This is a lovely post, Samantha. I love the language you've used. There is so much here I could comment on, but in particular I love "Cobblestones are living pieces of history. I have walked these streets." I often think that when I'm walking around London, where the is so much history. I think things like, "This is where Dr Johnson went for coffee and news", "This is where such-and-such a person walked, three hundred years ago". It's quite awe-inspiring really. Thank you!
I purposefully used that language, Terry, endeavoring to make cobblestones fascinating to the general reader. You inspired me when you said, somewhere on your Substack, that a GOOD writer could make even a lump of coal interesting. I kept that in mind throughout. I watch a vlog on YouTube by Jamie Larder (Sherpa's Day). He lives in Cornwall, near Newquay, and takes us with him on his travels all over England, Scotland and Wales. Talk about walking in the footsteps of history, I find all those castles he visits utterly fascinating, imagining life there in the 12th century (Eleanor of Aquitaine springs to mind) -- negotiating those steep, narrow, winding stone staircases wearing those heavy gowns and paraphernalia, while carrying heavy pots of sloshing stuff.... Life must've been anything but cozy. If I were there visiting, I'm sure I'd feel the presence of hundreds of ghosts who resided there over the centuries. It boggles the mind. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful compliments!
"a GOOD writer could make even a lump of coal interesting." I said that? Amazing. I'd forgotten! But it certainly is something I believe, and I'm glad it ispired you, Samantha, that is noce to hear. I haven't heard of Jamie Larder, I shall look him up. Places, especially really old places, certainly do have a presence one can feel: old ghosts!
This was a lovely read Carol thank you, written in your inimitable style. The cobblestones and hobbling stones. Horses, ancestors ... much more. I could hear the sounds ..
A great read. Delightfully unhinged, I particularly enjoyed the Jefferson-Adams exchange. The good life anchored to the humble cobblestone. Who’d have thought it!?
Thank you, Matthew. I do particularly enjoy putting words in the mouths of dead writers and other historical figures. Oddly, I suddenly got interested in cobblestones and decided that whatever Symposium subject Thomas J Bevan came up with I could make it fit. They do hold a lot of happy memories of my younger life.
Dear Samantha, I just finished reading *Cobblestones* and your story brought back so many memories. We didn’t have cobblestone streets where I grew up, but I’ve seen them in parts of Chicago. My family didn’t get a car until I was fifteen, so I remember the shift from streetcars to buses—and plenty of walking to school, church, and the corner store.
I also knew the steel mills well; we lived on 111th Street, surrounded by them, and many of our neighbors worked there. And oh, American Bandstand! I loved Dick Clark. The local boys would form doo-wop groups and sing what they saw on TV.
We even had a coal bin in the basement—Daddy shoveled coal every winter, and to this day I keep my house warmer than most folks like.
Modern times have brought good changes, but your story reminded me that the past had its own kind of comfort. Thanks for the memories.
Yes, the memories, Phyllis, and balancing the past with the present. Bandstand -- I always wanted to go to Bandstand but never got up the nerve. I run into friends today who tell me they went to Bandstand. To me, they're celebrities. My brother went to Bandstand, but told me this only recently. 😊 The stories your siblings can tell you. Oh, and he reminded me just the other day that when we lived in an apt. briefly when we were in high school, Dick Clark lived in the apt. building next-door. It's all almost like another lifetime.
You have composed an excellent arrangement of words and accounts. A briefing of what has been, what is happening and what is to come. Most excellent! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a lovely post, Samantha. I love the language you've used. There is so much here I could comment on, but in particular I love "Cobblestones are living pieces of history. I have walked these streets." I often think that when I'm walking around London, where the is so much history. I think things like, "This is where Dr Johnson went for coffee and news", "This is where such-and-such a person walked, three hundred years ago". It's quite awe-inspiring really. Thank you!
I purposefully used that language, Terry, endeavoring to make cobblestones fascinating to the general reader. You inspired me when you said, somewhere on your Substack, that a GOOD writer could make even a lump of coal interesting. I kept that in mind throughout. I watch a vlog on YouTube by Jamie Larder (Sherpa's Day). He lives in Cornwall, near Newquay, and takes us with him on his travels all over England, Scotland and Wales. Talk about walking in the footsteps of history, I find all those castles he visits utterly fascinating, imagining life there in the 12th century (Eleanor of Aquitaine springs to mind) -- negotiating those steep, narrow, winding stone staircases wearing those heavy gowns and paraphernalia, while carrying heavy pots of sloshing stuff.... Life must've been anything but cozy. If I were there visiting, I'm sure I'd feel the presence of hundreds of ghosts who resided there over the centuries. It boggles the mind. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful compliments!
"a GOOD writer could make even a lump of coal interesting." I said that? Amazing. I'd forgotten! But it certainly is something I believe, and I'm glad it ispired you, Samantha, that is noce to hear. I haven't heard of Jamie Larder, I shall look him up. Places, especially really old places, certainly do have a presence one can feel: old ghosts!
This was a lovely read Carol thank you, written in your inimitable style. The cobblestones and hobbling stones. Horses, ancestors ... much more. I could hear the sounds ..
Thank you, Susan. I relived all those stories and sensations as I wrote them. A fascinating journey.
That was a fun read Carol.
Thanks, Leora. I like Matthew Martin's take -- "delightfully unhinged." That's the way my little mind works. 😊
Yes! That a great description of the creative mind. 😀
A great read. Delightfully unhinged, I particularly enjoyed the Jefferson-Adams exchange. The good life anchored to the humble cobblestone. Who’d have thought it!?
Thank you, Matthew. I do particularly enjoy putting words in the mouths of dead writers and other historical figures. Oddly, I suddenly got interested in cobblestones and decided that whatever Symposium subject Thomas J Bevan came up with I could make it fit. They do hold a lot of happy memories of my younger life.
Dear Samantha, I just finished reading *Cobblestones* and your story brought back so many memories. We didn’t have cobblestone streets where I grew up, but I’ve seen them in parts of Chicago. My family didn’t get a car until I was fifteen, so I remember the shift from streetcars to buses—and plenty of walking to school, church, and the corner store.
I also knew the steel mills well; we lived on 111th Street, surrounded by them, and many of our neighbors worked there. And oh, American Bandstand! I loved Dick Clark. The local boys would form doo-wop groups and sing what they saw on TV.
We even had a coal bin in the basement—Daddy shoveled coal every winter, and to this day I keep my house warmer than most folks like.
Modern times have brought good changes, but your story reminded me that the past had its own kind of comfort. Thanks for the memories.
Yes, the memories, Phyllis, and balancing the past with the present. Bandstand -- I always wanted to go to Bandstand but never got up the nerve. I run into friends today who tell me they went to Bandstand. To me, they're celebrities. My brother went to Bandstand, but told me this only recently. 😊 The stories your siblings can tell you. Oh, and he reminded me just the other day that when we lived in an apt. briefly when we were in high school, Dick Clark lived in the apt. building next-door. It's all almost like another lifetime.
WOW, Dick Clark was your neighbor; That is crazy. These stories are wonderful.
You have composed an excellent arrangement of words and accounts. A briefing of what has been, what is happening and what is to come. Most excellent! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much! Love the 5 stars.