Nana was an optimistic "take charge" and capable woman. She believed in herself and her family. As a child, I sat at her table and had tea with milk and sugar in china cups. I soon learned that there were few problems a "nice cup of tea" and a sweet could not solve. Today I still consider decisions over a cup of tea. Nana, like her tea, was authentic and strong. She was not your teabag drawn through water type of person. She used a teapot rinsed in boiling water. A heaping portion of tea was used for each cup. Boiling water was added and it was left to brew in a cosy cover teapot. It was served in china cups. I remember meeting some of Nana's friends at one of her teas. Groups of well dressed ladies socialized in her dining room. One of these occasions stands out in my mind. Grandpa's monkey came up from the cellar and situated himself beyond reach above the window. There was quite a commotion as the uninvited primate invaded the lady's space. Sundays at the Stone Zoo, daytrips to Fields Park, Scottish festivals, visits to Mrs Poole, and family gatherings at the Wood grandparents home are fond childhood memories. Father would pile us into the station wagon and head for Brockton. As we exited the main road, we would see the red shutters of Nana's house. This always prompted a chorus of "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go." Nana loved to take trips. I received postcards of her travels throughout the USA. She continued to write to me when I went to nusing school, and attended my graduation. After I graduated, and found an apartment, She provided me with all sorts of dishes and furniture for my place. A few years later, she stopped writing and I was told she was losing her memory. As I write these paragraphs, I am sipping tea and thinking about my Nana Wood. I am reassured that there are few problems that can not be solved with a "nice cup of tea" and a bit of self reliance. - Joan Wood
Joan, you are such a good writer and your memories are so special!! We need to get you to record these family treasures!! My memories of Nana's house were of lots of family, good food and lots of joy and laughter. I loved to hear Nana talk (lovely accent) and sing. Her voice was beautiful and she often laughed as she talked. She loved and hugged in a big way like my Dad did. I am glad she met my Danielle and fussed over her. She said,"Oh, she is so beautiful like a little doll." Danielle sat on Nana's bed in the nursing home and soaked up all the attention. Donna Wood Pepin
I remember Nana as always cheerful and singing. Whenever we visited Massachusetts when I was a child, she had big bags of dried bread and we would go to the park and feed the birds and ride on the Swan Boats. I still like to feed the birds. Nana was a very creative person too. I still have a wooden cutting board on which she painted a a sad mouse with one shoe and a rabbit consoling it. I remember her love of flowers, both real and plastic, and glitzy jewelry. I remember both she and Grandpa had big cups for their tea, but Nana's was china. She liked the finer things in life. Most of all I remember that she was the personification of love. She always made everything happy, warm and fuzzy. I miss her. I don't remember, what year did she die?
Nana died in 1984 and Uncle Jim died the year after. She lived to be 88 or 89, I don't know the month! To be fair and honest, I must say as much as Nana loved (I was one of the lucky ones) she also disliked as strong. She did not like my mother Marnie. I saw it once as a teenager and realized my mother was so good to allow us to go to Brockton all those years. For me it was the same, Camilla; "She always made everything happy, warm and fuzzy." I feel happy just thinking of her hugs, sing song voice and beautiful laughter. She was one of my favorites, in life, for sure!!
Although I was just three years younger than Joan, I don’t have similar memories of Grandma. I don’t remember tea with her but I do recall how Grandpa made it, later – strong with milk and sugar. She wasn’t mean to me but she did not shower me with love. I mostly remember that she laughed when she talked as if everything was a joke. I think she mostly ignored me. Oh, well. Other members of the family sent love my way!
I absolutely love to hear all the stories! I remember Nana mostly when she was older. But I do remember she slept over one time and we had an all out "bash" pillow fight with my brother, Dougie in my bed room. She was alot of fun and yes laughed alot. I remember when we were little staying there one night while our parents had gone away. Nana and Grandpa took us to Mrs. Fosters candy store and bought us alot of candy. I remember being so sick that night as we watched Perry mason on tv. I remember the picture of Uncle Andrew on the wall in her bedroom. She told me the moment he was killed, the picture fell of the wall. She always used noxema face cream, that sat on her dresser. The great times playing in the backyard with all the cousins while the adults would be in the house talking, her angel food cakes, her love for the "japs", thanksgivings, christmasses, easters, at the big table in Hanover, her trying to walk home after getting mad at these affairs, (later in her life), changing the subject for the moment, I remember the easter egg rolling on the front hill at our home in Hanover with Grandpa, trying to see who got thier hard boiled egg to go the farthest without breaking, then gathering them all up, broken and all and eating egg salad for the next week or so. Was that a scottish tradition or something that was just thought up? Also going to the herring run on easter and trying to catch the fish coming upstream. Well I really miss all that and all the relatives! But I really enjoy the relatives I have left! My only complaint is I don't see you all often enough. Susan
Well, yesterday was my mother’s birthday, having been born in the Orkney Islands 116 years ago in 1895. That was before the advent of electricity, telephones, cars, airplanes and text messaging! Times were very hard for her growing up as a young person as her family had to labor diligently just to survive. However she was blessed with an exceptionally keen mind, very good looks and an attitude of “I can do anything that I set my mind to doing” and she did.
When she became a mature woman, she lived in Aberdeen, Scotland where she met a relatively wealthy ship owner, my father. They married and bore five children (two, Andrew and William, dying very young). The surviving children were Jeannie, Andrew and William (the later two carrying the same names of their deceased brothers). During this time WWI broke out and her husband left for war as commander of a mine destroyer. During these years, the young mother was left to care for her children with only occasional visits from the front by her husband. Following the war she must have succumbed to her adventuress spirit and convinced her husband to leave all behind and travel to the New World. First they temporarily settled in Canada and then migrated to Boston, Mass. near where her half sister lived. Not long after, the couple carved out a home for their family in the wilderness of Canton, Mass. where three more children were born, Margaret, James and certainly last but not any way the least, Douglass.
These were depression years and people all over America were going hungry. The job her husband had acquired with the railroad soon dried up and he took work where ever the opportunity presented itself. Usually this was carpenter work at low and uncertain wages. Among the poorest of families, I have been told she could create a feast on a slice of bread with her vivid imagination, ever present singing and up-beat attitude. Never was the time when anyone in her family felt they were poor. She took a job to help with finances at the Canton Hospital School for children and soon was raised in function, if not training to nurse. In later years during WWII all but one of her children entered the armed forces and she took a position at Wiggins Airways in Canton Ma. as a fabricator of glider struts. She soon was elevated to nurse for the company and after receiving some hasty instruction from her daughter Peggy, who was now a registered nurse, she boldly would treat all kinds of wounds including removing steel chips resulting from eye injuries. During this time she also became a Grey lady. Gray Ladies served in VA Hospitals assisting the wounded.
Following the war she became wrestles again and motivated a move from their home in the woods of Canton to the suburban area of Brockton. She immediately entered into the social life of the city becoming president of the Scottish Charitable, president of the Brockton Women’s Club, Chaplin at the Congregational Church prayer meetings, etc. It was rare holiday season that she did not host parties in her home for some of the cities finest. Eventually old age began to take its toll, dementia set in and she became very partial or impartial to people according to her likes or dislikes. It was interesting that because of her keen mind, the disease of dementia was not diagnosed for a long time and we actually thought people were really cheating her. The final stage of her life was spent in a nursing home where she could always be counted on for a strong accompaniment to any song you could sing. She was buried in the family lot at the Canton Cemetery where her son Andrew was buried after his death in WWII.
Many, many are the colorful stories that could be told about this remarkable and sometimes controversial lady but time does not permit it here. Perhaps you will contribute a few corrections to this account and some memorable accounts from your memories whether they are good or questionable – after all she was human, very human!
April 16, 2011
ReplyDeleteNana was an optimistic "take charge" and capable woman. She believed in herself and her family. As a child, I sat at her table and had tea with milk and sugar in china cups. I soon learned that there were few problems a "nice cup of tea" and a sweet could not solve. Today I still consider decisions over a cup of tea.
Nana, like her tea, was authentic and strong. She was not your teabag drawn through water type of person. She used a teapot rinsed in boiling water. A heaping portion of tea was used for each cup. Boiling water was added and it was left to brew in a cosy cover teapot. It was served in china cups.
I remember meeting some of Nana's friends at one of her teas. Groups of well dressed ladies socialized in her dining room. One of these occasions stands out in my mind. Grandpa's monkey came up from the cellar and situated himself beyond reach above the window. There was quite a commotion as the uninvited primate invaded the lady's space.
Sundays at the Stone Zoo, daytrips to Fields Park, Scottish festivals, visits to Mrs Poole, and family gatherings at the Wood grandparents home are fond childhood memories. Father would pile us into the station wagon and head for Brockton. As we exited the main road, we would see the red shutters of Nana's house. This always prompted a chorus of "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go."
Nana loved to take trips. I received postcards of her travels throughout the USA. She continued to write to me when I went to nusing school, and attended my graduation. After I graduated, and found an apartment, She provided me with all sorts of dishes and furniture for my place. A few years later, she stopped writing and I was told she was losing her memory.
As I write these paragraphs, I am sipping tea and thinking about my Nana Wood. I am reassured that there are few problems that can not be solved with a "nice cup of tea" and a bit of self reliance. - Joan Wood
Joan, you are such a good writer and your memories are so special!! We need to get you to record these family treasures!! My memories of Nana's house were of lots of family, good food and lots of joy and laughter. I loved to hear Nana talk (lovely accent) and sing. Her voice was beautiful and she often laughed as she talked. She loved and hugged in a big way like my Dad did. I am glad she met my Danielle and fussed over her. She said,"Oh, she is so beautiful like a little doll." Danielle sat on Nana's bed in the nursing home and soaked up all the attention.
ReplyDeleteDonna Wood Pepin
April 17, 2011 By Camilla Linss
ReplyDeleteI remember Nana as always cheerful and singing. Whenever we visited Massachusetts when I was a child, she had big bags of dried bread and we would go to the park and feed the birds and ride on the Swan Boats. I still like to feed the birds. Nana was a very creative person too. I still have a wooden cutting board on which she painted a a sad mouse with one shoe and a rabbit consoling it. I remember her love of flowers, both real and plastic, and glitzy jewelry. I remember both she and Grandpa had big cups for their tea, but Nana's was china. She liked the finer things in life. Most of all I remember that she was the personification of love. She always made everything happy, warm and fuzzy. I miss her. I don't remember, what year did she die?
Donna Pepin wrote April 17, 2011
ReplyDeleteNana died in 1984 and Uncle Jim died the year after. She lived to be 88 or 89, I don't know the month! To be fair and honest, I must say as much as Nana loved (I was one of the lucky ones) she also disliked as strong. She did not like my mother Marnie. I saw it once as a teenager and realized my mother was so good to allow us to go to Brockton all those years.
For me it was the same, Camilla; "She always made everything happy, warm and fuzzy." I feel happy just thinking of her hugs, sing song voice and beautiful laughter. She was one of my favorites, in life, for sure!!
Nancy Wood wrote April 17, 2011
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was just three years younger than Joan, I don’t have similar memories of Grandma. I don’t remember tea with her but I do recall how Grandpa made it, later – strong with milk and sugar. She wasn’t mean to me but she did not shower me with love. I mostly remember that she laughed when she talked as if everything was a joke. I think she mostly ignored me. Oh, well. Other members of the family sent love my way!
Nancy
Susan (wood) Smith wrote April 21, 2011:
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love to hear all the stories! I remember Nana mostly when she was older. But I do remember she slept over one time and we had an all out "bash" pillow fight with my brother, Dougie in my bed room. She was alot of fun and yes laughed alot. I remember when we were little staying there one night while our parents had gone away. Nana and Grandpa took us to Mrs. Fosters candy store and bought us alot of candy. I remember being so sick that night as we watched Perry mason on tv. I remember the picture of Uncle Andrew on the wall in her bedroom. She told me the moment he was killed, the picture fell of the wall. She always used noxema face cream, that sat on her dresser. The great times playing in the backyard with all the cousins while the adults would be in the house talking, her angel food cakes, her love for the "japs", thanksgivings, christmasses, easters, at the big table in Hanover, her trying to walk home after getting mad at these affairs, (later in her life), changing the subject for the moment, I remember the easter egg rolling on the front hill at our home in Hanover with Grandpa, trying to see who got thier hard boiled egg to go the farthest without breaking, then gathering them all up, broken and all and eating egg salad for the next week or so. Was that a scottish tradition or something that was just thought up? Also going to the herring run on easter and trying to catch the fish coming upstream. Well I really miss all that and all the relatives! But I really enjoy the relatives I have left! My only complaint is I don't see you all often enough.
Susan
April 13, 2011 by Doug Wood
ReplyDeleteWell, yesterday was my mother’s birthday, having been born in the Orkney Islands 116 years ago in 1895. That was before the advent of electricity, telephones, cars, airplanes and text messaging! Times were very hard for her growing up as a young person as her family had to labor diligently just to survive. However she was blessed with an exceptionally keen mind, very good looks and an attitude of “I can do anything that I set my mind to doing” and she did.
When she became a mature woman, she lived in Aberdeen, Scotland where she met a relatively wealthy ship owner, my father. They married and bore five children (two, Andrew and William, dying very young). The surviving children were Jeannie, Andrew and William (the later two carrying the same names of their deceased brothers). During this time WWI broke out and her husband left for war as commander of a mine destroyer. During these years, the young mother was left to care for her children with only occasional visits from the front by her husband. Following the war she must have succumbed to her adventuress spirit and convinced her husband to leave all behind and travel to the New World. First they temporarily settled in Canada and then migrated to Boston, Mass. near where her half sister lived. Not long after, the couple carved out a home for their family in the wilderness of Canton, Mass. where three more children were born, Margaret, James and certainly last but not any way the least, Douglass.
These were depression years and people all over America were going hungry. The job her husband had acquired with the railroad soon dried up and he took work where ever the opportunity presented itself. Usually this was carpenter work at low and uncertain wages. Among the poorest of families, I have been told she could create a feast on a slice of bread with her vivid imagination, ever present singing and up-beat attitude. Never was the time when anyone in her family felt they were poor. She took a job to help with finances at the Canton Hospital School for children and soon was raised in function, if not training to nurse. In later years during WWII all but one of her children entered the armed forces and she took a position at Wiggins Airways in Canton Ma. as a fabricator of glider struts. She soon was elevated to nurse for the company and after receiving some hasty instruction from her daughter Peggy, who was now a registered nurse, she boldly would treat all kinds of wounds including removing steel chips resulting from eye injuries. During this time she also became a Grey lady. Gray Ladies served in VA Hospitals assisting the wounded.
Following the war she became wrestles again and motivated a move from their home in the woods of Canton to the suburban area of Brockton. She immediately entered into the social life of the city becoming president of the Scottish Charitable, president of the Brockton Women’s Club, Chaplin at the Congregational Church prayer meetings, etc. It was rare holiday season that she did not host parties in her home for some of the cities finest. Eventually old age began to take its toll, dementia set in and she became very partial or impartial to people according to her likes or dislikes. It was interesting that because of her keen mind, the disease of dementia was not diagnosed for a long time and we actually thought people were really cheating her. The final stage of her life was spent in a nursing home where she could always be counted on for a strong accompaniment to any song you could sing. She was buried in the family lot at the Canton Cemetery where her son Andrew was buried after his death in WWII.
Many, many are the colorful stories that could be told about this remarkable and sometimes controversial lady but time does not permit it here. Perhaps you will contribute a few corrections to this account and some memorable accounts from your memories whether they are good or questionable – after all she was human, very human!
Douglass F Wood
Last child of Andrew and Jeannie Duncan Wood