Sweet Memories

Yesterday my godmother called me. My Aunt Rosie, along with her late husband, my Uncle Buddy, were my godparents. She is my mother’s younger sister and, since the death of Uncle Buddy some years back, has remarried and moved back to Erie after a few years in Florida. It was lovely to talk to her.

She called because I had sent her a copy of The Old Mermaid’s Tale which is dedicated to Uncle Buddy because it was he who used to take me down to the public docks when I visited them in Erie. It was he who told me about how those ships came from all over the world and who taught me to look for their flags that told what country they came from. It was he who created the “Clair” in me.

She was very happy about the dedication. “What a lovely tribute,” she said. That made me very happy. I hoped she would be pleased. She was a very important part of my young life. She was the one who took me to the beach and taught me to jump through waves and build sand castles — she helped fuel those dreams too.

While she was talking she said, “I said to Jim (her new husband who is as dear as Uncle Buddy was) you never know what a child will remember or what will become important to them.” That is so true. I never knew those childhood experiences would grow the way they did.

I’ve talked to a couple of old friends since the book came out. They all say pretty much the same thing, “You never told me about this part of your life.” Well, there’s a good reason for that — most of it took place in my imagination but that is why it is a novel. Still, had I not had the experiences I did as a child, I would not have been able to create those scenes with such authenticity.

My dear old friend Ray emailed. He read the book in a couple of days and said parts of it brought tears to his eyes. That is a great compliment in my opinion for two reasons. First of all, I trust Ray’s opinion — he’s very intelligent and I doubt he would be moved by something that lacked depth. And also because we are old friends and there is much feeling between us. He has been through a lot in the last few years and it is good to know that something I did, something I created, has value to him. I love that.

I also talked to my old friend Lois last night. She was my faithful companion during the early stages of writing that book. After I had started work on it I was visiting her in Pennsylvania when we spontaneously decided to take a drive up to Erie to do some research. It was a fun day! We went to the Erie County Historical Society and found some great local books on ships and old buildings and the history of Erie. While there we talked to a woman whose father had once owned a beer distributorship. She talked about how he has delivered beer to many of the taverns I used as models for those in my book. She said he told many a story of how wild things could be there.

We also spent a good chunk of the afternoon in Sullivan’s Pub drinking beer and talking to men who worked down on the docks. By that time I was living in Gloucester and knew a thing or two about seamen so it was great tot talk with these men and to hear their stories.

So, The Old Mermaid’s Tale is beginning to travel and I am so happy. I loved writing that book, I loved remembering the things that brought me to writing that book and I still cry when I read certain passages. And I am glad it is touching the lives of people I love. There is nothing more a writer can ask for.

Thanks for reading.