Oh, yay! Thank you, Joan. I am so glad you liked this short Katy story. I do hope you will take one more look at the Katy Archive. Some of the tales are a little sad, but always inspiring. You can find them at the top of the 🌿Leaves home page. Happy new year to you, Ms Spilman!
She turned into one tough broad... despite "the master". Within that armored shell, a kind and warm mother developed and emerged. Readers never met her but grew to love her through daughter's eyes. "She done good".
What a story…. Thank goodness she had the strength, courage, and intelligence to seek a better life. I love your memories of Katy, the love and respect shine through.
She was a good woman - determined to make the best of what life threw at her. Thank you, Wade, for having read all the Katy stories over the past two years. She would really have liked you.
Mercy! Had I not been so distracted by Sarah's beautiful voice, I would've paid more attention to the words. And the two parts of Katy's story burns through those lyrics like venom. So beautiful how she took control of her life. What lay ahead of her on the road could not have been as mean as home. Love how you place these pieces together, Sharron.
Thank you for the link. It was a good article to reread and remember how she was able to find shelter and work immediately. Can you imagine that happening now where you can't do anything until you have degrees up the ying-yang. My mom told me how she could find day work in the stores on Main Street just be showing up at the back door. Anyone who didn't show up for work that day, she could replace. She was only 14, but her sisters fixed her hair up so she'd look older. Those were tough times, but then again, it may have been easier to find solutions to problems on a survival level, as Katy was able to do. I love her story. It's the story of America.
Thank you, Sue. I had forgotten you already read the Butte story. Maybe some time you will share some stories of your father or mother on Ring Around the Basin. Our stories keep them alive.
I reread "Odyssey on the Santa Cruz Metro" yesterday and realized it's been a while since I told a family story. I could do this whole year in family and genealogy stories. Thank for the thunk on the head, Sharron.
This is a tough one to swallow as I think that Kate's father didn't think he was abusive nor a bully, only that he had to keep his family on " the straight and narrow" and he was succeeding--except, he wasn't. Katy disappeared!!
Yes. She went back to North Dakota two times just to let them know she was doing fine without them and introduce her chidren. She couldn't get out of there and back to California fast enough.
She survived and thrived all on her own. And it is such irony that this young girl felt safer and more loved in the wild mining town of Butte, Montana alone than she did in her own family home. The locals really watched out for her. Thank you, Conor, for reading about my mom.
Oh wow - I thought this was your mom from the resemblance in the photograph (but I didn't want to say in case I was wrong!) - I have heard of Butte, Montana before but I can't think where - is that a rough sort of town?
Yes. Rough, lawless in those days - a copper-mining town with resilient single men coming from all over to work in the mines. It is still a rough town, but in a different way.
Times past. Tip toes through fields. To return home the dust settles, but cannot be swept away. New soil made. Sow oats. Breakfast in Butte. Next year grow a a new crop, barley and so life goes.
Okay, then I am officially posting this on my refrigerator door for those days when I just want to give it up. Thank you, your Worshipfulness. You are a true friend.
You are so kind, Ken. Thank you. I just started your book, Twenty Miles West of Branch, Texas". That first story could have had a completely different, devastating ending. I like the ending you chose. He was such a fool; I might not have let him off so easy... ha ha ha
Sharron, I’m sharing the delight I felt upon discovering this post. And your writing. Something like what one might feel from opening an unfamiliar door and looking inside. Not at all difficult, but not easy for those of us habit bound folks. I very much appreciate how you wove together the father’s characteristics, the family’s fear of him, Katy’s resolve to leave everything behind for a new start without any assurances of where that decision might take her
Thank you, Gary. I am never quite sure if these personal memories of my mother will be of any interest to others. I am so glad you found something in this chapter you could relate to in some way. If you would like to see how Katy fared in her first stopping place, Butte, Montana, here it is. A wildcat city in the 1930s, but she held her own.
A beautiful story. What amazing strength and courage. I wonder how she would have fared in England, where women couldn't open their own bank account or get a mortgage until 1975.
She would have survived, I am confident of it. Much too proud to go on the dole, she would have washed dishes or taken in laundry or sewed for people to make a living. Her biggest flaw? She married two men, both losers. She just could not make the right choice in a partner and ended up supporting them as well as her kids.
I am a fan.
Oh, yay! Thank you, Joan. I am so glad you liked this short Katy story. I do hope you will take one more look at the Katy Archive. Some of the tales are a little sad, but always inspiring. You can find them at the top of the 🌿Leaves home page. Happy new year to you, Ms Spilman!
I will. Happy new year to you, too!
That picture of Katy at sixteen, looking into the distance toward a brighter future--just touches my heart.
Mine, too. And that song just killed me. Thanks for the second look, Jim.
She turned into one tough broad... despite "the master". Within that armored shell, a kind and warm mother developed and emerged. Readers never met her but grew to love her through daughter's eyes. "She done good".
I know you have read all the Katy stories, Kate. I thank you so much for your comments. She sure would have liked YOU - and the way you live.
What a story…. Thank goodness she had the strength, courage, and intelligence to seek a better life. I love your memories of Katy, the love and respect shine through.
She was a good woman - determined to make the best of what life threw at her. Thank you, Wade, for having read all the Katy stories over the past two years. She would really have liked you.
Mercy! Had I not been so distracted by Sarah's beautiful voice, I would've paid more attention to the words. And the two parts of Katy's story burns through those lyrics like venom. So beautiful how she took control of her life. What lay ahead of her on the road could not have been as mean as home. Love how you place these pieces together, Sharron.
Thank you, Sue. You might like this little sequel. Katy’s landing place was Butte Montana. Maybe you have read it.
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/katy-in-butte-1936?
Thank you for the link. It was a good article to reread and remember how she was able to find shelter and work immediately. Can you imagine that happening now where you can't do anything until you have degrees up the ying-yang. My mom told me how she could find day work in the stores on Main Street just be showing up at the back door. Anyone who didn't show up for work that day, she could replace. She was only 14, but her sisters fixed her hair up so she'd look older. Those were tough times, but then again, it may have been easier to find solutions to problems on a survival level, as Katy was able to do. I love her story. It's the story of America.
Thank you, Sue. I had forgotten you already read the Butte story. Maybe some time you will share some stories of your father or mother on Ring Around the Basin. Our stories keep them alive.
I reread "Odyssey on the Santa Cruz Metro" yesterday and realized it's been a while since I told a family story. I could do this whole year in family and genealogy stories. Thank for the thunk on the head, Sharron.
I remember that story about your dad. Good one!
This is a tough one to swallow as I think that Kate's father didn't think he was abusive nor a bully, only that he had to keep his family on " the straight and narrow" and he was succeeding--except, he wasn't. Katy disappeared!!
Love her strength!
Her childhood made her tough and self-reliant, that is for sure. As they say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Thank you, Jill
Having the need to leave home and return years later finding resolution and peace is priceless.
Yes. She went back to North Dakota two times just to let them know she was doing fine without them and introduce her chidren. She couldn't get out of there and back to California fast enough.
16 in 1936, she would have been around the same age as my Grandmother - What a character to tough it alone!
She survived and thrived all on her own. And it is such irony that this young girl felt safer and more loved in the wild mining town of Butte, Montana alone than she did in her own family home. The locals really watched out for her. Thank you, Conor, for reading about my mom.
Oh wow - I thought this was your mom from the resemblance in the photograph (but I didn't want to say in case I was wrong!) - I have heard of Butte, Montana before but I can't think where - is that a rough sort of town?
Yes. Rough, lawless in those days - a copper-mining town with resilient single men coming from all over to work in the mines. It is still a rough town, but in a different way.
Katy was one strong young woman who could endure and move on.
She was, indeed, Janice. Thanks for reading this story - no doubt for the second time.
Times past. Tip toes through fields. To return home the dust settles, but cannot be swept away. New soil made. Sow oats. Breakfast in Butte. Next year grow a a new crop, barley and so life goes.
You said it. Thanks, Richard, for taking a second look at Katy.
Sharron, your writing is magical--so much life in so few words.
Absolutely. She has a gift.
Okay, then I am officially posting this on my refrigerator door for those days when I just want to give it up. Thank you, your Worshipfulness. You are a true friend.
😇
You are so kind, Ken. Thank you. I just started your book, Twenty Miles West of Branch, Texas". That first story could have had a completely different, devastating ending. I like the ending you chose. He was such a fool; I might not have let him off so easy... ha ha ha
He was lost in an imaginary world.
Delusional. As most of us are... Who the hell did he think he was?
Burt Reynolds. Hey, thanks again for taking a chance on my book. I do appreciate the support.
Sharron, I’m sharing the delight I felt upon discovering this post. And your writing. Something like what one might feel from opening an unfamiliar door and looking inside. Not at all difficult, but not easy for those of us habit bound folks. I very much appreciate how you wove together the father’s characteristics, the family’s fear of him, Katy’s resolve to leave everything behind for a new start without any assurances of where that decision might take her
Thank you, Gary. I am never quite sure if these personal memories of my mother will be of any interest to others. I am so glad you found something in this chapter you could relate to in some way. If you would like to see how Katy fared in her first stopping place, Butte, Montana, here it is. A wildcat city in the 1930s, but she held her own.
https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/katy-in-butte-1936
I’m looking forward to doing just that, Sharron.
Sharron, I have inadvertent “sends” for snacks. I’ll close by saying that I’ll pay better attention when next I open Substack. Thank you.
Hah! And, by the way, I believe we are, all of us, "habit-bound" folks. Thanks, again, for subscribing.
A beautiful story. What amazing strength and courage. I wonder how she would have fared in England, where women couldn't open their own bank account or get a mortgage until 1975.
She would have survived, I am confident of it. Much too proud to go on the dole, she would have washed dishes or taken in laundry or sewed for people to make a living. Her biggest flaw? She married two men, both losers. She just could not make the right choice in a partner and ended up supporting them as well as her kids.
I'm certain you're right about her surviving. A shame about the losers
I can almost hear the wind between those bookends.
Oh, good, John. A lovely way to express it. I was hoping that tying the two stories together might work. Maybe I succeeded.
Katy! Such a precious mum! She lives in you.
She does. She does. And that song for some reason, caused my grief to spill out as if brand new. Thank you, Yael, for reading about my mom.