd photo?
Hugs-
Patrice

Julia said...

Kim what a lovely story and how nice to have connections with famous people. I'm so glad that your mom made you look up the history of who Amelia Earhart was.

I think that this is the second time that you post about being related to someone famous but I can't remember who.

Sorry, I missed this post in my haste. Hugs JB