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Thursday, March 9, 2023

It's Poetry Friday - Sharing An Old "Maybe Ghost" Story

          Poetry Friday is with Heidi HERE at My Juicy Little Universe. She's reveling in March with odes to March from a few poets you will recognize, celebrating her birthday, and sharing some of her own poems of reflection in this wild and crazy life. Thanks, Heidi, for hosting! 

         I've sent a postcard every week to my grandson for a lot of years since he and his family moved out of state. I was going through my stash and found a really old one, perhaps bought in an antique store which I do sometimes. There is a story behind the one shown here. History has its way of pulling us in, wondering. . . I suppose one could say this story "blew" my way! Happy March and wishing you all one filled with stories in the wind!

 

nature spots problems

I'm wishing for her patience –

not always her fix 

          Linda Baie © 

       In Jamestown Island, Virginia, in the late 1600s, a young wealthy girl, Sarah Harrison, was betrothed to an appropriate suitor. However, she refused to marry, had instead met and fallen in love with an older man (who by the way turned out to be the founder of William and Mary College). Her parents hated this new man and were embarrassed, thus fought the marriage, but Sarah was determined. The parents and one sister journeyed to find a lawyer to make an annulment of the marriage but were struck by lightning in a sudden storm and perished. Later in life, Sarah and her husband, James Blair, died and were buried on the island.

     Through the years, one can see in the picture that a sycamore tree grew between their graves, pushing them away from each other, thus the story of "the mother-in-law" tree and James Blair's mother-in-law who didn't stop hating the marriage even after death. 



         









































            The whole story can be found here! Nature may have been on the side of the mother-in-law and perhaps nature was trying to help since Sarah got her way in life, and now it's the mother-in-law's turn? As in some stories, my imagination runs wild.

 

22 comments:

  1. Nature will have her way, that's for sure! I enjoyed the story very much...and it makes me grateful yet again for having had the most wonderful mother-in-law in the world. I learned so so much from her. Miss her everyday. Thank you, Linda! xo

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  2. Wouldn't it be funny if the placement of Sarah was such that she was able by-passed her 'roots' (the sycamore tree) and is actually on the same side of the tree as her husband?
    Amen, to Nature's patience, Linda. :)

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  3. Linda, I loved the back history of the Mother-in-Law tree. I read through the link you shared and of course, want to read more. Your poem on nature is telling. What will happen to the graves? Will the spirits rise? This story is full of questions. I hope nature fills your weekend with warmth.

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  4. Wow, Linda, what a fascinating story. I've clicked on the link, so I'm off to learn more. And the idea of sending a postcard every week is a big commitment, but so very sweet!

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  5. That's a crazy story. Mercy, Mother Nature! I like your haiku summation; nature's "fix" was quite radical.

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  6. A good reason not to try to interfere with your (adult) kids' choices! (Which has taken me a long time to learn, and fortunately I have not yet been struck by lightning.) Terrific story.

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  7. What a tale, wow, love your haiku Linda it's spot on. And Yay to all the postcards and writing to your grandson, such a rich and loving gift for him, and you, thanks!

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  8. Thanks to all for reading and commenting. I really wanted to write about it. It's interesting to discover old stories.

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  9. Great story behind this poem! I may take up your postcard to a grandson idea! Thank you!

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  10. What a wonderful ghost story! I haven't heard that one--and I live in Virginia! Your poem is spare and full of possibility...just like ghosts. LOVE it! A perfect Poetry Friday post. Thank you.

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  11. Nature has the last laugh? What a cool story! And yes to nature's patience and your poem :>)

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  12. Such an interesting story--and one I never knew (even though I live in Virginia).

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  13. I guess mother in laws have been a force forever in people’s lives. This stubborn one had the last word.

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  14. What a wild love story behind this haiku!

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  15. Being struck by lightning sounds like Nature was on the side of the lovers :) Thanks for sharing this fascinating story and your heartwarming postcard tradition!

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  16. I thought about the lightning strike, too, Tabatha, another 'Mother Nature' fix! Thanks everyone.

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  17. This is the kind of story that leads people to believe in divine retribution! Your haiku glances off the side of the story beautifully, Linda, with wisdom.

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  18. I hadn't heard this story before, Linda. Fascinating! What a wonderful practice to send a weekly postcard to your grandson. Lovely haiku - nature's patience.

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  19. Loved the story and your poem, but I'm mostly in awe of your weekly postcard habit. What an amazing grandmother you are! ❤️

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  20. Thanks, Karen and Rose. Mostly, I was sad to say goodbye to my grandson & wanted to keep in touch, thus started the postcards & just did not stop! It'll be eleven years this fall that I've been doing it. I do skip a week now & then, of course when we're together on vacation but usually keep it up the other weeks!

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  21. Linda, you know I'm a huge fan of postcards. What a beautiful tradition to send one weekly to your grandson. Your haiku has me thinking about nature's patience today.

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    1. I do remember, Laura, and that 'postcard month'! We have had some good snow today, really need the 'wet' and nature has been patient here, waiting, waiting. Thanks, Laura!

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