Examples Of An Interview With Judy Peiton

My grandmother Lynne Murphy is who I chose to interview for my heritage project. This summer at a family birthday party I was speaking short phrases in Spanish while joking around with my dad. My grandmother, sitting beside us, joined in the conversation and starting speaking fluent Spanish. I had no idea she could speak Spanish, so I asked her, “How can you speak Spanish?” Before answering my question she laughed. She went on to tell me that she lived in South America for many years as a teenager. I didn’t have the chance to learn anymore about her childhood until this project was assigned. When I learned we were to focus on a family member’s experience growing up, I immediately thought about my grandmother and the interesting life she seemed

During my time interview my grandma Moui, she stated her grandfather is named Thongdee Sophabmixay and he married my great great-grandmother Nang Laso. He was the mayor of the Muang Sami Tai of the Huaphanh province Laos. Her grandfather had married to three wives after each one of them dies and had nine children. Thongphet is Thongdee’s son which is my great grandfather and he married to Kang Koui which is my great-grandmother. Thongphet was a judge of Xiang Man City and he had nine children. However, three of the children die and the rest went to live in the country of United States, Australia, and Laos.

Sister Muriel, who was also my grandmother, and who I affectionately referred to as granny, was a bit more tired than usual on the eve of December 10, 1958.  Slumber seemed to be calling early, so quietly heading toward the dorm seemed to be the best idea to take her tired body. As her feet climbed the stairs, she could feel the cool breeze against her face, and her body seemed to be a little more difficult going up these steep cement steps, there were so many of them. This evening seemed to encourage reflective thoughts, normally she had a smile for everyone, but tonight her mood a bit melancholy, but then again it could be she had a long day serving, or she missed her deceased husband, Merritt.  However, the quiet, evening allowed her to

The modern day world is much different than it used to be one hundred years ago. Conditions now are very different from those of the past, such as how people communicate, dress, and live their daily lives. My grandmother, Linda, agreed to sit down with me and explain the changes and historic events she experienced throughout her lifetime. Her full name is Linda Marie Batye, and she was born on April 26th, 1947, making her sixty-nine years of age. Although she is retired, Linda was an executive assistant at South County Bank in Boone County. After divorcing my grandfather before I was born, she now resides in Columbia with her dog, Squirt. After asking her many questions, I began to weave historic events and her life together.

Starting this research project. I felt that I would not be able to find someone to answer my questions. I dislike it because I felt I would not have enough time to interview anyone due to working full time and going to school full time. My subjects were willing to take ten minutes out of their time to sit down with me while I asked them some questions. I experienced a hard time with finding a variety of ethnic subjects, but I did one better. I found a forty-seven-year-old man, a thirty-five-year-old man and a nineteen-year-old girl.

For this week it was still a struggle for my grandma Bonnie to recall events. We were on the phone for about 10 minutes and it felt like she was disappointed that she was unable to recall her childhood at this stage. I decided to ask if she could tell me a story about any of my aunts or my dad again. My grandma wanted to tell me a story about my dad what she believed was when he was at the age of four or five. At this time my grandma had her hands full, she had five children, two who were recently born (twins) from her story of my dad. She went on to tell me it could be a struggle at times because my grandpa served our country and was always away while she stayed at home with the children living on an Airforce base. To lighten up on the

According to my great grandmother Betty Winters who is a very special asset to the Murphy family, the nationalities my ancestors identifies with is Black and Indian. My great great grandmother was Black and my grandfather identified as Indian. My ancestors were originally from South Carolina and North Carolina and they migrated to Washington DC for better opportunities. My great grandmother expressed that she cleaned the white house for many of years and her mother was a cab driver in Washington DC. It has also been told that my great grandfather was an electrician for Pepco. My grandmother explained that my ancestors valued family, religion, and work. She mentioned that it was normal for my ancestors to have children at a young age. She expressed that her mother had her during her early teenage years and she started to procreate children at fourteen as well. She indicated that there was no birth control during her time and it was typical for women to have multiple children young. According to my grandmother, the world was a petrifying place during her time. She mentioned that attending church and turning to god was very important for my family. She expressed that religion held the family together and provided comfort from discrimination. She explained that education was not that important to my ancestors because of the injustice they encountered. My great grandmother confessed to having a middle school education and having to work to provide for her family. She mentioned

“My grandkids,” she said, “in the living room in front of the fireplace is where I give this speech I speak from a very humbling experience of mine. This story has remained the same since the time I told your parents, it’s older than dirt just like me. Telling this may cause me great pain as it brings back many memories of who could’ve been your grandfather. Telling this story may cause joy for some, but don’t feel pity for me, for this experience is one of my biggest life lessons. I’m telling you this story just like I’ve told your parents so you can be wiser than I have been, for that is my only intent. For love can leave the deepest cut, but it’ll only make you stronger. Over time this wound will heal. In this story you will see what happens when you try to impress your friends. If you listen to ole grandma you might just learn a thing or two. Oh my grandchildren just listen and make a difference. Are you ready for this story?”

I woke up to the sun shining into my room, and knew then it was gonna be a good day. That day I had planned on going to see my great grandma that had been sick on and off, and this time they weren’t sure what they were gonna do. I learned to love someone as much as you can when you still have the chance to and it’s not too late,and that person is gone.

My grandmother moved about as much as her husband did. Eyes glazed over, locked onto closed lids.

When I was younger, I lived down the street from my grandma and grandpa. I would go to their house all the time. Whenever I went to their house, I would watch TV or movies, eat junk food, and if the weather was nice I would go outside and play in the hose water. But my all time favorite thing about going to their house was when they would swing me back and forth in a blanket. I would lay on the blanket and they would each grab an end. I’m guessing it might have looked like a hammock, I wouldn’t know though, since I was in the blanket. They swung the blanket back and forth. The best part, was when they swung the blanket onto the couch, it was like I was flying, even though it was only for half a second.

My family story is not about someone blood related but rather a family friend of my great grandmother. Her name is Eva Mozes Kor, a twin of her sister Miriam, born in nineteen thirty four. They were born into a family of three other children. They resided a tiny town in Transylvania, Romania. In May of nineteen forty four, Eva and her family arrived by cattle car at the concentration camp, Auschwitz. They got down from the cattle car, where people were chosen to live or die. People were crying, pushing, and shoving each other. Dogs were barking, everyone was trying to make sense of the place. Eva turned around while trying to identify where the nazis had taken she and her family. She had never seen or even heard of a place like this. When she turned around she realized that her father and her two older sisters were gone and she never saw them again. She and her sister Miriam were holding onto their mother for dear life. A nazi was running in the middle of that selection platform, yeling at the other nazis, “Twins,twins.” while pointing at Eva and her sister. Another nazi then noticed them and commanded to know if Eva and Miriam were twins. Her mother then asked “Is that good?” and the nazi responded “yes.” Then her mother said “yes they are twins.” At that moment, another nazi came, pulled her mother to the right and pulled she and her sister the other way, they were crying as they watched their mother sobbing while being pulled away from them. All Eva can recall is

I watched as the group of young girls began to quieten down. It seemed that they had all become fairly acquainted with one another in the time it took for the the library to be set up with enough seats to hold around thirty teenage girls and their mothers. I smiled and greeted them all with a pleasant, “Hi. Please, take a seat.” A small smile graced my face as I started the story. “This is a tale from a long time ago, about a girl who even now proves to be a role model to many, my great grandmother, Queen Bridget Blair.” The mentioning of my grandmother has many sitting up straight, focusing intently on the words that follow. “My great grandmother is known now as the first reigning queen of Scotland, but she had not always held such a position of power.” I sigh, replaying the story I must have heard over a hundred times, in my head.

Paw-Paw is an astounding lady. In Chinese, ones mother's mother is called Paw-Paw. My grandmother is a small snazzy lady with a spunky personality and so much caring in her soul. She takes care of anyone in need and spends time helping everyone. My grandma is one uncommon woman and anyone who meets her can easily figure that out. She is my grandma, friend, and one of my biggest role models as she had to travel across the world to come to the United States. She cares, she cooks, she hugs, and she loves.

My great grandmother’s house was my favorite place to visit, but I can’t travel there anymore. We called my great grandmother “Mawmaw”, the whole family did for as long as I can remember. Mawmaw shared her home with her three daughters, my great aunts, Toni, Olisa, and Charlotte. They were all so different, but came together perfectly to create their own little system. The neighbors called them “The Golden Girls”. During the day they all did their own thing, but every night they would gather at the table for dinner, and then would gather into the living room, all sitting in specific chairs to watch The Price is Right. They rarely ever left the house because all of the groceries were delivered to them and they did not own a car. They did not to leave. The home became their little world, and just by stepping foot inside I could feel the love. Every room in that house was a different world, they were all such different people I think that’s why as I kid, it almost felt magical.