Write Away,

"When Apples Grow On Trees" was a wonderful read and an affirmation that we writers, here at Afrigeneas, are on the right track.

Teresa Barnes won me over in the first paragraph; "... our bodies were the documents of their survival."

The lessons I take from Ms. Barnes is that we must have courage to take our family stories and research them. If they don't lead to documents and archives, they are valuable none the less. They are our history.

"... She had saved more than enough stuff to fill two dusty museums. We threw almost all of it out." That reminded me of the 'stuff' my mother and Aunt Sadye would throw out. I wish I had that stuff to further flesh out my family's history.

"... But the social mantra that I learned-- as heritage-- was that sending children to the best school you could possibly afford, scrimping and saving if necessary, was the only way to move up." This reminds me of my Uncle George stepping in (quietly behind the scenes) on my behalf to supplement my college education. I didn't understand what it meant at the time; but I digress.

Thank you for providing a writer's forum, giving us constructive criticism and referring us to articles that not only inform, but inspire.

Let's hear from the rest!

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

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