How I Got By
A Family Saga
by
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“So, it has to be something good.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Bad news comes in telegrams or phone calls. Hurry up, open it,” she said as we entered my apartment. Shelly, the eternal optimist gets excited when I don’t. I’m not a pessimist, I don’t think, just more reserved. Why get excited before you know if you’re going to be let down. I went to one corner of the large living room area to the French sofa table that serves as a desk and took the letter opener from a drawer. Taking my time I opened the envelope, I don’t want to know its contents. Shelly poured two glasses of cold water, looking at me she said, “So.”
“Looks like an invitation.”
“To…” she said waiting for me to say more.
“A reunion. The Fifteenth Annual Redmond Family Reunion, hosted by the Michigan Chapter.”
“Now you have an excuse to go home.”
I cut my eyes at Shelly. “I don’t need an excuse.”
“No you don’t, but you’re the one who says you don’t have any reason to go.”
“And I still don’t,” I tossed the packet of materials onto the kitchen counter and picked up the glass of water.
“There are plenty of reasons for you to go see your family Nikki. You’re so stubborn. Why won’t you admit you need them and that this is a good excuse, reason, or whatever you want to call it?”
“I don’t want to call it anything.” I untied my shoes and kicked them off. Shelly is making me angry. This is not a subject I like to discuss. I wiggled my toes in the cotton socks that now clung to my feet. Why did I have to open that envelope? I drank my water without speaking.
I’m sure Shelly could tell I was getting mad. She sat on a stool at the opposite end of the counter from me. She didn’t look up for a couple of minutes, it looked like her eyes were closed, she took a sip of water then said, “Hey Nikki, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to jump all over you.”
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have snapped.”
“So what does it say?” She asked.
“Here, you read it,” I said handing her the materials. I opened the rest of my mail while Shelly read the reunion invitation, some parts out loud.
“This sounds like a nice reunion.”
“I guess so.”
“A tour of the Underground Railroad and your great-great-great grandparents life story, including their move to
“Okay,” I said setting the letter opener on the counter and picking up my glass again. “I’ll admit, it does sound interesting.”
“Do you realize most people don’t even know their great-great-great grandparents names, let alone their life stories? I’d like to go. You know Nikki my family’s history has never been researched. We don’t even talk about it.”
“You don’t, why not? Researching family histories is so much easier these days. There are all sorts of books available to help you get started, and the Internet has amazing resources on that kind of thing. As close as your family is and as much as you get together I would think they’d want to know.”
“You would think so, but my great grandparents and that generation didn’t talk about it because they didn’t believe there was anything to discuss. A lot of people thought like that back then. They didn’t want to remember all the terrible times of slavery. During reconstruction people had to work hard to get ahead. Plunging forward meant not looking back in those days.”
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About the Book
Nikki Alexander returns home after a 13-year absence to have her life turned upside down. She discovers 100 years of family traditions, obligations, and bonds of faith, love and forgiveness.
Five generations earlier a strong willed, determined slave escaped through the Underground Railroad. As she questions her faith Lily weaves a tapestry of courage, hope and love.
Grandmother Violet battles her overbearing mother in the 1930’s and sacrifices everything in her quest for independence.
The sudden death of Nikki’s mother, plagues her father Paul with hopelessness. Forgetting his responsibilities, he abandons his daughter when she needs him most.
When Nikki’s inheritance is about to be taken from her, she must decide whether to stay and fight for her birthright, forgive her father, or leave without her family.
About the Author
As a parent volunteer, a school project evolved into an in-depth research of the Underground Railroad throughout
Glenna Livingston is the descendant of slaves in
Ms. Livingston has written a variety of articles for various publications. She is editor of the newsletter for her church, Sunday School Youth Leader, and Women’s Bible Study Leader. She lives in