Author Archives: eastsidehistorymadison
The Kittycat Sutra
By Kelly Sauvage Angel When the student is ready, the teacher will come. ~ Unattributed A wise one, a young lama of sorts with no robes nor grand lineage to speak of, entered my life recently. It was a … Continue reading
Back to school! Workshops for Memoir and Family History Writers-Fall 2016.
Living in a college town, “Back to School” season triggers a longing to devote time to learning and growing, no matter our calendar age. I’ve got a fresh set of workshops lined up to help you get started and stay motivated … Continue reading
Math Teacher’s Sudden Death Shocks Midland Park (Leon Varjian)
When I logged into my blog this morning I discovered remembrances about Leon Varjian piling in. From them I learned that this unique individual, whom I knew in Bloomington in 1974 and again in Madison circa 1980, passed away suddenly this week. … Continue reading
Don Whispered, “the Undertaker”
By Doug Elwell It’s funny how things pop into our minds in random ways at unexpected moments. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason, but suddenly in the middle of dinner a ball game you were in fifty years … Continue reading
Madison’s “A Fund for Women” needs your stories
At last night’s AFFW “storycapture” session we heard from… a young woman inspired by her grandmother’s example of feminism before there was a word for it… a Domenican sister grateful for her mentor and eager for young women to realize … Continue reading
Like a Motherless Child
By Melodee K. Currier If I read one more feel-good Mother’s Day story, I think I’m going to scream! Am I the only one who doesn’t have kind words to say about their mother? I have never called my mother … Continue reading
A Date with Danger
By Mel Currier In 1965, when I was seventeen, I moved to New York City to attend secretarial school and lived at The Barbizon Hotel for Women. Men weren’t allowed past the lobby, so that provided some security and sanity for … Continue reading
Reflecting on this spring’s “The Season of Women”
From February 2 (Imolc) through March 8 (International Women’s Day), I focused “True Stories Well Told” on the problem of violence against women. I hoped the stories and commentary shared here would affect some people, somewhere. How did it affect me? … Continue reading
It’s the stories that matter, not the stuff.
This time of year we could use a reminder that it’s the stories that matter, not the stuff. Ten years ago I had my “aha!” moment about this. I had recently become interested in personal history. Fresh from my first … Continue reading
A thought on Truth and Memoir
My colleague in the Association of Personal Historians Philip Sherwood posted to our listserv recently with a note that caught my fancy. With Phil’s permission I pass it along to you. Hi all, Just finished reading Ghosting: A Double Life by … Continue reading
True Stories Well Told 