Tag: Family

Time Warp

~ Janet McKee ~ 2 Comments

Last night I attended my youngest grandchild’s graduation from 8th grade. I have now been reminded of another 8th grade graduation in the dim and distant past. Our son James (the father of last night’s graduate) graduated from 8th grade in the American International School in Bangladesh. It was a relatively small affair – quite different from last night’s mega scene. 8th grade in the American International School in Bangladesh was the end of the road, so to speak. The road ahead for that relatively small group of 8th graders meant boarding schools scattered all over the world. The ceremony marking the completion of their schooling in Dhaka was held in the Sonagon Hotel and consisted mostly of a review of each individual’s years in that part of the world. For 8th grade graduate James it meant yet again singing songs from the Broadway hit “Oliver”. (Coincidentally a future boarding school pal was also an “Oliver” performer.)

So last night there I was thinking about something different altogether, of another graduation altogether. I was thinking about– my own high school graduation in 1954 back in Belmont Massachusetts and how nervous I was because I had to give a speech. Off topic altogether!!

Mixed emotions, jumbled memories and thoughts.from an aging grandma!

History Repeats Itself

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

In her later years, my paternal grandmother, Mary Murdock Miller, compiled a Book of Poems, Late Flowers. This lovely little family treasure, compiled in the early 1940’s, contains poems reflective of the time she lived. Just think – she was born in 1863 – the middle of the United States Civil War, a bitter battle North vs. South. Her children were born in the later years of the century. She was a female participant in the First World War through her work with the Red Cross. And in her final decade she experienced the Second World War. Some of her poems reflect that history. One poem in particular caught my attention this morning as I thought of all the current debate over U.S. policy in assisting Israel with arms.

Here is my grandmother’s poem:

The Schoolboys

(When Finland asked for a shipment of arms and we refused.)

As home from school they made their way

John, Russ, Fritz, Sammy and others

They talked of incidents of the day,

Of their cousins, fathers and brothers..

But talk grew tiresome, play grew rough.

Fritz snatched Checky’s coat and cap.

John cried, “Please don’t get tough.”

And Fritz knocked Checky off the map.

Then Polly trembled and tried to hide

But Fritz and Russ ganged up on her

And John and Franky could not abide

Injustice rank, nor long defer

Action to punish the bullies bold

So shoulder to shoulder they marched in

To settle the matter the tale is told.

Then Russ tackled poor little Finn.

The air was filled with many a rock

As from combatant’s hands they flew;

Full many a head received a sock.

And many a nose was bloodied too.

By the stone wall our Sammy stood

Clothing spick and span and neat;

Viewing the scene with neutral eyes

Alertly erect on steady feet.

Poor little Finn in need then cried,

“Oh Sammy bring me some stones.”

Shall Sammy smugly say with pride

“I must keep the peace and save my bones?”

Life of the body or life of the soul,

Which shall it be in time of stress?

Shall we refuse the weakling aid

Rather than bring on us distress?

The peace of the nation its pride may be

If earned by efforts free from blame,

But fear for the body, it seems to me

Buys a craven peace, a country’s shame.

As I reread this poem I also think of the ongoing controversy over sending aid to Ukraine.