Dear Nancy Foshee, I received a special Godincidence today which will be coming your way (AFTER I read it myself, that is... lol). From what Ive read so far of it, it is as though it were written for a heart like yours ;) What Im typing from it below is not only for you -- but for those TEENS and Early 20s too! I want yall to see how though times and cultures have changed in this Country, the male & female interplay really hasnt ;) Well, their thinking about one another, that is...... This is from a 14 yr old girls Diary during the Civil War: Monday, January 18, 1864 ... for the reception that Aunt Caroline was giving in honor of Baby Elizabeths birth. One boy, whose name I cannot quite remember, which is no wonder, boldly introduced himself to me. Like most boys, he seemed to take great pride in misunderstanding everything I said, twisting it this way and that and politely pointing out precisely where my thinking was in error, although I honestly do not recall talking about anything that warranted such attention. There is nothing that troubles me more than people who go out of their way to criticize everything you say, holding each sentence under a magnifying glass and repeating it back to you in a completely unrecognizable fashion. Like most boys, he was more interested in debate than discussion, more concerned with the sound of his own words than what others were saying. He employed what I can only call a kind of false voice when he was about to orate on a particular subject. I do not know what it is about boys that causes them to think this behavior impresses girls but, frankly, it vexes me quite a bit. I endured it for as long as I could -- it seemed as if we had been chatting for an eternity -- finally excusing myself by telling him that I had to attend to a private matter, which, I could see, put him in quite a state. I slowly ferried my way through the gathering, which had, by now, grown quite sizable. I badly needed some air, and I hoped the portico would provide some. Before I arrived at my destination, Aunt Caroline beckoned to me. She introduced me to a handsome young man named Taliaferro Mills. (Note: I looked up the meaning of the name Taliaferro and discovered that it means flourishing man of valor.) He was, as I said, quite handsome, but even more compelling was the sense I felt that Tally -- as he requested I call him -- was different from other boys. We immediately and effortlessly engaged in a discussion about a variety of subjects: books, education, religion, politics, slavery, and the war. One thing I liked about Tally right off is that he was not ashamed, as are most boys, to admit how much he enjoyed reading. Tally appeared eager to hear my opinions, which I considered quite flattering. It is not that I consider myself brilliant, but I know that my views are just as profound as the ones boys put forth as if they are in private possession of the wisdom of the ages. More than anyone else I ever met, Tally seemed to challenge me with his seriousness. At first I found this quite disarming, causing me to blush, I fear. I also found it, however, quite refreshing... Later that evening, when we finally bid everyone good night, Cousin Rachel and I retired to her room... I learned from her that Tallys parents were tragically killed 2 years ago in a fire while he was away at school. They have joined the ranks of the blessed. Perhaps this accounts for his serious manner. She chided me for flirting with him, pointing out that I had hardly spent a minute with anyone else during the entire evening. I replied that I simply preferred, having found someone to my liking, to spend time with him, rather than have one silly conversation after another. Cousin Rachel said that she herself preferred having one silly conversation after another -- which caused us both to laugh... ~~~ This is my way of thanking you, Mrs. Foshee, for READING from your book to us at your first Book Signing at the College -- by returning the favor ;) I pray you are interested in this book, because it will soon be yours to keep. Doing this -- and remembering you reading to us in the Quiet Lounge that night -- has just brought back a very special memory to my mind. One of my most favorite teachers, along with the one you had me write about in Education Class in the Spring, was a pregnant woman by the name of Mrs. Burkett. I cannot recall anything else offhand that she taught me -- but I do remember being in her 4th grade class in Mobile, Alabama because at the end of every class, she would read from a mystery book series I have never been able to find since. I LOVED those books! They were The Holly Family books...... but being I was that young and now I am this old, I dont recall anything but the name of the family. Have you heard of them? -- so maybe I can read them again??? Luv u, Sher
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 02:35:49 +0000
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