Category: Family Stories

Very Superstitious

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant2 Comments

Are you superstitious?

I really wish I could say no, I am not superstitious, but I have my moments. I grew up in a haunted house, and when the tea kettle would boil water on its own and then whistle, mom would make instant coffee, and I would often make a cup of tea. After all, “someone” had gone to all that trouble.

The Ghost on Lincoln Avenue

Winning the Lottery

Published on by Ann Marie BryantLeave a comment

What would you do if you won the lottery?

If I won the lottery, I would do all the normal things that I know I should do. I would help family and friends and set aside money to help those down on their luck. But the one thing I know I would do in a heartbeat would be to find a mountain cabin among pine trees and aspens in the Colorado mountains.

For me, there is just something magical when spending time in nature. I love the smell of mountain pines on a crisp morning. I enjoy setting on a porch, drinking my coffee, and watching hummingbirds flit about their feeders and chipmunks scurry about looking for food to store. I love hearing breaking twigs and crunching leaves, knowing that when I look up, I will view mule deer walking slowly in the distance, ever alert of their surroundings.

Relaxing in the mountains offers a quiet peace and restores the soul. So until I win the lottery, I will be content taking my mountain getaways and dreaming of a time when I can call a piece of the Rocky Mountains home.

My Favorite Teacher

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant10 Comments

As a child, my mother would read to me every day. Books were an essential part of my life from an early age, and Mama laid the foundation for my love of books. When I was about three years old, she started teaching me the alphabet, and I began writing those letters. By the time I was four years old, I was reading books independently.

One fun activity I enjoyed was our treasure hunts. It taught me some of my sight words. Go, to and the. Then my mother would draw objects from around the house with the word printed under her creations. My vocabulary grew as I learned the words: lamp, couch, mailbox, and so many more. Once I completed my activity, I would find a treat or barrette or hair ribbon for my treasure.

She taught me how to read with the Dick and Jane primer series as my vocabulary grew. I was so excited to show my dad that I could read Fun with Dick and Jane. As I progressed, so did my library. She always made sure that I had plenty of books to read. Some of my favorite childhood series included the Dr. Seuss books, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys.

Looking back at that time, I fondly remember a busy mother taking time to ensure I had a good start on my educational journey. Without a doubt, my favorite teacher made learning exciting.  ‘

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Mama’s Timeline

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant4 Comments

Recently, our school worked on research projects for the Middle Years Program. Our eighth graders worked on a living history project. One of the projects students created was a timeline about a person they interviewed. It included at least ten global threshold events and ten personal events about the person they picked. Since I thought it was a great idea, I completed a timeline too about my mom Dorothy Allen.

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Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais: The Mother of Universal Charity

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Margueritte d’Youville – Le Mémorial du Québec, 1918

All the wealth in the world cannot be compared with the happiness of living together happily united.

— Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais – Saint Marie-Marguerite d’Youville

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No, Not That One

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant1 Comment

Tales of a Family

In 1956 in the little town of Delta, Colorado while standing with her parents, a young woman cried; she wasn’t ready to leave her parents and return home.  Her vacation was not long enough, and she wished she could spend more time with her family.  As people began to gather at the bus stop that would take them to western destinations, the parents of the young women tried to comfort their daughter as she prepared to head back to California and return to her job as a telephone operator in Oakland.  Once the bus pulled up to the curb, her parents teased her about the fine-looking young men in uniform that were also traveling on the bus.  Her mother spotted a handsome man in his dress greens; he had dark hair and large brown eyes that warmly sparkled when he smiled.  “Oh, I would sit by that one,” her mother…

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