20 years ago...

20 years ago a wall fell and made history. I remember it very well.
Funny because when I type 20 years ago about something I remember, I feel so old... Hmm not so much!! I was 5 years old!!
5 was that age from which on I remember things. Before my memories are blank. But 1989 and on are clear memories. I remember celbrating the bicentenial of French Revolution. We did a play in Kindergarten with costumes. We learned songs (I remember a couple lyrics about Louis XVI making keys...).
And then in November when the wall fell my parents were watching tv, the news, like every night. But that night was different. My mom was tear-eyed. I was sitting under the dinning table (it was my fort) playing with dolls, and she told me " Look Tiphaine, this is history. Remember this day because it is important." And I saw a crowd of people dancing and singing on tv. And a violin, and fireworks, and people rushing through a wall. And I couldn't understand why today they could cross the wall but the day before they couldn't. It looked like a very happy celebration.
Thank you mom for pointing this out to me. I still remember. What a day!

(My mom is a history teacher. The best if you ask me)

Family stories-2 - Pepe Paul

Last time I told about my great grand mother Renee Degroix-Guillemain. Today I'll tell you more about her husband. I have not known him but I heard a lot about him. He was quite a character.
I don't know much about his childhood, I don't even know if he had siblings. My sister probably does though. Anyway he went to WWI and got engaged to my great grand mother. He was wounded and came back. His wound was pretty impressive. He had a hole in his tight, and my dad says as a kid he could pass his hand through it. I have no idea how this is possible, but I believe him. My uncle developed a great passion for WWI, probably by listening to his stories..
After the war he worked in the city hall of Domont. He was secretary in the major office, which was a pretty good job back then, and brought him much respect. He was also actively involved with the veterans associations. I have seen many many pictures of him, in many official celebrations.
During WWII he could not fight because of his leg, but he set up a plan to provide milk in schools for the children. I don't know much more.
There are many funny stories about him. My favorite is how he dieted.
His doctor told him he needed to diet. He should have a yogurt in the evening.
And so he did. Every night he would eat his yogurt. And then dinner! :)

I think we all have stories of cheating diets..
Mr L's mom would put pies on the higher shelves to cool down, "so the calories get scared and jump"...

Family History and stories- part 1 memee fillette

It's funny how History is part of our family stories.
As a kid I grew up listening to stories of my parents' grandparents and parents during the war. There are even a few stories of Napoleon era or the French Revolution!!
I feel familiar with my family tree up to my parents' grandparents, I know many stories of them, many facts and anecdotes, but before them, not much. Faded tales and legend.
So let's start with the Napoleon story, because that sounds like as far back as it goes. My dad's mom's mom's aunt met Napoleon (the 1st) once. They were wealthy people, in Paris area. I don't know under which circumstances... Anyway the lady was so impressed that she kept the glove she used to shake hands with him. Under a globe. And it was for years on the cupboard that is now in my parents' living room. I have never seen the glove or the globe. I don't know much more about it. Except the cupboard was indeed made around end of XVIII century, so this part works.
I knew my dad's mother's mother's. Her name was Renee. But I knew her as memee fillette. When I was born she was already a certain age. I think she was born slightly before the century. She passed away in 1989, I was 6, and she was well over 90. I remember her very well, as a tiny old lady, with always a shale on her shoulders, sitting in a huge armchair (the kind with ears) her head toping only halfway throught the back of the seat...
(a little like this, except way older, with a white updo and much, much smaller)

My sister remembers her even better. As a kid she gave her her teddy bear, so she doesn't feel lonely. She also learned to play cards with her (which is crucial to my sis).
My great grand mother was from a small town near Paris, and they were on the wealthy side for their time. I think her dad was a butcher. She had a little brother called Robert. I have seen some pictures of them as kids.
The next story I know form her is her courtship with my great grand father Paul. He is a legend by himself so I'll probably say more about him later.. Anyway how they got to know each other I don't remember.. Probably they were in the same town, Domont. They became engaged right before WWI. Then Paul went to the front. They kept writing to each other during that time. I've seen some postcards, the address were quite liberal back then:
Miss Renee Degroix,
at her parents, above the butcher shop,
Domont.
Good luck with that mailman!
Anyway the mysterious letters started then. On her letters, Renee would see a serie of mysterious letters, always the same: MBBSTBA or PPBR or sometimes both.
The mystery was solved after the war.
Mille Bons Baisers Sur Ta Bouche Adoree (= a thousand kisses on your adorated lips!)
Petit Paquet Bien Recu (Received small package without problem)

Around 1932 they had a daughter, Paule. She was an only child and what we call a "late baby". I don't know if they had fertility problems or didn't want more kids..

That's about all I know of my great grandmother. My mom is a history teacher and she delighted in chatting with her. She witnessed so much change in her life: from washing board to fully automatic washing machines, from horses to highways! She even saw a man walking on the moon, on TV..
My mom knows precious stories, I'll need to ask her more..