Frances Hunter

blog of the author To the Ends of the Earth

 

Frances Hunter's Journal
June 2009

Winner, Violet Crown Award for Fiction

Silver Medal Winner, Independent Publisher Book Awards

Finalist, Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Awards

 

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June 24, 2009: Many a Bare Arse Is Comin'

One thing that often surprises readers is to learn how earthy and uninhibited people were in early America. Most people think that people in the past were always dignified and morally upright, even prudish, and it wasn't until the 1960s that folks began to "let it all hang out."

But as a matter of fact, what we call "Victorian" morality didn't come along until the later two-thirds of the 19th century. It was a strong reaction to the licentiousness permitted in earlier decades, which in itself had been a reaction to the strict moral code of the Puritans. It is interesting to ponder these tensions over time between hedonism and morality and wonder where we're headed in our own times.

Lewis and Clark came of age and lived in an era of sexual permissiveness, a fact that is reflected in their pragmatic approach to their men's affairs with Indian women on the trail and their frank and open discussions of the treatment for venereal disease. Bob Arnebeck has a great website that discusses many of the issues relating to Sex in the 1790s, including the theater, interracial sex, political sex scandals, and homosexuality.

It's also fun to look at old folk songs, many of which will blow your hair back and would make a rapper blush! Check out Robert Burns' Dirty Linen to learn about the folk songs collected by the Scottish poet, some of which he called "the smuttiest sang[s] that e'er was sung."

If you want to hear some of the songs enjoyed by our forebears, you can check out the work of the great folk singer and historian Oscar Brand, who has put out a number of CDs of bawdy old songs. Jack Horntip's folklore site has some excerpts you can listen to. Some of these songs have been around for hundreds of years, while others are from the World War II or even Vietnam eras. Check it out -- if you dare!

June 16, 2009: Where I've Been, Where I'm At

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted to the journal. My goal has always been at least once a week, but that fell by the wayside this spring.

The reason is, as my friends know, that this spring has seen the most protracted and intense family crisis I've ever experienced, or ever hope to. And as most of you know, "Frances Hunter" is really two sisters, Liz and Mary. So what happens to one happens to the other one too.

I don't really like to write about intensely personal things in this journal, yet writing about other things often seems trivial. So usually when I've thought of the blog, I've then put it aside.

In an nutshell, the family crisis consisted of three major phases:

- my dear mom, who had been seriously ill with Parkinson's disease for years, took her final turn for the worse. There followed a two-week crisis before she died on February 19. Believe me there are many details about which I don't want to write at this time. Only Mary and I may ever really understand what the other one went through during this time.

- there was a terrible falling-out with the woman who had been my mom's caregiver in assisted living. Fortunately this happened too late in the game to really impact my mom. But following her death, my dad was still living with her, and we became very concerned about emotional and financial exploitation.

- my dad fell and broke his hip. He's 81. During his hospitalization and rehab, he agreed to let us move his stuff out of the assisted living place. After he got out of rehab, he came to stay at our house, and has been with us for two months.

I'm glad we were able to help my dad and give him a good place to live while he's been recuperating. He's doing great and is now walking fine with the assistance of a cane. After the same time, I have to say that I'm emotionally battered by everything that has happened, and running entirely on fumes.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS:

- Dad found a beautiful apartment in a senior living complex about 10 minutes from our house. He'll get meals, transportation, and other amenities, and Mary and I will get our house back. I'll get my room back! We start moving his stuff on Saturday, and hopefully he'll be moved in within a couple of weeks.

- Mary and I have a trip planned on the Lewis & Clark Trail in August.

- Mary and I have gotten back to our editing and somehow, it's coming along great. Great enough that we can make the following announcement:

The Fairest Portion of the Globe
The New Novel by Frances Hunter

Coming February 25, 2010
From Blind Rabbit Press

More soon! I promise!

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