15 Comments
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Bill Moore's avatar

Beautiful story, Cynthia. Seeing the changes in places that mean so much to us can be heartbreaking. Thanks for including us in your visit.

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked the story. I miss Irma and think about her often.

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wayne quigg's avatar

Lovely memories...I share many of those with my grandparents home in New Brunswick including the quaint small family store in the town with memorable treats that I will never forget .

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

Those are precious memories, wonderful to have.

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Shell Norman's avatar

Love how you make this imagery come to life.

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

Thank you so much!

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David Shaw's avatar

Cynthia, your description triggered memories of my own. Different town but oh so familiar. Nicely written.

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

Those little towns really made a mark in our hearts, didn't they? Thank you.

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David Shaw's avatar

I just realized, Pinckneyville is only about 60 miles from El Dorado. We're probably cousins or something. LOL

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

That is possible through more than one branch. My McCartney bunch had multiple people who lived there, including my 3rd GG John McCartney who died in Perry County in June of 1849.

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David Shaw's avatar

The whole time I am reading your piece, I’m thinking I wonder what it smelled like? Remembering my grandmother’s house (they were about the same generation as your great aunt, I am recalling the smells in detail. The cooked cabbage, Weisswurst, coal dust mélange with a hint of mothball.

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

Her house did have a specific smell. Neither unpleasant nor pleasant; more of an inert smell. Maybe a combo of old furniture polish, houseplants, a blanket chest full of quilts, and potatoes cooking. It was somewhat ethereal, like an old book when you open it, an attic space. I'd recognize it again in an instant.

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Lynda Heines's avatar

Cynthia, Love this story. Brings back my memories of grandma's house. Thanks for sharing your memories.

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Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks for bringing me along on this journey, @Cynthia. It was so vivid and nostalgic and really a lot of what I think we all experience when we go back to a place of precious memories. Beautiful written. Thanks.

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Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

Seeing those places again, for me, brings a physical sensation of the time, like a five-senses memory. Being in the actual place reconnects a long time physical connection to the place and recolors my faded memories.

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