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tavernier

(14,456 posts) Fri Apr 25, 2014, 04:13 PM Apr 2014

Old people stories are the best! [View all]

I'm a home health nurse and have collected stories from seniors for years. They have the best anecdotes and memories, making me wonder sometimes if we haven't lost big chunks of our history simply because very few ppl want to listen.

About twenty five years I had a patient who was the first college educated teacher in Key West. The city paid for her ferry and train travel to Tallahassee in exchange for her commitment to teach Keys children. She was over 100 at the time she told me her stories.

She reminisced about her toddler days, her dad carrying her to the outhouse at night, holding a torch over the seat of the "shitter." I asked if that was because the seat was soiled and she answered with a great cackling laugh... "No! Scorpions!"

I'm curious if anyone else has saved any great memories from those generations that are now just names marked on a tombstone.

71 replies

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Highlight:

Old people stories are the best! [View all] tavernier Apr 2014 OP

My grandmother used to tell great stories of living on Hoyt Apr 2014 #1

Shoot, I hit the wrong one tavernier Apr 2014 #3

On New Year's Eve tavernier Apr 2014 #2

I hope the teacher passed her stories along to her family No Vested Interest Apr 2014 #4

I'm not far from your memories myself! tavernier Apr 2014 #5

Many of those bodies were brought here to West Palm Beach and buried. The cemetary had been long monmouth3 Apr 2014 #62

In 1921 my grandfather, then 20 and a new father, lost his job....He didn't come home that night Rowdyboy Apr 2014 #6

Wow! Just... Wow! tavernier Apr 2014 #8

Please feel free to pass his story on. He was a wonderful man and I loved him more than my own Rowdyboy Apr 2014 #10

You made him live again. tavernier Apr 2014 #11

What an interesting family story. Jenoch Apr 2014 #50

My dad used to tell the story of the day WWII ended Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #7

And they think Madonna and Miley are racy?? tavernier Apr 2014 #9

even then there were women in the armed services lululu Apr 2014 #13

My Dad told the story of how WWII effectively began from his perspective csziggy Apr 2014 #64

I was about a year old when frogmarch Apr 2014 #12

What an amazing story... Rowdyboy Apr 2014 #14

Yes. Indeed they were. frogmarch Apr 2014 #15

Thats quite a shot. Thanks for sharing both it and your story. Rowdyboy Apr 2014 #16

Amazing! tavernier Apr 2014 #19

I came across from Europe in 46 tavernier Apr 2014 #17

How interesting! I wish I'd frogmarch Apr 2014 #18

Actually I was born in 46 tavernier Apr 2014 #22

Ohhh, you cried when frogmarch Apr 2014 #29

my elderly English mum, seeing German WWII planes on a TV documentary Skittles Apr 2014 #20

... tavernier Apr 2014 #24

haha! lovemydog Apr 2014 #60

My grandfather was president of a small town bank during the '29 stock market crash. Divernan Apr 2014 #21

God Bless Him! tavernier Apr 2014 #25

These are wonderful stories. Callalily Apr 2014 #23

I really do understand tavernier Apr 2014 #26

Dad recalled the ice truck in NYC, elleng Apr 2014 #27

A lovely memory! tavernier Apr 2014 #30

Very hot in NYC summers, elleng Apr 2014 #31

My dad was a big kid, and faked his birth certificate somehow and got his driver's license Jenoch Apr 2014 #52

Maybe the reason was his upcoming social security. My first husband did the same thing...LOL..n/t monmouth3 Apr 2014 #63

That's probably why, except that Social Security had his correct birthdate. Jenoch Apr 2014 #65

They sometimes have great jokes too sakabatou Apr 2014 #28

HA! elleng Apr 2014 #32

Priceless! n/t tavernier Apr 2014 #34

I love the oral tradition and the long stories people from back in the day tell. applegrove Apr 2014 #33

Well... tavernier Apr 2014 #35

I can't tell a story. I can't. Plus I can't remember much. She stopped telling them applegrove Apr 2014 #36

Grandpa, whom I never met, elleng Apr 2014 #37

Made me think of Crossing Delancey tavernier Apr 2014 #40

Yes, that's a fun film. elleng Apr 2014 #41

My 82 year old father is writing some stories down about his family. Jenoch Apr 2014 #38

Sounds wonderful, elleng Apr 2014 #42

Not all of the family stories are wonderful. Jenoch Apr 2014 #44

Yes, most of the stories around that time are not, elleng Apr 2014 #49

It amazes me how small our world... tavernier Apr 2014 #45

All of my grandfather's family were murdered by Stalin's Holodomor. Jenoch Apr 2014 #46

And yet they wonder why we tavernier Apr 2014 #48

If that is *so* why doesn't anybody like *my* stories?!1 n/t UTUSN Apr 2014 #39

This Is The Real History--we should not forget it grilled onions Apr 2014 #43

20 pies a day, every day, to survive. tavernier Apr 2014 #47

And sometimes the best stories pipi_k Apr 2014 #51

Me too. tavernier Apr 2014 #53

He may have... pipi_k Apr 2014 #61

My dad grew up in NE Minneapolis. Jenoch Apr 2014 #54

I hope there was something tavernier Apr 2014 #55

My grandmother became a widow at age 65. Jenoch Apr 2014 #56

My stepmother interviewed my grandparents before their deaths Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #57

So many great stories about strong, brave, humorous people. Divernan Apr 2014 #58

How true. tavernier Apr 2014 #59

And a kick. nt flying rabbit Apr 2014 #67

My great-grandad lived to be 101. Mister Ed Apr 2014 #66

Love to hear stories about the old days! many a good man Apr 2014 #68

My grandparents all had great stories laundry_queen Apr 2014 #69

I love that more memories have been added! tavernier Apr 2014 #70

My dad spent his last years writing a family history The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2014 #71