I've learned a great deal while writing this book, but the most significant lesson is the importance of people writing down their personal stories. I used to believe that I didn't have [stories] to tell, or at least not important ones. I have since discovered that this belief is false. I now realize that our stories are created from the daily experiences of life. We consider some to eventful, while most are not. Combined together over time, our stories take on patterns that define who we are and what we believe.Several ancestors in my own family left behind them the records of notable lives and I have often considered fictionalizing their stories. Mr. Coxen's experience with Captain Coxen's journal sparked our discussion about personal and family history and the importance they have gained in his own life.
. . . Through my research and exposure to my grandfather's journal, I've been inspired by the rewarding aspect of recorded stories, as well as the regret that can stem from unrecorded ones. The pleasure of reading my grandfather's journal epitomizes the joy that can be derived from possessing such a family treasure.
. . . My grandfather's journal is a prime example of the value of documenting events in one's life. It has been through his writing that I've gotten to know the man behind the stoic exterior, presenting me with a peek into his tender, loving side. Reading his war experiences, has helped me define his true character. For this, I'm eternally grateful. —Rick Coxen, The Great Promise
The next salvo sent a good-sized piece that grazed my cheek, ultimately burying itself about 2 inches into the ground at my feet. After scratching it out of the ground, I thought to myself that if I had been a couple of inches closer it would not doubt have given me a nasty knock.Then there's the detached unflappability: the gunners taking bets about whether or not the German shells will take down a specific structure and what not. Or this:
While waiting for George and Collins to return, I was entertained by the combination of bursting shells, artillery fire, and rockets being launched from both our and the Germans' trenches. They lit up the heavens like a gigantic fireworks display, similar to the ones I watched as a child.Then there's his very British obsession with tea that got him and his mates in more than one scrape. I always suspected the stereotype a gross caricature, but apparently not. He also doesn't think much of the French (classic British). Do you have a favorite passage of wit or humor that stands out especially?
The Author Interview (part 1): |
| Royal Field Artillery testing new phones 1909 Source: Rick Coxen http://bit.ly/MDLT9o |
I gently lifted the journal from the box and held it in my hands. For a brief time I just started at it, reveling in the moment. I'll never forget the emotional sequence that followed. At first I was overcome by an exhilaration comparable to one might expect when uncovering a treasure chest or embarking upon an adventurous journey. This elation became intermingled with awe for the piece of history I was holding. However, these sentiments were soon overshadowed by the riveting realization that I was holding my GRANDFATHER'S journal; a journal written astutely in his own fluent, cursive hand, almost one-hundred years ago. . . . By unraveling the poignantly historical thread of my grandfather's war years through the examination of his personal relics, I was able to sculpt together a more complete replica of the remarkabley complex man he was. I could not have anticipated that further excavation into the box contents would have such a dramatic effect on the next few years of my life.
