Summer Beach Blog

So here it is at the end of July and I’ve been writing serious blogs about my first book, “Yours Faithfully Florence Burke.”  The novel is a work of historical fiction—and it’s set in Ireland during the Potato Famine and America during the Civil War period. Pretty heavy topics for summer, right?

This week I’ve decided to take a light-hearted look at the differences between my great, great grandmother Ellen living in Ireland in the 19^th century and me (Ellen), living in  20^th century America.

1. My great, great grandmother Ellen had free choice to marry any man… as long as he was Catholic, Catholic or Catholic! I found my true love in a Protestant husband.
2. 19^th Century Irish Ellen ate potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She and her family nearly starved to death when the potato crop was ruined from a fungus. I try NOT to eat too many french fries, potato chip and even baked potatoes because they contain the dreaded “carbs”!
3. My great, great grandmother tamed her thick red hair by pinning it back, and covering it with a bandanna or a bonnet. I use chemical relaxers, blow dryers, straighteners and several rich hair products to smooth my wild red mane.
4. Irish Ellen worked 12 hours a day on her family’s farm (they didn’t own it, they worked it for a landlord living in England). She tilled, plowed and planted crops and walked two miles to town to sell them. I hire landscapers, a plow guy in the winter, wood delivery in the fall, dry-cleaning delivery (my man George Dundee!) and other services such as pest control and chimney cleaning! My physical labor is going to the gym and working out in a climate controlled environment (hopefully with a “hot” personal trainer) and if I get too sore from a tough class then I schedule a hot stone massage to ease the overworked muscles.  I also drink plenty of Vermont Pure water from my personal bubbler that is delivered monthly.
5. In addition to working 12 hours a day, my Irish great, great grandmother had to cook, clean, chop wood, collect water, milk and eggs– and make fires. I am uncomfortable when our air conditioner is on low. I also have a microwave to make quick and easy meals for my family. If I’m too busy to cook, I order take-out or have food delivered. I can throw my laundry and dishes into an electric machine and go out for the day, and if I there’s any item I need there’s a store around that I can DRIVE to or order it on line (thank you Amazon).
6. Irish Ellen drank lots of tea because it was cold and rainy in Ireland. She’d make a fire, collect water from the well and pour the water into a kettle and hang it on a rod iron over the flames. Then she’d wait… When the water finally boiled she’d take a thick towel and remove the kettle from the rod and pour the hot water through a metal strainer into a pot and cover the lid. Then wait again. I would already be on my second grande cappuccino from Starbucks by then! Forget tea, (unless it is a large regular iced tea from Dunkin Donuts) this 20^th century Ellen prefers the ambiance and convenience of the many local coffee shops-or at least the ease of a coffee maker (Nespresso).
7. In winter, my Irish ancestor had to shovel the snow and ice, keep fires burning all day, collect wood, use candles or lampslight to see, wear layers of clothing in and out of the house and use warm bricks as electric blankets. I turn my heat up to as high as my husband will allow, turn on many lights in the house to brighten the house, plan a warm-climate getaway, ski, skate and slide to “make the best of it” and go on line to purchase spring outfits. If the snow piles up our plow guy clears our driveways and we use our snow blower to clear the sidewalks. If we lose power, God forbid we spend one moment in the dark, we simply turn on our generator and “rough it” until National Grid fixes the problem.
8. To communicate with neighbors or friends Irish Ellen had to walk miles and miles from her isolated farm to other people’s houses– or she could walk several miles to town to post a letter (wait time for response: 3 weeks!). Living in the modern era I can simply pick up my cell phone, or use a device to call, text, email, tweet, snapchat or instagram my friends. Of course there are people from my past and present that I may want to communicate with or share an instant photo or selfie-don’t forget Facebook! If I am feeling energetic I may even hop into my car (or call Uber) so I can visit my friends in person.
9. My great, great grandmother read the bible and the local newspaper (if she walked the two miles to town to buy it). She also knitted and sang songs to unwind and stay entertained. I enjoy watching professional sports teams, reading (even trite Us Magazine) television, (yes, reality TV too-Real Housewives?!?) movies, computer games, computer apps, and of course, travelling and spa services. I read and watch the local and national news so I am up to date on current events- not just news of my small county like Granny.
10. In the 19^th century my great, great grandmother ate food that she grew in her garden and cooked in her kitchen. As I mentioned before, many of her dishes contained the mighty spud. She’d fry them, use them in soup, in bread, or just add a bunch of herbs and bake them. I get bored if we I eat “all American” foods for a week. Luckily, I am a patron on the many ethnic restaurants available in our town. I am also gluten-free because I’ve become “wheat intolerant.” A holistic doctor told me I’m also lactose intolerant, sugar, soy, peanut, dairy, corn and salicylate intolerant. It’s a good thing we also have medical doctors who told me to just eat in moderation. Thankfully I still enjoy occasional Twinkies, microwave popcorn and Chinese take-out.

As you can see, I think it’s pretty clear that my Irish great, great grandmother had to be one “bad ass” to survive the challenging life in 19^th century Ireland.  I didn’t even get into the fact that she had no immunizations for her children, no Urgent Care centers on every corner, no modern medicine or nurses and doctors to help her deliver babies. I think she’s amazing and what you may not know is that she did much of this survival ALONE while her husband was fighting in the Civil war.  I think she is a hero and I can’t imagine the difficult circumstances she found herself in—not only did she endure, she thrived! Way to go great, great Grammy! I hope you’ll read my book when it gets in to print, you’ll learn about my Irish immigrant family who came to America in search of the “dream”—and the hardships and triumphs Irish Ellen and her family experienced along the way.