So many stories to tell, one has to start somewhere. Not one, in this case—me. I’ll keep them short, because time is short and longer is more daunting. And I hope that those of you who figure in these stories or whose stories intersect with mine will make comments and corrections, share your own stories, generally enter into conversation with them. (In the interest of preserving a little privacy, please use just first names in your comments, or first names and just the initials of last names.)
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Josna – there’s to be a “celebratory” event at St Catherine’s School, Athens, on Friday 17 May, to remember Christine Warren Tutte, the headmistress about whom you have written so movingly. I wanted to read out parts of your blog at that event as below. Would you mind? Michael
“Christine tells us what she thought of the school, staff and pupils, as well as her life in Athens, in her book, Spiked Wheels and Little Owls, published in 2006. There is less space devoted to what others thought of her.
In her blog, Tell Me Another, Josna Rege writes:
“July 5th, 2012: I have just received the sad news from the PA to the headmaster of St. Catherine’s that Christine Warren Tutte passed away on July 3rd. I mourn the loss of a great teacher and human being. I offer my sincere sympathy to her family and to all who knew and loved her. At last I will be making contact with her through her book, since St. Catherine’s has kindly offered to send me a copy.”
“July 30th, 2012: Today I received Miss Tutte’s book in the mail. Imagine my emotions when I opened it to find a photograph of my class, with a beaming eight year old me in the front row, bearing the caption: “the first class I taught when I arrived in 1962.”
She goes on to relate a characteristic story about Christine:
“One week Miss Tutte was waging a campaign to improve our vocabulary—not that she would ever have put it in those pedestrian terms. She drew a square box on the blackboard with vertical bars on the front of it, and inside, languishing, she put the word “nice.” Every time we used that word, she explained, we would get a demerit. It was still early in the week and we were collectively racking up the demerits at an alarming rate. The class was in danger of getting demoralized, and I watched Miss Tutte, wondering how she was going to handle this. Then she made a brilliant move: she used the forbidden word herself! A chorus of voices cried out triumphantly, “Miss! Miss! Demerit for you, Miss, you used the forbidden word!” And as she did a masterful job of feigning startled surprise at having been caught, I fancy that Miss Tutte gave me an almost imperceptible wink, as if she knew that I had guessed her little secret, and could trust me to keep it for her.”
Dear Michael,
I am touched and would be honored if you shared some of my reminiscences of Christine Warren Tutte (or Miss Tutte, as I still can’t help but think of her). I would ave loved to be able to be there in person, but this way I’ll be able to feel that I am a part of the celebration of her remarkable life. I think that the story of “nice” in prison does captures something of her approach to teaching and to young people.
If there is anyone there on Saturday who was at St. Catherine’s between 1961 and 1963 (wow, that was a long time ago!), please greet them for me and let them know that I’d be delighted if they got in touch.
Thanks again, and I will be there in spirit.
Josna (or Jojo, as I was known then)
I nominated you for a Blogging A to Z Challenge Liebster Award.
Thank you, Evangeline–much appreciated. I’ve just visited both your blogs and find the concept, the format , and the style imaginative and engaging–and funny, too! Look forward to following the exploits of your geriatric intelligence expert and her daughter. Best wishes, J
Well written Josna (the post about Arabic and autoantonyms; I noticed it because the word ‘antonym’ features in my tagline.
Evangeline
[...] Tell Me Another [...]
Loving your blog so far. Following. Thanks for commenting on my post the other day and leading me here!
Thanks, bottledworder! Likewise, I’m delighted to have been led to your blog. I like it very much (am also following it) and look forward to reading more of your posts. Your voice is so alive and you’re clearly switched on and thinking all the time. It inspires me to be looser and bolder in my own writing.
I edit http://www.indiaofthepast.org, where the aim is to capture memories of India and Indians that are at least 50 years old. Many of your stories would be suitable for my website. Please check out my website, and contact me at scmathur@gmail.com if you would like to contribute to my website. Withe regards, Subodh Mathur
What a terrific site! Thank you for visiting my site and I would encourage anyone to visit yours. I’d be happy to contribute to indiaofthepast.org. Best wishes, J
Such clear and beautiful writing, Josna. I love how your memories just come alive on the page. These stories are a true gift!
Thank you, Joyce, for your kind words. I hope Tell Me Another encourages you to share your writing with a wider audience as well. I’m sure that it will resonate with a community of readers with common interests and concerns. (And let’s meet again soon–perhaps over tea?)
Vidya! I’m so glad you liked the Mango Room story. Hope you will like the stories about my schooldays in Darjeeling, since you had visited there recently. Did you read “From a Railway Carriage”? If not, I think you might enjoy it, too. Love, J
PS Recognize the photo at the top of the “About” page? (chup-chaap, no names…!)
Jojo, what a wonderful surprise! Today Pinu told me about this blog & stories of Ratnagiri. I read mango tree & could vividly visualise chubby jayant dada turning into a mango.
Thank you. I am now avid fan of yours
Fabuloso, Jo! I love the stories I’ve read so far, and will work my way thru the archives. You have a strong voice and are gifted at making the “mundane” intriguing. This blog is an inspiration to record one’s memories (and those of other family members) for one’s children, and this method — in quick, random bites — seems the least overwhelming and most doable. Write On! xxoo, McNancy
Thanks, McNance! Yes, doable is the watchword. These memories are so evanescent, and they started demanding urgently to be set down as soon as dear Nikhil suggested this bite-size form. Love, Jo
Josna, you are always prompting me to write my story, and lately as
others ask the same of me, I’ve given some thought to doing so, but
in all honesty it is you that is truly the writer. I can only hope
to be the writer that you are.
Thank you for your confidence in me, Jimii, but I must respectfully disagree about your own writing skills. What about considering a blog yourself? You can set the privacy settings so that only you can see it, or only specified friends. I might never have gotten started if Nikhil hadn’t just gone ahead and set it up for me, but now I’m a believer! J
Delightful tales of the Reges, Melnechuks, and assorted other characters, some of whom I know and some of whom I will meet in the blogosphere. Josna, thanks for taking the time to write these charming stories.
Thank you, “little d” (d-ski)–there would be no delightful stories without the delightful characters who people them. Writing them is great fun. xo J
Thank you, Jan. I mostly read books, as I remember, though Mum and Dad told us stories; but that was one of the original thoughts in the back of my mind–to collect very short stories from all the different branches of our family, across continents and across generations that could be told as bedtime stories. Mum told so many about her childhood, too, that I’d love to set down in writing before I forget even more of them. xxo Jo
How lovely to read your fascinating and wonderfully entertaining stories. Nikhil must have loved bedtime with stories like these
XXX
Congratulations! You have a wonderful writer’s voice. I like the brief format. Keep them coming, over time they could add up to something monumental.
Hi Cussin
These are lovely – keep them coming. Love you lots. Cussin Lesleyxx
could you tell me about the tree house that you and the Melnies built in Brookline…?
Your every wish is my command.
These stories are absolutely wonderful, and somehow gripping. I am eating up the words as I munch along faster and faster. I love the simplicity and straightforwardness of the language. It packs a big punch. Also, the content is fascinating. I like learning more about you and Andrew, too, in these small bites. Keep up the good work!
I am your devoted fan already! More! I want more!
I find myself wanting to write dozens of these all at once, but Nikhil says I need to pace myself. And then there’s work–such a nuisance.