Jeanie’s Story

From the Ruins to Paradise

     PREFACE:

     I contemplated penning a book about my life, only to be daunted by the formidable task ahead. With no formal training in book writing and a life that felt too complex to capture on paper, I reluctantly shelved the thought, intending to revisit it later. However, this idea persisted over the years, as if divinely ordained, constantly resurfacing with new memories and inspiration.

     Then, fate intervened during an estate sale when I stumbled upon a box of books I bought. Some of the books were music books on the flute and the history of music. All of them were 100 years or older. Among them, a plain manila envelope measuring 9 x 14 inches emerged, adorned with a postage label bearing the mark of time: November 8th, 1938, Atlantic City, NJ. The envelope, graced by canceled U.S. Postal stamps, had the words "First Class Postage Special Delivery" proudly imprinted. This envelope was obviously repurposed as a holder for this person’s journal notes.

     What truly piqued my interest was the elegant script adorning the front of the envelope, which read, "My First Journal."

    Inside this time-capsule envelope, I discovered several sheets of paper, likely torn from a Big Chief writing tablet. These sheets, now delicate and yellowed with age, bore the marks of faded ink, making the text challenging to decipher. She used most likely a refillable fountain pen, as the lines got lighter and lighter as the ink ran with this person's thoughts. Only the front of each page was crafted with continuous cursive writing, devoid of line spacing, paragraphs, or page breaks. It was as if the writer's thoughts flowed uninterrupted across nearly a century-old handwritten letter to herself as if in a diary.

     The mystery deepened as I considered the age of this manuscript and speculated on its origins. Eager to uncover the writer's identity, I scoured the internet but found no one matching the description in the story. Perhaps, I mused, this was an alias. My curiosity piqued, and I yearned to immerse myself in this mysterious writer's narrative and learn her story.

     I firmly believe that God guided me to this antique document, giving me newfound confidence and purpose to embark on a writing journey. As I began to read, I found myself swiftly engrossed, unable to tear my eyes away from the pages. The trials and tribulations endured by this young woman, whom I hesitated to call anything but poor, were nothing short of astonishing. I longed for the chance to meet her today, to uncover the untold chapters of her family's saga, left behind in her wake.

     It was evident that this young girl lacked formal training in storytelling or book writing. The faded, hard-to-decipher pages mirrored the challenging times she lived through—a period when countless others across the nation endured similar hardships. This was especially true in the aftermath of the World War era depression in the U.S.A. at that time.

     Now, nearly 100 years removed from that tumultuous period, her story serves as a poignant reminder. It renews my perspective on my trivial challenges and difficult Moments, putting them into context alongside the unfathomable ordeals’ others have endured, both in the past and present. I find solace in the belief that a higher power watches over us all.

     Within the pages of this book unfolds a profoundly evocative narrative that unveils a chaotic and unyielding initiation into life, thus laying the foundation for an extraordinary journey yet to come. Our narrator, a young girl of a mere 14 years, bears witness to a lifetime's worth of trials and tribulations before most have even taken their first step into adolescence. Her remarkable odyssey commences on a frigid December night in the unforgiving year of 1924, a chilling backdrop for her unlikely arrival on the world stage, the city dump, that sprawls on the fringes of the bustling New York City. This is a story of the family dynamic during the depression times as seen through the eyes of a little girl living nightmares and the dreams.

     In this atypical setting, referred to as "the ruins," her family calls home a one-room stone structure, bereft of luxury and comfort. A leaky roof hangs precariously overhead, a dirt floor underfoot, and boarded-up windows stand sentinel against the relentless elements. In place of opulent furnishings, they improvise, crafting chairs from wooden crate boxes and placing boards atop barrels for tables. Yet, despite the starkness of their abode, they fashion warmth from the flames that dance in an open fireplace, and their tenacity drives them to scavenge for old carpets and any discarded treasures that might render their dwelling a tad more hospitable.

     Nights unveil a distinctive ritual for the family, as they embark on their unique scavenger hunt amidst the vast expanse of the dump, in search of items possessing some semblance of value, to be peddled door-to-door.

      But lurking amidst the dimly lit alleys of their existence is the specter of a negligent father, whose indolence and disregard for the family's well-being cast a shroud over their lives. He squanders their hard-earned earnings, heedless of the toll it takes on their safety, health, and principles. His perpetual flight from the clutches of the law casts an ominous shadow over the household, rendering it a hostile terrain for its inhabitants, none more so than our resilient protagonist, Jeanie. Yet, against all odds, she preserves her innocence and faculties, and through sheer grit and determination, she navigates the treacherous terrain of "the ruins," ultimately transcending it to embrace a semblance of paradise.

     This challenging existence is the crucible in which our narrator takes her first breath, and the stage is set with a vivid portrayal of the night she makes her entrance into the world—a night where her mother, draped in tattered garments, shares a dirt floor in "the ruins" as her birthplace. I give you Jeanie’s Story

Synopsis:

     "JEANIE'S STORY: From the Ruins to Paradise" is a compelling narrative about the transformative journey of a young girl who has faced numerous hardships in her life. The story begins with 14-year-old Jeanie as she recounts her harsh introduction to life on the coldest night in December of 1924. Born and delivered by her grandma on the dirt floor in a one room stone walled building in the New York city dump, they called the ruins.  This structure of theirs was a house too damaged for owners to rent but was large enough to cook, eat, and sleep in. There was only one bed which the dad used, while the rest of them slept on the floor. This was the typical setting for most of the places they called home.

     Her dad was running from the law because of bad deeds, small crimes and abandoning several of his children. The family spends its days in the dump scavenging for any goods to sell to the better neighborhoods at night. Upon returning the father quickly takes all money collected by the mother and children from nightly outings and uses it to lavish his new girlfriends. The father soon has everyone performing acts of begging, stealing, conning and dirty deeds to feed his lifestyle.

     Jeanie overcomes family poverty, fatherly abuse, brotherly sex advances, and lack of education, to put faith in her grandma with a letter and a prayer. Even after grandma delivered her to Paradise Beach, she still finds struggles that only become new challenges for her life goals. She seeks her musical career with New Yorks elite musicians, only to have family setbacks that forces her to return to Paradise. She marries her first three-legged race and dance partner only to find out she can’t give him kids. Then her department store uncle and soon to be senator helps her adopt the most precious story stealing little orphan named Mary Ann with no last name or birthdate.  Mary, after having it paid forward to her at the age of 6, learns how important it is to make others feel loved just like she is. Her unselfish giving brings hope and healing to Jeanie, her new family, the community, and the reader’s hearts. The torch of happiness passes to little Mary as she too finds her paradise when she gets the last dance.

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