Texas Family Secrets Page: 89 of 212
[4], 206 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
were the keepers of family hurts and family grievances. And
yet the matriarchs in my family exhibited an uncompromising,
undaunted spirit permitting them to rise above the catastrophes
and reversals which come with life.
When my maternal grandfather died, his wife took over the
business, becoming the first female glazier in Brooklyn. While
my paternal grandfather spent twelve hours a day in his shop,
his wife shoveled coal into the furnace and snow off the sidewalk
in addition to her routine chores of cooking, cleaning and
raising five boys-with neither a complaint nor a protest. It
was expected.
When Aunt Rose fainted, ruining what was purported to be a
happy, joyful day, Father was upset. "Bobeh myseh " [fairy story]
he cried out as an apology for my act of heresy. "My daughter
has a vivid imagination from which she makes a bobeh myseh.
What woman would want to be a man?"
Obviously women harbored their secret well. A ten-year-old
puts into words what women held in their hearts. How often it
was expressed in various forms. "If men bore children the world
would have ended with Adam and Eve."
Everything personal was secretive. Mother, too shy to discuss
the menstrual cycle with me, sent away to the Kotex company
for the pamphlet they distributed. It was called "Marjorie's
Twelfth Birthday." After reading it I felt like Cinderella waiting
for Prince Charming. On the day I became a woman it wasn't
exactly a romp at the beach. Mother locked the two of us in the
bathroom and proceeded to instruct me in the salient points of
preparation.
Now, locking the bathroom door was forbidden to us children
in our house. Expecting the worst, I intuitively began to
howl. Crouching on the other side of the door was my sister,
her ear glued to the door. She drew her own conclusions. Darting
out of the house she started ringing doorbells.
"Mrs. Schwartz, my sister is having a baby."
"Vas mir. A Jezebel."
Word flew faster than the sound of a speeding bullet. By the
time Mother and I emerged from the bathroom I had been tried,
84
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Texas Family Secrets (Book)
Collection of stories by forty local writers describing family histories and anecdotes in the Grayson County, Texas area. Each story is preceded by a brief biographical sketch of the author.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Lincecum, Jerry Bryan & Redshaw, Peggy A. Texas Family Secrets, book, 1997; Sherman, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth20209/m1/89/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin College.