So lovely to hear this! I often think how in North America because we don't look after extended family like Europeans do (we put them in nursing homes), that we lose the stories. Stories literally die with somebody unless they are told, and if they keep being told, they have a biology and life all their own. I recently read that in Norway at the libraries, you can book an hour with a random old person and sit and hear their story, it made my eyes well up and I just about burst into tears at the shear joy it made my body feel. I did an elective course at York University three years ago called "The Biology of Story", the professor was a screenwriter. It was my most fave class to date. Every week we had to watch clips from indigenous storytellers, psychologists, authors, screenwriters, poets, etc.
Yes! I’m very thankful my parents instilled in me to appreciate my grandparents - sadly they have all passed now. My Pop had the greatest stories. As I got older I would ask him to ‘tell the one about xyz’ and press record on my phone. We then played one at his funeral which was super spesh. Now as a mum and my Dad having his first grandchild, I can see so much of my Pop in him 😊 Thanks for this conversation Peta xx
This piece was so beautiful, it made me teary. I have memories at Cully’s with my Nonna who’s passed away. I also use to sit at the dining table with her and ask all about her life. Memories I’ll never forget 🤍 Thank you for sharing your words.
What a gorgeous piece Peta. I just turned 69(!) and treasure all the old stories as well. I’ve always loved listening to tales of years gone by. I loved literally sitting at the feet of my late Belgian MIL. She shared tales of riding in carriages over the cobblestone streets, and detailed stories of costume parties in old aristocratic castles in the countryside and the city. The dances in the castles came to life through her memories. My own grandparents escaped from the Czar in occupied Russia in the very early 1900’s. I still hold dear the stories of my Nana and Papa as I lay in their bed -a very little girl myself - on a Sunday morning asking my Nana to recount how her mom put pieces of gold into her hair and braided them up, then hid all 9 or 12 (can’t remember) of her siblings under the hay in the horse drawn cart as they rode out of the village just outside of Odessa. These stories, long gone with the lives that lived them, remain in my heart for ever and ever. Yet, they are also lost forever as new stories, new times, and new ways have emerged. So many don’t hold the love and respect for the elderly and old ways as you do. It’s so beautiful to know you’re teaching this appreciation to our next generation. For it is all these memories, all this tenderness and the respect for the simple ingredients we hold on to that create these most precious threads of Life. Thank you for such gorgeous writing. My heart feels happy every time my inbox receives a little bit of Lovely Life from you. Blessed Be❤️
Oh how I loved reading this so much. So true. We need to treasure the older generations and bridge the gap between our children and us and their wisdom. It’s so special having a cup of tea with them and soaking up all they have to share. 💗 God Bless x
I’ve always loved your writing and thank you for sharing. My work (on the road Sales) gives me the opportunity to go into many homes every week. The elderly are my favourite! ( not so much for the income stream as i spend far too long with them 😊) I generally start with commenting on photos or furniture that are on display and usually the stories follow. I love the stories of their heritage and connections and needless to say some elderly are lucky enough to be retired comfortably and others not so much. They seem to confide in me stories that they probably shouldn’t but i guess they know their stories are safe with a stranger. 😂 Attitude is everything and with my 97 year old MIL going strong the common factor I see with the thriving elderly is they respect themselves first, their attire, their personal hygiene and their surroundings and social / family life. But don’t be fooled by the friendly Italian’s! my 90 year old Mum can still pour out a few derogatory comments and then be as sweet as honey to a complete stranger. 😂🤦🏽♀️ Love your work Peta 🙏🏼
How beautiful! Older people are so grounding for me, there’s not an ounce of pretence, love the cheeky remarks and innuendos, especially after all they’ve inevitable been through, when they can still be cheeky they have my heart!
Whenever I’m with my littles Mr 5, Miss 3 & now the tiny Miss Lady-Baby ... I tell them stories of growing up in Kalamunda as a free range 70’s & 80’s kid ... tell them about my beloved gran Meg ... and teach them all her recipes the ones with four ingredients “proper butter” and then flavouring - lemon, orange, cocoa, raspberry, coconut ... teaching them to cook real honest food is the highlight of every stay ... I’m working on being an elder worthy of stories to tell & pass on ... the older I get the more I cherish my own Mum ... I miss my Dad ( who died last year ) fiercely ... the stories of my grandparents & parents make me feel so humble and grateful all at once ...
I INjoyed thIS read so much. So HeART-warmINg and Wholesome. I consider / call it generational WELLthcare to connect with the Elders IN One’s CommUNITY. While many cultures celebrate the agINg process and venerate their Elders, IN more Westernized cultures and contexts, wHere youth IS fetishized, Elders are commonly removed from the CommUNITY and relegated to hospitals and nursINg Homes. They are often discarded like they are no longer of worth or of value (which IS INborn). IN more traditional, Organic and collectivist cultures and contexts discardINg an Elder IN thIS Way would BE considered an act of disrespect. To care for those who once cared for us IS One of the Highest Honours. Elders have rich story’s that are meant to enrich the Soil of generations downstream. WE ARE THAT BRIDGE. AMEN. God Bless you!
This entire post and every single comment is my life’s work and why. I just had such a beautiful time reading ❤️ it was a pure permission slip for me to keep going, capturing the wisdom of our elders, one story at a time. Thank you Peta 🥹❤️
So lovely to hear this! I often think how in North America because we don't look after extended family like Europeans do (we put them in nursing homes), that we lose the stories. Stories literally die with somebody unless they are told, and if they keep being told, they have a biology and life all their own. I recently read that in Norway at the libraries, you can book an hour with a random old person and sit and hear their story, it made my eyes well up and I just about burst into tears at the shear joy it made my body feel. I did an elective course at York University three years ago called "The Biology of Story", the professor was a screenwriter. It was my most fave class to date. Every week we had to watch clips from indigenous storytellers, psychologists, authors, screenwriters, poets, etc.
Europe is so different in this way. Oh That sounds like an epic course!!!
Yes! I’m very thankful my parents instilled in me to appreciate my grandparents - sadly they have all passed now. My Pop had the greatest stories. As I got older I would ask him to ‘tell the one about xyz’ and press record on my phone. We then played one at his funeral which was super spesh. Now as a mum and my Dad having his first grandchild, I can see so much of my Pop in him 😊 Thanks for this conversation Peta xx
The best xx
This piece was so beautiful, it made me teary. I have memories at Cully’s with my Nonna who’s passed away. I also use to sit at the dining table with her and ask all about her life. Memories I’ll never forget 🤍 Thank you for sharing your words.
Aw ! How good are the mince pies there xx
Loved this read so much especially the richness of the stories the elderly share
Loved reading this so much.
What a gorgeous piece Peta. I just turned 69(!) and treasure all the old stories as well. I’ve always loved listening to tales of years gone by. I loved literally sitting at the feet of my late Belgian MIL. She shared tales of riding in carriages over the cobblestone streets, and detailed stories of costume parties in old aristocratic castles in the countryside and the city. The dances in the castles came to life through her memories. My own grandparents escaped from the Czar in occupied Russia in the very early 1900’s. I still hold dear the stories of my Nana and Papa as I lay in their bed -a very little girl myself - on a Sunday morning asking my Nana to recount how her mom put pieces of gold into her hair and braided them up, then hid all 9 or 12 (can’t remember) of her siblings under the hay in the horse drawn cart as they rode out of the village just outside of Odessa. These stories, long gone with the lives that lived them, remain in my heart for ever and ever. Yet, they are also lost forever as new stories, new times, and new ways have emerged. So many don’t hold the love and respect for the elderly and old ways as you do. It’s so beautiful to know you’re teaching this appreciation to our next generation. For it is all these memories, all this tenderness and the respect for the simple ingredients we hold on to that create these most precious threads of Life. Thank you for such gorgeous writing. My heart feels happy every time my inbox receives a little bit of Lovely Life from you. Blessed Be❤️
Oh how I loved reading this so much. So true. We need to treasure the older generations and bridge the gap between our children and us and their wisdom. It’s so special having a cup of tea with them and soaking up all they have to share. 💗 God Bless x
I’ve always loved your writing and thank you for sharing. My work (on the road Sales) gives me the opportunity to go into many homes every week. The elderly are my favourite! ( not so much for the income stream as i spend far too long with them 😊) I generally start with commenting on photos or furniture that are on display and usually the stories follow. I love the stories of their heritage and connections and needless to say some elderly are lucky enough to be retired comfortably and others not so much. They seem to confide in me stories that they probably shouldn’t but i guess they know their stories are safe with a stranger. 😂 Attitude is everything and with my 97 year old MIL going strong the common factor I see with the thriving elderly is they respect themselves first, their attire, their personal hygiene and their surroundings and social / family life. But don’t be fooled by the friendly Italian’s! my 90 year old Mum can still pour out a few derogatory comments and then be as sweet as honey to a complete stranger. 😂🤦🏽♀️ Love your work Peta 🙏🏼
How beautiful! Older people are so grounding for me, there’s not an ounce of pretence, love the cheeky remarks and innuendos, especially after all they’ve inevitable been through, when they can still be cheeky they have my heart!
Whenever I’m with my littles Mr 5, Miss 3 & now the tiny Miss Lady-Baby ... I tell them stories of growing up in Kalamunda as a free range 70’s & 80’s kid ... tell them about my beloved gran Meg ... and teach them all her recipes the ones with four ingredients “proper butter” and then flavouring - lemon, orange, cocoa, raspberry, coconut ... teaching them to cook real honest food is the highlight of every stay ... I’m working on being an elder worthy of stories to tell & pass on ... the older I get the more I cherish my own Mum ... I miss my Dad ( who died last year ) fiercely ... the stories of my grandparents & parents make me feel so humble and grateful all at once ...
I INjoyed thIS read so much. So HeART-warmINg and Wholesome. I consider / call it generational WELLthcare to connect with the Elders IN One’s CommUNITY. While many cultures celebrate the agINg process and venerate their Elders, IN more Westernized cultures and contexts, wHere youth IS fetishized, Elders are commonly removed from the CommUNITY and relegated to hospitals and nursINg Homes. They are often discarded like they are no longer of worth or of value (which IS INborn). IN more traditional, Organic and collectivist cultures and contexts discardINg an Elder IN thIS Way would BE considered an act of disrespect. To care for those who once cared for us IS One of the Highest Honours. Elders have rich story’s that are meant to enrich the Soil of generations downstream. WE ARE THAT BRIDGE. AMEN. God Bless you!
What a beautiful reminder to treasure our elderly and try to get their stories! Thank you!
This entire post and every single comment is my life’s work and why. I just had such a beautiful time reading ❤️ it was a pure permission slip for me to keep going, capturing the wisdom of our elders, one story at a time. Thank you Peta 🥹❤️
Love your rambles, keep on rambling xx