Happy New Year, to all of my compadres at Friday Fictioneers. I truly look forward to this every week and appreciate the time and care you all take to read and give feedback on my stories; thank you! I’m currently traveling and not sure how much I’ll get done between today (stuck in Newark) and when I can finally get on line and read again. Please forgive me if I’m slow getting around. Also, due a post-holiday uptick in contributions to the #BloggersUnite for #50HappyThings blog hop, I’ve extended the deadline until January 10th. So happy to see Rochelle, Siobhan, Louise, Dale, and Lish join in! All posts are linked at the bottom of my post. What are you grateful for? What makes you happy? If you’d like to contribute, please check out the details and join us!
An exciting aside: Waiting in Denver for my flight to Newark, which was delayed, I found myself sitting across from Peter Yarrow of Peter, of Paul and Mary fame. I can’t write a meaningful enough story to fully say how much PP&M meant to me as a child, living a traumatic life, or how I’ve carried their music with me all these years. I was totally awe-struck and emotional, and reached across to introduced myself. We talked until boarding and when he walked away, I was very tearful. On the plane, he came and found me and we talked for about 40 of the most amazing minutes ever. One of the most humble, gentle, and caring people I’ve met, he is every bit the amazing human being I always thought he was. While I missed my flight to Israel by less than 5 minutes (the plane was still at the gate, but doors closed), my time with Peter Yarrow, made 2017 special forever!
Please visit Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog for more details about Friday Fictioneers, and thanks to Sandra Crook for this week’s photo. As always I welcome your honest and constructive feedback. Please leave a comment.
© Sandra Crook
The Cost of Bread
When we were lil,’ Pappy ground corn and wheat for everyone around. Folks lined up to get flour… sit’n t’share news from all over th’county–– sometimes further. Pappy’s mill was where just ‘bout evr’one got news. Weren’t always the official news, but ‘twas news we cared ‘bout most.
When I was twelve, Pap got his shirt caught in the giant wheel and lost his arm––nearly died. He was hurt mighty bad.
All those folks came ‘round with food and help, ‘til Mama and me could find work. Weren’t never the same again, but that mill saved us more’n once.
(100 words)
* * *
KAPOW! I didn’t meet the 2016 goal for Likes on the Tales From the Motherland Facebook page; missed it by 14! So this year, I’m not setting a goal. I’m grateful for each Like I get. Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter, LeBron James does (yes, for real)! Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. Honest, constructive feedback is always appreciated. Click Follow; you’ll get each new post delivered by email, no spam.
©2017 All content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, I’m grateful, but please give proper credit and Link back to my work; plagiarism sucks!
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
What a story, it touched my heart too! Happy New Year to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cecilia; I appreciate your kind feedback!
LikeLike
Loved the voice of the narrator, excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lain; much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent story with its usual high quality, Dawn! I think this photo of Sandra’s has really made the storytellers come out to play. The theme is always a good reminder to love our neighbors as ourselves.
That was so cool you meeting Peter Yarrow! My dad met him several years ago at a fundraiser for a Congressman from our district in Kansas. Pretty cool. You headed to the Promised Land? I had to miss it this past October. 😦 Kiss the ground for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
After a 24 hour delay in Newark, just arrived last night. The lousy weather has turned lovely and my grandbaby is so delicious! Worth all that trouble! I’ll give it a big kiss for you Kent. Shabbat Shalom!
LikeLike
What a wonderful story despite the tragedy… love how people come together for those who count.. Great voice… Still will talk with us “little people”? LOL… what a grand thing to happen – find out a celebrity we admire is down and out real, kind folk…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Flash in the pan as far as my “fame” goes, but truly a high point for me! Thanks for the kind words re: the story, Dale. Means a lot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dale
What a story! And that was just your intro. I’ve always adored the music of Peter, Paul & Mary. The voice of the narrator adds another hundred words to your story. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Sandra, thanks for the wonderful feedback! I’ve always been a fan too and the meeting really meant the world to me! Thought my FF buddies would love hearing about it. Shabbat Shalom! ❤ DAWN 😉
LikeLike
Ack! DAWN ! Sorry. 😘😜😳 I can’t believe I did that! Oy vey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A touching story, and also your prologue. I remember Peter, Paul & Mary too. Happy NY, Dawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sandra; I appreciate the feedback. PP&M were and still are one of my very favorite groups! All the best in 2017 to you. xo
LikeLike
Great tale and very strong voice, Dawn. Lovely stuff.
LikeLike
Thanks Lynn; much appreciated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure 🙂
LikeLike
Great voice – and sticking with the ‘gratitude’ theme, a reminder of how good people can be when the chips are down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While it doesn’t always seem that way, I really do believe there are far more good people in the world, than bad! Thanks for the feedback, Siobhan; I appreciate it.
LikeLike
Lucky YOU! I was a big fan of PP&M too. Thanks for sharing that with us and I do hope you’ll write down some of your conversation with him while it’s still fresh.
I loved your tale. The wonderful thing about country people is how they stick together when one has misfortune. My parent’s home burned to the ground in 1988. The community held a pie supper and many neighbors showed up to help rebuild. It was very humbling and heartwarming. You captured it well. Safe travels, my dear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Russell. As I just said to Siobhan, I do believe there are more good people than bad, out there. When a community comes together, it’s such a beautiful thing. And yes, I do think country people appreciate and know this a bit more than urban ones… it’s a closer network, I believe.
As for PP&M, they truly saved this girl, when she needed it most. I will hold that meeting dear, forever. xo
LikeLike
An excellent voice in this story. Sad, but so often true.
LikeLike
Thanks Lish. Coming from you, who is so good with voice, I’m especially honored.
LikeLike
A wonderful story.. we both went the miller point of view… I like your community a lot better. The importance of the miller used to be huge… maybe that’s why it’s such a popular last name.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Björn; it seemed a clear path, when I saw the photo. This past summer, we visited one of the oldest mills in the US and it was fascinating to hear about what a meeting place it was, right up into the Depression. When I saw the photo, that’s exactly what came to me. Thanks for the feedback.
LikeLike
I love the stories that pop into your head with the picture prompts. And this time taking us to another time and place. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Susan. I love the weekly challenge! Some weeks the story comes easier than others, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story and I do hope lots of bloggers join in with your amazing gratitude challenge. It was such fun to do!
LikeLike
Thanks Louise; I really appreciate you adding your list again this year! Not as many as this year, but still wonderful to read the ones that are there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story. I really like the voice. Of course I like the story about Peter Yarrow better, it being true and all. He sounds like a very good man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Trent… it was a pretty epic day, even if it took me an extra 24 hours to get to my destination!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meaningful story. A person tends to forget how many accidents happened to people working around that old heavy machinery. My husband and I sat down one day and counted up all the safety features added since cars were invented — and most came about as a result of tragic accidents.
I remember Peter, Paul, and Mary. haven’t seen anything of them in years. Can only imagine how much older they look now. 😉
LikeLike
Christine, it’s an interesting thing that we rarely think about: all the advances our society has, thanks to horrific injuries and accidents.
As for PP&M, Mary Travers died several years ago, and Peter and Paul are both nearly 80 now. But then, I’m not that 10 year old kid anymore either!
LikeLike
pappy must be a really good fellow. he sowed kindness and he reaped it in return.
LikeLike
No doubt, Plaridel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely story with a tinge of sadness. I’m glad they got help in their time of need. I loved the line ‘Weren’t always the official news, but ‘twas news we cared ‘bout most.’
LikeLike
Thanks Clare. I felt really connected to this story, as it came to me. Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Great voice. I felt I was being told the story rather than reading it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I love that! Thanks Dawn; that’s what I wanted… nice to know I did it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story well told. Pappy must’ve been a lovely man for his customers to be so caring. Certainly far nicer than my MC! and what a special memory from your airport wait – you’ll treasure that for ever.
LikeLike
Yes, and yes! This prompt brought out a story that felt real for me, and my time in the airport was definitely very special. Thanks for the feedback, Liz!
LikeLike